Guest chat with Ernie Boch Jr. - Nov. 2, 2006

lola23: i'm interested in volkwagen jetta or passat - used. any years stand out for these models??
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: lola anything from 2002 and up is great.

Greg: Hi Ernie! First, I've had the pleasure of purchasing two cars from you (Toyota and Honda - Arnie Einesman is one of your best sales people) and both experiences were pleasant and the service after the sale has been excellent. My question is whether you've considered having an in-store promotion where the winner gets to fly with you on your jet to some cool location for lunch and then return the same day. Could be a weekly deal! Ok, monthly. And, if you do use this idea, could I be compensated with a jet-a-way lunch with Ernie? Could be a huge traffic builder.
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: greg great idea...i'll consider it ...it seems like a cool promo.....

FreckleGal: Hi Ernie - I think you're great and heard about the promo you're doing with used musical instruments for kids. That's awesome. My question is how come I never see your car deals on Boston.com's specials page? My car lease is up in January, and I've been trying to find new Honda deals, but I don't see any from you. It's really frustrating. Why can't I see them?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: ok freckle gal do u work for the globe?....
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: you can call honda store 781.619.6720 or go to bochhonda.com all the vehicles are there.....

FreckleGal: One more question, Ernie - do you find it hard to be a local celebrity? Do people recognize you when you're out in public with your family?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i'm just a guy in boston trying to make a living... i have to advertise so i guess people do regonize me...i don't mind it at all....

Mary: Do you have a schedule for your band 's shows and appearances? Do you have any CD's available for purchase?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: we are opening for BB King march 4th at the opera house in boston....also i have a cd you can get it on boch.com all procceeds go to my foundation music drives us.... please chech out musicdrivesus.com for more info..

Ozzie: Ernie, it seems to me you love to flash your wealth in everyones face. I saw you on the Phantom Gourmet bragging about your Amex Black card. You are incredibly tacky and fortunate your father left you an empire. I knew your father and did business with him and you Jr. are no Ernie Boch.
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: Ozzie...i'm sorry you don't like me or what i do...but i fell im doing the best i can for my business and my family so please when i'm on don't watch.. roadsterbabe\: what kind of guitar do you have? how long have you been playing?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i play a strat and telly...i just got a johnny A model gibson it is awesome....johnny A is a friend of mine so i think that is so cool.....

boston123: Some of your print ads are so funny and different from what we typically see. Do you come up with those ideas yourself?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i assume you mean the improper ads....i come up with some and the others are a team effort with my in house people....

Massachusetts06: Recently you have become the #1 Honda dealership in the US, name one reason why you think you have reached this pinacle?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: great question!!!!.....the reason i am the number one honda dealer on the planet is because of the people that are at the store...i have learned long ago that one of the secrets of success is to surround your self with talented people....if i am the most talented person in my company we have a problem....

roadsterbabe\: What got you started in music? Who have you met over the years that has been your biggest muse?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i have always been into music i grew up in the 70's so rock was always cool to me...my biggest muse? that's hard to say there are so many people i have been influenced by...i have always been very influenced by the jazz greats miles, coltrane, parker i'm a bebop nut...

COD: What is your favorite car right now? Correction - car that you can be found in one of your dealerships?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i love the hybrid stuff....the camry the accord the highlander those vehicles are a techie's dream.....

roadsterbabe\: Do you perform with your band a private parties? What is your favorite venue to perform in?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: we have been offered a few private parties but our schedule has not allowed it....i love smaller venues we played the cape cod melody tent last summer it was very cool.....

AccordWagon: Ernie, why won't honda bring back the accord wagon?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: another great question....the ''wagon''' was only popular in new england sales sucked across the rest of the country....they may come out with a 5 door in the future...

AccordWagon: Ernie, how is buying a car from your salespeople different from Herb Chambers an all of the other dealers. Is there really a difference from the customer experience?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: is herb chambers still in business? ok ok it was a joke....i think we offer a very different experience the volume we do is unprecedented....i don't have that many dealerships but we do tremendous volume from each....you can't do great volume without giving great service....

