How to scare a car salesman - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

On the way home from Sunday's autocross I stopped in at Power Dodge just to see if they had a new Challenger RT. No, I'm not serious I already have an overweight undertired pig and the Challenger is at least another 350lbs. heavier than my GTO.

I pulled up in my car, parked, and walked over to the Challenger they had parked out in front. It was an RT with an automatic and a $5K "adjusted market value" sticker in addition to the $35K window sticker as well as $2K worth of floor mats, undercoating, and window tint I actually had a few minutes to look it over before the salesmen descended. The doors were unlocked with a key in the lockbox on the driver's side window. Here's the first laugh, it has a keyless ignition, if the key is in close proximity, the car will start. Yes having the key inside of a lockbox mounted on the driver's side window is close enough.

Salesman comes up asks me if I drove up in the GTO and I said yes. Here's the second laugh, he informs me that I should trade it in because the Challenger is faster. Really I asked, how is that possible when it weighs more and has less horsepower and torque? His answer was, "It has a Hemi!" Now I'm amused, "Really what's a Hemi?" I ask. He replies, "It's like a turbo only it's not." I ask if he could pop the hood and show it to me. He pops the hood and points to the plastic cover over the intake manifold. "See it says right there Hemi!"

He asks if I want to drive it. I was honest and said that I really only wanted to take a close look and get a brochure. We go inside, the salesman starts to run all over the dealership looking for a brochure. I looked in the rack I was standing next to, grabbed a brochure and tried to make a discrete exit. No such luck, numbnuts sees me and comes running across the showroom floor.

For the last laugh he insists that I take the car for a test drive, he's even brought a dealer plate out. My pacience is blown and I just decided that I'm going to have some fun with him. I told him to wait by the car and I would be back. I went to my car, got my helmet out of the back seat, walked back towards the saleman and proceeded to put my helmet on. Sat down in the driver's seat, tightened up my chinstrap looked over at numbnuts in the passenger seat and asked, "What's the matter don't you have one?"

" Sir, I just wouldn't feel comfortable with you driving."

I guess the only difference is I'm paying $3.00 for milk, not $30,000...if I get screwed by $0.50 more at one store over another, it doesn't hurt as much as $5,000 more at one dealership over another.

QUOTE (RVachon @ Nov 13 2008, 11:50 AM)

You are right that you can't control what you pay for milk. But you can control what you pay for a car. I'm not really defending car dealers, but if/when you agree to the purchase price, you agree to accept it. If you buy a car at a "bad" price, it's really your own fault. If you're not happy with the deal, DO NOT SIGN THE PAPERS. Walk out, find another dealer and try again.

If the dealer offers it to me at sticker and won't budge. I can either "suck it up and sign for it", or I can walk. I control my own destiny and I have only myself to blame for the outcome. I'm not saying dealers are blameless in all this, but you DO NOT have to buy a car from them, or you DO NOT have to buy "that" car. If you can't afford a new Ferrari, don't go to the dealer and pay $100,000 for one. If you do, don't complain about the price. If you can't afford $35k for the car you want, don't go buy one. Save money, buy a used one, wait or just pass it up.

I got out of the business because it can be "slimey" and I enjoyed some of it, but not other parts. It's a rough way to make a living, but I tried it when I was broke and in college (between being in college). I just find it funny that dealers get blamed for so much when someone had to agree to sign the papers. The dealer will try to make as much money as possible. You will try to save as much money as possible. Somewhere in the middle will be some paper with your signature on it. I don't think you can blame the dealer because you signed that paper. That's all I'm saying.

2000Z-71 View Member Profile	Nov 13 2008, 06:25 AM Post #1
Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 155 Joined: 18-April 04 From: Phoenix, Az. Member No.: 314	On the way home from Sunday's autocross I stopped in at Power Dodge just to see if they had a new Challenger RT. No, I'm not serious I already have an overweight undertired pig and the Challenger is at least another 350lbs. heavier than my GTO. I pulled up in my car, parked, and walked over to the Challenger they had parked out in front. It was an RT with an automatic and a $5K "adjusted market value" sticker in addition to the $35K window sticker as well as $2K worth of floor mats, undercoating, and window tint I actually had a few minutes to look it over before the salesmen descended. The doors were unlocked with a key in the lockbox on the driver's side window. Here's the first laugh, it has a keyless ignition, if the key is in close proximity, the car will start. Yes having the key inside of a lockbox mounted on the driver's side window is close enough. Salesman comes up asks me if I drove up in the GTO and I said yes. Here's the second laugh, he informs me that I should trade it in because the Challenger is faster. Really I asked, how is that possible when it weighs more and has less horsepower and torque? His answer was, "It has a Hemi!" Now I'm amused, "Really what's a Hemi?" I ask. He replies, "It's like a turbo only it's not." I ask if he could pop the hood and show it to me. He pops the hood and points to the plastic cover over the intake manifold. "See it says right there Hemi!" He asks if I want to drive it. I was honest and said that I really only wanted to take a close look and get a brochure. We go inside, the salesman starts to run all over the dealership looking for a brochure. I looked in the rack I was standing next to, grabbed a brochure and tried to make a discrete exit. No such luck, numbnuts sees me and comes running across the showroom floor. For the last laugh he insists that I take the car for a test drive, he's even brought a dealer plate out. My pacience is blown and I just decided that I'm going to have some fun with him. I told him to wait by the car and I would be back. I went to my car, got my helmet out of the back seat, walked back towards the saleman and proceeded to put my helmet on. Sat down in the driver's seat, tightened up my chinstrap looked over at numbnuts in the passenger seat and asked, "What's the matter don't you have one?" " Sir, I just wouldn't feel comfortable with you driving."

RVachon View Member Profile	Nov 13 2008, 04:50 PM Post #2
Angry White Man Group: Advanced Members Posts: 268 Joined: 11-October 06 From: Port Colborne ON CAN Member No.: 1,404	I guess the only difference is I'm paying $3.00 for milk, not $30,000...if I get screwed by $0.50 more at one store over another, it doesn't hurt as much as $5,000 more at one dealership over another.

trackbird View Member Profile	Nov 13 2008, 05:06 PM Post #3
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,432 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	QUOTE (RVachon @ Nov 13 2008, 11:50 AM) I guess the only difference is I'm paying $3.00 for milk, not $30,000...if I get screwed by $0.50 more at one store over another, it doesn't hurt as much as $5,000 more at one dealership over another. You are right that you can't control what you pay for milk. But you can control what you pay for a car. I'm not really defending car dealers, but if/when you agree to the purchase price, you agree to accept it. If you buy a car at a "bad" price, it's really your own fault. If you're not happy with the deal, DO NOT SIGN THE PAPERS. Walk out, find another dealer and try again. If the dealer offers it to me at sticker and won't budge. I can either "suck it up and sign for it", or I can walk. I control my own destiny and I have only myself to blame for the outcome. I'm not saying dealers are blameless in all this, but you DO NOT have to buy a car from them, or you DO NOT have to buy "that" car. If you can't afford a new Ferrari, don't go to the dealer and pay $100,000 for one. If you do, don't complain about the price. If you can't afford $35k for the car you want, don't go buy one. Save money, buy a used one, wait or just pass it up. I got out of the business because it can be "slimey" and I enjoyed some of it, but not other parts. It's a rough way to make a living, but I tried it when I was broke and in college (between being in college). I just find it funny that dealers get blamed for so much when someone had to agree to sign the papers. The dealer will try to make as much money as possible. You will try to save as much money as possible. Somewhere in the middle will be some paper with your signature on it. I don't think you can blame the dealer because you signed that paper. That's all I'm saying.