I say we all try to take a Caddy CTS-V on a test drive this week and let's see what happens. Is it GM or is it the dealership. I guess for me it doesn't really matter because I wouldn't but a GM product anyway. But it will be interesting to see if it's a Cali thang......Phil

I think part of the problem is the mentality has not changed. Before this downturn in the economy these "High Performance" American cars were sold before they hit the lot and even then at sticker + a healthy markup. I'm sure there are plenty of these just taking up space all over the US now and would not be surprised if they sell at a significant markdown. I talked the dealer down around $13K on my SRT-8 during the height of the gas prices which was unheard of just months earlier.

So I just let a friend of mine read the Yelp review I posted.
Her response, "So am I now to assume anyone I see driving the CTSV is an IDIOT?" - To which of course I answered, YES..

It's unethical because they are trying to use an old salesman trick to try to increase their profitability. They don't want you to price shop, they don't want you to compare their rates with other banks or dealers. They are trying to sell cars on the basis of a hard line sell. And in my experience, that's unethical. And misinformed buyers, such as people who don't visit car forums like we do, fall prey to the victim of dealers who play this non-sense. But I can smell that shit like a fart in car.

And, here is an example of two people thinking about buying an American product but being pushed out by the dealers...

Also, they did not volunteer the information, we told them we were coming in for a test drive and to have a car ready. "Well, we can let you test drive it, after we agree to the deal."

Nay, Nay, Nay.. They do need to. The American car business is in shambles. No car is beyond the downturn. Why is my tax bailout going to these a-holes.. Morons couldn't sell a glass of water to a dying man in the desert. But they think they're going to "sell me..."

They can't... Also bullshit. They can. They just know that they can try to squeeze more money out of a sale by pretending they are doing some sort of favor by actually allowing me to even sit in the car. It's a freaking Cadillac for christ sake, not a Pagani Zonda! It's a cheap sales trick and that's exactly the type of cheap, unethical bullshit that is ruining the American car companies..

<--- Correct, please see my garage. 2 Porsche's, 1 Bmw, 1 Audi.. Thank you. Why? Cause American car companies SUCK.

Back a few years ago when things were better. I did indeed pay for their health care back then. Now I drive a Mini Cooper, have downsized our company office to half it's original size, and cannot afford to pay for health care that costs 3 times as much as it did then.

I think you are taking a hard line, its a limited production car and if I bought one I would want it truly new with 5 miles or less. A dealer can't afford to take a limited allocation car and make it a demonstrator.

If that is the case, then how would anyone get to test drive one? You have to be able to let people test drive cars before they purchase. If you want your new car with 5 miles or less, order it. I can understand some people who are not really into cars that don't need a test drive, but the CTS-V is supposed to be a performance car. Who buys a performance car without testing it? As bad as GM is hurting, they can't afford to turn anyone down who is willing to test drive one of their products. Like others have said, it is a Caddy, not an F Enzo. Not only is B-Line turned off now, but look at how many other people are reading what happened to him when he tried to buy American. No deal and bad pub. Not what GM needs. It should have been handled better.

B-Line:

Well, I understand your position clearly. The only comment I would add is one I made above, that you are assuming they could let you demo those vehicles in their showroom.

Having worked many years ago with a dealer who was going under, with all of the inventory owned by either the manufacturer or the banks, I saw firsthand how tough it was to sell something in that environment. The manufacturer (who owned the inventory on a floor plan) wanted signed sales orders with deposits before releasing anything out the gate, as it was the only security they had. The banks put convenants on all of their financing, and it could take 3 days to get a machine released. There certainly weren't any demos. If there was a used machine in the shop, or a rental machine available, they were the demos. Short of that, it was cash first. Yes, the dealer in that case went under, but the behaviours described were the last step before closure, and did not describe their preferred operating model.

Or, you could be right, and they are just jerks and their inventory financing lines are strong, they have a good balance sheet, and they are just waiting for those LA high rollers to come in with wads of $$$. Could be. Maybe it is an LA thing.

Actually, I hadn't even thought of testing a Cadillac, but after reading this I am thinking about it. Apparently, so are a few people who posted above. The rant may have had a reverse effect.

Well, nothing else is working for GM. Maybe they sould start acting like a snobby, boutique coach builder. :rofl: You always want what you can't have.

No CTS-V for you...Next!