Pumpkin: Ernie, can you tell me a few of your favorite local bands and why?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: the dresdand dolls are such a great band they are so original i love amader palmer....i was hanging out with her at the boston music awards....actually i was shagging beers for her all night....godsmack i know they are national now but i love them...they rock SO hard....

COD: If you could have one thing delivered to your front door every morning, and it can't be a newspaper, what would you like?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: a diferent toy for my kids every day....
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: Pumpkin i spelled dresden wrong and amanda is spelled like that....

AccordWagon: Ernie, what type of music to you typically listen to at home
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: now i'm on a blues kick anything from Robert Johnson to Johnny A....

marci: Saw the phantom trip to NYC to that steakhouse...looked like enough for for 100!! How was it?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i think del friscos is the best steak place on the planet...the vibe there is incredible....we definitely ate too much....

I_Love_Sanford_ME: Are there any plans for hybrid heavy duty trucks and SUVs?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: yes hybrids will be in every vehicle in the future......

Coolio: I know the auto show is coming to town next week. Are you going? What car are you most excited to check out?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: yes i always go to the show....i just picked up the ferrari maserati franchise...so i am so excited about those vehicles..

spongebob: What classic cars do you have (if any)? Pardon me for asking, but your ads say you're the second largest Toyota dealer in the world. Who first?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i have a 1976 Triumph TR6....i've had it for almost 20 years...ok my toyota store right now is number 3 on the planet... that bastard longo toyota in california is number one and kendall toyota in florida is number two ....my honda store is number one on the planet....

AccordWagon: what are you feelings about the honda element. is that a comfy ride for road trips to Bar Harbor and Stowe ? I like the car but wonder how she rides on long trips
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: the element is my favorite honda vehicle when it first came out i drove it for a year...it is a great vehicle.......it will be fantastic for long trips....

AccordWagon: Ernie, what's the Quatroporrte like? Have you had the oppty to tear up some of the back roads with the Italian thoroughbred
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: that car is so much fun to drive it has a ferrari engine i have torn up many a back road with it i've gotten it up to 130...the paddle shifters are so fast my wife also loves the car....

tb12: hi ernie...how does your promotional philisophy similar and differ from your father's (who was a revolutionary, btw...)
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i believe people have so many choices when it comes to purchasing an automobile...i think people want to do business with people they know...i feel my advertising lets people see me how i really am...i'm kinda nutty i like to have fun and i think people like the same things i do...back in the day my father was really nutty and people related to him...

Ed_in_Oak_Bluffs: What's up with Boch Park in Vineyard Haven? Are you involved with its development - or lack thereof?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: boch park.... i have to snicker those ''vineyard'' people are a piece of work...i haven't figured them out yet but believe me i'm trying....i'm working to get a statue of my father there and a few other things please stay tuned....

FreckleGal: Ernie, which is your favorite 'profession' - acting, playing music, or being involved with your car empire? Or maybe it's something else?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: the auto biz is my bread and butter...it allows me to be wacky...music is my second love...acting doesn't pay enough.......

anne: Would you consider helping with the reconstruction of Pinebank, an 1870 mansion on Jamaica Pond the city wants to tear down, to serve as a music community center
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i love those old houses on the J way....apply to music drives us for a grant see what happens........ go to musicdrivesus.com

carpymtsrus: Ernie, if memory serves me right, you were on an episode of Phantom Gourmet not too long ago, correct?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: correct

AccordWagon: Ernie, I have a 95 accord ex that I drive and love. Still drives great, in fact still can do over 100 with two road bikes on the car. But the rust! I've got more rust on this accord than the titantic! What has honda done differently on their newer cars to prevent the rust
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: rust is almost nonexistent these days...everything is made with galvanized steel....... 79 Toyota Corolla, does that sound fair?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: 150 is cheap take the deal......... Maurice: What's your favorite car to drive?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i must admit i have a weakness for big sedans...i own one of the new bentley sedans i love it!!!!

lawguy: Will you ever run for office ?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: never.... one back ground check and i'd be toast.......

mibsphil: I know I'm in the minority, but: I simply do not understand the public's fascination with huge (and not so huge) SUVs. With the cost of gas, you'd think people would be more sensible. And why do people think that just because they have a child or two they need a gigantic vehicle? Bad for the environment and certainly bad for the rest of the people on the road--it really does seem that the bigger the vehicle, the ruder and more aggressive the driver. Why do the car makers feel they have to feed into this?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: the automakers are a reflection of what people want..when people stop buying them they will stop making them........

