posted on August 19, 2000 03:01:13 PM
Anyone else in the market lately for a new (used) car? My dad got his insurance settlement (finally!!) and wants a new car....well, actually the car is for my mom because my dad still can't drive.
So, we go a'huntin' yesterday. Good Lord!
First place we go to I ask the guy about the diffrent roll over rates for SUV's. I've done some homework and I want to see what homework the dealer has done as well as seeing if he is going to try to blow smoke up my rear because Im a female.
The guy starts off with, "Well Sweetie, lemme tell you what the problem is with the reports most people read. All the BS about SUV rollovers comes from the limp brained, airhead, liberal, democrat, tree-huggers
Forgetting for a second that I HATE the "Sweetie" routine, and forgetting that *I* am a liberal, does it strike anyone ELSE that this guy doesn't know the best way to sell a car???
I was very polite. I said, "Thank you for your time. Here is your card back, I will be taking my liberal money down the street."
Anyone else have some car buying horror stories? I could use some humor over the matter!
posted on August 19, 2000 03:27:55 PM
Sorry, Lotsafuzz, but I just bought a beautiful PURPLE Firebird and I'm in love. It's my first new car in eleven years.
Muriel aka Doofus Gerbiltushie
posted on August 19, 2000 04:10:49 PM
Well, , I also have a new car--an absolutely fabulous silver PT Cruiser. What a dream car...
But: a few years back the car I had died & I absolutely *had* to buy a new one quick. I wanted a small truck with an extended cab. I set out determined to "buy American." There was only one problem with that plan--the dealers didn't want to sell me a car! Every single American make dealer I went to gave me hassles. Most would totally ignore me as I stood in the lot looking at new trucks--sometimes 2 or 3 salesmen would simply *stare* out the window at me & make no move to come out & talk to me. One Ford dealer talked to me, but wouldn't let me take it for a test drive! Bet it would have been different if I was a man...
Geez! So I toddled off to the foreign dealers...what a difference! They rushed out to help me; answered every single question; let me test drive for as long as I wanted with no rush back to the showroom. The only hassle thrown my way was from Toyota: they wouldn't let me get an extended cab *without* the chrome sports package thrown in, so I ended up buying a Mazda truck.
And American dealers wonder why more people don't "buy American."
posted on August 19, 2000 06:18:37 PM
We bought our car a couple of years ago at a credit union sale. A local car rental agency sells their cars and the experience was great. In and out in about two hours. Most of time was spent waiting to see a credit union rep to do our financing. The prices are clearly marked on the cars and there are no salesman following you around. No more going to dealerships for me. I had one bad experience at a dealership and that was enough. Spent almost an entire day there buying a car.
posted on August 19, 2000 07:41:39 PM
lotsafuzz, my ex runs a very lucrative dealership and I shudder to think of when I eventually break down to buy a new car... I have lived amidst the game and it's players and seen it from the other side.
I do love the line you told the 'sweetie' salesman Being called 'sweetie' is one of my pet peeves too... blech ptooey!
posted on August 20, 2000 05:38:32 AM
Ooohhh - pet peeve!!! Two months ago I had to buy a new car (my old one was 14 years old). I have always had Fords - in fact, my ex-husband and I had 6 Fords between us (he has 5, I had 1). Figured I'd always have a Ford. So I trot down to the local (big) Ford dealership to look at minivans. They were very attentive and nice (I have an excellent credit rating). Test drove a car, liked it, everything was fine. Go to dicker. Blah, blah, blah. The salesman tells me (among other things) that 'his mother was a single mother and he resolved a long time ago to never take advantage of someone in that same situation'. Blah, blah, blah. Upshot - he offers to 'throw in' a '$900 (tv/vcr) option (can get at Best Buy for $300) and let me have it at list price!! Wow - what a deal!! Not!! I trotted over to CarMax - bought a wonderful Nissan Quest (w/ tv/vcr) and paid $5000 less. I'm very pleased. Ford has definitely lost me as a customer - not because of the cars but because of the slimy salesmen.
By the way, I checked out several other dealers too - salesmen see single, well-dressed woman and they think 'sucker'. I'll never go to a dealer again. CarMax was great!!!
posted on August 20, 2000 06:40:43 AM
This "salesman" would have gotten this liberal Democrat's back up too. He must be independently wealthy and car sales are just a hobby.
My tale is from 1985.
That was before the auto industry had a DUH! and realized that the "little woman" had more input than just the color of the car when it came to car
buying.
It's not like I didn't know about cars. Before my second marriage, I worked for a Volkswagon dealership in the Service and Parts departments. It was me, not the service manager, on the front line, meeting with the customers before and after car repairs and me that processed the warranties. I was educated.
