My Car Buying Experience (So Far)

The lease on my car is coming due in less than a month. So, I am on the hunt weighing my options, crunching numbers, going to consumerreports.org, visiting dealerships and narrowing in on a couple directions I could take.

With all of the depressing news about the economy, especially as it relates to the auto-industry, you’d think that the consumer would be in the driver’s seat. I am here to tell you that that has not been my experience in the past few weeks.

Like I said on Twitter the other night, I can’t tell if their behavior is out of denial of their status of their industry or a calculating take-away sale strategy!? I’ve gone to 3 dealerships that all had the make, year and model I was searching for. I did my homework, when to the dealership, appeared non-chalant and disengaged in the model pointing out things it had or didn’t have that I wanted. I do my best at appearing as if I could care less.

So, the cliché question from the dealer comes:

“What do I have to do to make a deal with you, today?”

Deal being the operative word, here.

My answer is always the same, “I’m not going to buy today, I am going to 2 other dealerships today to look at the same car.”

He says, “ How are their prices compared to my car.”

I say, “Around the same, but they have better/different equipment and they seem hungry to move the car.”

He says, “Let me get some information from you.”

I say, “OK.”

Mr. Dealer says, “Where do want your payment to be?”

I say, “As low as possible based on the best possible price for the car.”

He says, “Make me an offer.” (let’s say theoretically the car is listed at $20k.)

I say, “Alright, based on my research and inventory in the area, I offer you $17k)

He says, “Would you buy today if we can make a deal?”

I say, “If I consider it a deal, yes.”

After walking around his dealership and pretending to talk to someone, he says, “ I priced this car to move already and $20k is my bottom price.”

I get up and say, “Here is my phone number call me if you want to make a deal.”

This dialogue has happened 3x at 3 different dealerships. Either I am doing something wrong or these guys are bumbling idiots. I give subtle buy signs, I listen and make the first offer and they don’t move. Out of principle, even if the price is right, I will not buy the car if I do not feel like I ‘made a deal.’

And each of them gives me the spiel about how long they’ve been in the business, why their car badge is better than the big 3 and why they aren’t in trouble. Ah, really? I just saw that your badge laid off 10k people globally yesterday. Wow. And those so-called upscale used car showrooms, these guys are probably doing alright based on the swing to used cars – but you have a worthy buyer with a checkbook in his pocket sitting in your seat and you give ME the attitude – you guys are getting it.

I am all for a businessman making a fair profit, but do car dealers have to play into the stereotype? I mean, come on. If there was ever a time to make a concerted effort to break the chains of a buying experience that ranks down there with going to the dentist, that time is now.

Onward to the next dealership.