2005_Carrera: What's your daily driver, Ernie? I thought I saw you in a Cayenne on Storrow drive on Sunday. Was that you? around 4ish
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: that wasn't me........

2005_Carrera: Ernie, what's your daily driver
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i drive the subaru tribeca daily.....

Joe_2: At a Red Sox game interview you mentioned that you were a supporter of the arts. Do you have a foundation that TCAN (The Center for Arts in Natick)can contact regarding a financial contribution?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: go to musicdrivesus.com and apply for a grant....

COD: Since this is a Globe chat, what are your thoughts on newspapers in general, compared to the Internet. Which do you prefer as a means of getting the news or viewing ads?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i don't read the globe that much...but i don't read any paper that much.....i get my news from TV and radio....

anne: Do you drive to Stowe, Vermont?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: no i flew.....

roadsterbabe\: What's the craziest driving experience you've ever had? What is your favorite spot to try new cars out?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: back in the 70's i was almost arrested for driving on the steps of the state house in providence ri. it was a long nite please don't ask anything further....i think 495 is the best highway around you could do 120 to 140 if you had to....

buzz: Hi, Ernie...Any chance that you will become a Tesla dealer, and what are your thoughts regarding the future of electric cars?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i think the tesla is amazing....it is pushing the envelope of electric vehicles....

CARNUT: Hi Ernie, I am a huge fan of Denis Leary and loved seeing you on the show. How did you feel being in a different kind of lime light? Also, are you involved in any other charities besides music, such as the Leary's Firefighters Fund?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: Denis Leary is such a cool guy i know him through my friend lenny clark....denis is doing such great job with the safety of people in the usa...

SportsGal: Is Herb Chambers a good guy or a jerk like he seems to be?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: hmmm good question.....i guess we will find out soon.......

Fan_of_EBJ: any other tv appearances coming up?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i'll be on rescue me again next season...i'll be playing captain bernard again.....

james: how many cars do you sell in a day on averagee
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i sell 30000 a year........

Fan_of_EBJ: where is your favorite place to travel? what is your favorite car for warmer climates?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i go to asia once a year i love that part of the world....... any convertible is great for warm weather........

Stace: I hear you on the Hillman morning show often, your so generous... THANKS. It's not often someone so successful is so giving.
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i love the morning show....those guys are out of their minds.......

bushwhacked: Ernie, you sound like a great guy. I'm in the market for a Honda Element. Does your Honda dealership offer the best price or should I shope around. What do you recommend?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: go to my honda store ask for mark doran he will get it done........

bushwhacked: Ernie, what's your advice to those seeking to start and perhaps surpass your auto empire? Is it a tough industry to break into?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: work hard never give up and if people tell you that you are wrong don't listen........it is a tough biz but if you work hard anything can be done.....

Cuttah: Ernie, how do you maintain positive relationships with your customers and your competetors alike? In a high profile market, every move is crucial and often scrutinized. What's your secret?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i do what i think is right no matter what anyone says........

buzz: Strat, Les paul or....?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: strat....... les paul is too heavy for me...

COD: Anyone who hangs out with Paris Hilton would be toast in the office! :)
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: i love Paris....who doesn't?

tb12: Tesla rules....what's your favorite Tesla song?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: signs.......

GYA: There is a rumor out there that you have Come on Down undies? Any chance of getting a pair?
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: yes i do..they are very cool and comfy...email me....erniejr@boch.com and i'll get you a pair
Ernie_Boch_Jr_: thanks to all it was fun.. good bye.. Bostondotcom: Thank you for joining our chat with Ernie Boch Jr.