When I wanted a new car in 1985, I wanted to see if the dealerships would deal with just a woman. So, I told my husband I was looking for a new car, but didn't want him to accompany me.
(Surely, things had changed since the '60s when I couldn't get a car because I was separated from my first husband. It didn't matter that I was over 21, a mother and was employed. They would have sold me a car IF I could get my mother to co-sign. How humiliating!!)
Happy with the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron, I decided I would buy another. I went to the Chrysler dealership where we bought the LeBaron and waited on the lot for the longest time. The men looked at me, but not a soul approached me. I was out of there!!
Went to another Chrysler dealership, same thing. Adios!!
Went to a Chevrolet dealership. Things are looking up...a man approached me, but if you could have seen the look on his face when I extended my arm to shake hands. His look said "Omigod!! Would do I do with THAT". He hesitantly extended the wimpiest handshake I've ever had from a man. Time to move on.
Went to a Buick dealership. Was approached immediately by a man, who returned my firm handshake. He rightfully assumed I was serious about a new car and had no problem dealing with me. I bought a brand new, 1985 Buick Riviera that very day.
My husband didn't even know it until I drove the car home.
I stayed with that dealership through the Buick and the Cadillac I bought after that initial meeting.
Volvos are now my car of choice. When I bought one 2 years ago from a Volvo dealership, the transaction was a breeze and I was treated with respect.
Not one "sweetie" or "honey". Always Mrs. xxx and still Mrs. xxx when I go for service.
This dealership will have my business from now on, and my husband's business when it comes time to replace his GMC truck.
posted on August 20, 2000 11:48:01 AM
My bro-in-law gets a new company truck every 2 years. He sells the used one for the company, just acts as the middleman. Until recently he only had to sell it for pay-off. They get excellent maintenance, all hiway miles (80,000), lots of "extras" when he picks them out, and the "topper" he puts on them doesn't count as part of the pay off. A great deal, well below book value.
One year, we were ready to buy. My husband was already retired from the military, and not yet re-employed, so we decided I would buy it, since I was still employed by the Coast Guard as a W-3, which is a pretty darn good income.
Add to the fact we had paid all the other vehicles off already, had no balance on any of our credit cards, and had excellent credit history.
I went to "my" bank.
I don't know much about trucks, so I had written down the trucks info, so I could cite from it while I got rate quotes.
The carloan officer quoted me an interest rate, which I wrote down on my description sheet. I can't quite remember why, but I turned this and several other documents over to them over the several days it took for me to finalize the paperwork. This is important later.
Next day, they told me my husband had to co-sign.
I couldn't believe it.
I said, "You mean that as a Coast Guard Officer of 20 years, I don't make enough money to buy a used truck?" I was livid.
I called the main branch and told them that as near as I could see, my bank was looking for my husbands permission for me to own a vehicle, and that was unacceptable. I would be reporting them to the Banking Commission (or whatever it was called, I don't remember now).
No surprise, I received a call from my bank shortly thereafter with an apology that my income had been miscalculated, and of course my credit was good with them.
So I went to sign for the truck.
I look at the paperwork, and the wrong interest percentage is there. It's a lot higher than my quote.
So I point this out. They say that the figure I'm saying is for a new truck, and that I must be mistaken, or that I cited the wrong year for the truck. Plus, the guy who quoted the rate to me is on vacation. I told them I had proof, they were still in custody of the document which I had written the rate quote on, right next to my truck description which clearly stated the trucks year.
I didn't get the rate they originally quoted me, but I got a better rate than they normally offer. I would have walked out, but my husband was already picking up the truck (bro-in-law lives in another state) and I really didn't have time to do this all over again at a different bank.
Not surprisingly, the only action I still have with this bank is the loan, which is paid off in another 3 months.
posted on August 20, 2000 04:09:55 PM
Oh boy!! car stories! I've got a few. The last time I went shopping, I was told I had to buy the car because I test drove it. I broke out laughing and continued laughing all the way to my car. On an earlier car search, the dealer we were at did not have the car I wanted to test drive so the dealer said they would have one brought over from another dealer, all I had to do was sign here! The salesman must have thought I was a dumb blonde, He got insulted that I wouldn't sign a sales contract to test drive a car. I just shook my head all the way to another dealership.
