Re<VV> Car Salesman (no Corvair)

[AeroNed at aol.com]

Since we're telling car buying stories...
 
The first and only new car I bought was purchased from a dealer that  was my 
Dad's friend. I told him that I didn't want the radio and he had it  removed 
and gave me $80. When the computer burned out just over a year later, I  
stopped by Larry's office. When he found out why I was there, I didn't have to  pay 
for the repair. That car only lasted 185,000 miles or so.
 
The next car I bought, was a "program vehicle." Since I usually keep cars  
for 10 years these cars are a good value for me. I shopped for the car I wanted  
when the lots were closed. When I found the car I wanted (actually was a car 
for  the wife so she had "some" say) I contacted the dealer. I asked what they 
wanted  for the car. I very quickly said that I'd buy it for a slightly lower 
price and  that was that.
That car had a bad electric fuel pump. It went back to the dealer, under  
warrantee, twice without getting the problem fixed. On the third time, I asked  
for the Service Manager. I was told that he doesn't come in for another 30  
minutes. I waited, he pulled in about 10 minutes later. I introduced myself,  
explained to him that I knew what I was talking about. I told him that the fuel  
pump was intermittent. I also mentioned that this was the third time for the  
same problem and also mentioned CA's "lemon law." Went off to work. When I  
picked up the car after work, the invoice showed that they replaced everything  
from the gas cap to the fuel injector, problem solved. Oh yea, that car was 
sold  when we moved to KS, it only had 140,000 miles.
 
My next experience was straight from a horror movie. Once again I shopped  
around when the lots were closed and again was looking at program vehicles. This 
 time I also used the internet. Found two cars that I liked. Went to the 
first  dealer and they pulled every trick in the book. I told them that I wasn't 
going  to more than X. After 3 hours(!) I turned to the wife and said, "Guess 
we're  going to have to get the Taurus." We got up and walked to the door. As 
soon as  we opened the door, they said OK. Then I hit them with some extras, 
alarm and  floor mats. The sales manager told me that I drove a hard bargain. 
That car in  now my daily driver (until I get the '65 sedan on the road) and it 
has 130,000  miles.
 
Finally, my last dealer purchase was real easy. As usual, I shopped when  the 
lots were closed and used the internet again. When I went in to find out the  
price for the vehicle, it was more than I thought I could get them down to 
what  I wanted to pay. The salesman said, "take it home for the weekend." This 
was  something new to me. When I returned the van on Monday, I told the 
salesman that  we really liked it but didn't think we could afford it. I showed him 
the print  outs I had from the internet and told him what I wanted to pay for 
it. He asked  me to wait a minute. I thought I was going to be in for another 
marathon  session. The salesman came back and said OK. The van only has 86,000 
miles and  we both don't like it for several reasons. It will be replaced this 
 spring.
 
Anyhow, the bottom line is that I've had both good and bad experiences with  
car dealers. The good have out weighted the bad. When we go looking for a car  
this spring, I'll give the guy that sold us the van first shot, if he's got 
an  Impala.
 
Ned