At the next dealership, the salesman withheld my keys so I couldn't leave (yes he did!, I don't give them my keys when they want to check out my trade in anymore), I called the police. My keys were "found" right after the patrol car arrived -- wasn't that just amazing. The next weekend off we went to the next dealer. We loved the car, price was ok, so we went on another test drive with the saleman in tow. 4 blocks from the dealership we get pulled over. The lazy salesman did not put tags on the car. My husband was behind the wheel and was technically liable for the ticket and the points, I just sat while the salesman and the officer went toe to toe, very entertaining.
All of the above incidents were at the hands of American car dealers. Now we own nothing but Volvo's. No tricks, gimmicks, or disrespect. My car is now 4 years old and everytime I go to the dealership I'm treated with respect. The service folks take me seriously when I tell them about noises or changes in handling and take the time to make sure I understand what they have done. My next car will probably be a Volvo but I will look at other imports, The American car dealers permanentaly lost a sale here.
[ edited by symar on Aug 20, 2000 04:16 PM ]
[ edited by symar on Aug 20, 2000 04:20 PM ]
A good friend bought a PT Cruiser, also silver, a couple of months ago. They are super cool. Rode in it on a trip and was surprised how comfortable it is...also much roomier than first appearances would indicate. They attract a great deal of interest and admiration!
posted on August 20, 2000 08:15:57 PM
YIKES!! Well, after the stories here, Im starting to feel better! LOL
I hate to admit this, but I love haggling with the dealer. I ALWAYS do my homework and 9 times out of 10, I know more about the car they are trying to sell than they do.
Maybe it's all the time I've spent as a seller that makes being the buyer a fun experience. I don't try to make the sellers jump though hoops, but I don't take the rope away from them if they start.
My dad bought a new (again, new used) car about a year ago (VERY nice Dodge Intrepid) and I did all of the dealing. The car was marked $6,000. After talking with my mechanic and figuring out what the cost of the needed repairs were going to be (not much: new headlights, new windshild wipers, and the glove compartment would stick). I walked in with a cashiers check for $4,900 and said, "I want the car, this is what I will pay." Drove off the lot with the car half and hour later.
I think we've found the car we want. Will be taking it in to the shop tomorrow to get it checked out (keeping my fingers crossed because it is a very nice Dodge Intrepid....I swear for the money they are the nicest cars out there). The guy is asking $5,900. Looks like the car needs shocks, new lights, and new wipers. Trying to decide what to offer the fellow. Thinking of $4,500. THIS time, however, Im demanding (and getting) a percentage of the savings.
posted on August 20, 2000 11:29:43 PM
I really hate to see anyone ripped off by a slimy, money hungry car salesman. If I were a woman, and one of these jerks called me sweetie, or any other cutie type of name, I'd walk out of there so fast. Of course, I would first tell him how unprofessional his comments were.
I think the most important thing about buying a used car is having it inspected before you purchase. If the dealership won't let you take the car for an inspection, then don't walk, RUN out of there. I have even taken a used car to the Kmart Penske Auto Service Center for inspection. If I'm satisfied with my primary inspection, then it goes there. I have paid them $25.00 for about 45 minutes of labor to take the wheels off and look at the brakes. Check the starter and alternater for proper current draw and charging. Presserize the cooling system and check for leaks. Check the U-joints if any, or the CV joints on a front wheel drive car. The exhaust system for age and potential leaks. Money well spent. Much easier to pay for repairs going in that after buying and getting burned.
If you want the history of the car you are thinking of buying, then you should go to www.carfax.com. For $20.00, you can use this service for 60 days while shopping for a car. It will tell if the car has been salvaged from a wreck, been in a flood and water soaked, major accident, or other major concerns for the buyer. All you do is give the VIN of the car. I gave the VIN of my car, and it told me exactly what kind of car I had. It also told me that there was three areas of concern with this car. I have owned it for 7 months and 13K miles, so I'm not really worried.
posted on August 21, 2000 07:12:55 PM
It's amazing what unscrupulous car dealers will try to put by prospective buyers, especially women. Wow, symar, I would have done some damage .
Watch out for those places that offer free car inspections too. One such place got our car up on the lift and the mechanic proceeded to 'show' me that the U-joints were going out. He did this by attaching the biggest pipe wrench in the place and pulling back and forth really hard.
Needless to say, neither my husband (a shadetree mechanic at the time) nor I (an aircraft maintenance mechanic at the time) bought that line of BS.
My dad has been in sales all his life and he says that if you make someone happy they'll tell a few people, but if you give bad service they'll tell everyone they know.
I get my own brand of revenge on any business which treats me poorly, tries to rip me off, or attempts intimidation. I go to http://www.ithought.com and post my "report card" on that particular business. I also give good marks to businesses that give me good service.
It's my first new car in eleven years.
