Why American car companies suck - Page 5

E61Silver · #41 03-15-2009, 04:34 PM

I don't think they said you couldn't drive it, just that you had to negotiate/understand the price. They wanted to limit the number of causal drivers that just wanted to drive it for fun.

I understand you desire to test drive a car and wish that you could rent them for a few days. I hate the idea of driving a car for only 2 miles. One of the reasons I purchase my BMW from Habberstad is that they truly let you drive the car. The BMW place in Southampton pulled out a new X5 which was not prepped and took me on a very limited test drive. I can remember looking a MB ML in Queens and the dealer kept trying to qualify me and I walked out pissed. My point is that its not just US dealers.

I bet if B Line drove up in his BMW and acted serious they would let him drive the car.

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B-Line · #42 03-15-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

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.

So let me get this straight. After you read that a dealership is trying to potentially rip buyers off by having them negotiate on-site purchases before even allowing them to test drive the car, has enticed you to consider buying said car...

I would like to publicly state that I have made a huge mistake. I no longer think that Felix Cadillac deserves the asshat of the month award. Clearly there are bigger asshats than them.

Enjoy your CTSV's....

B-Line · #43 03-15-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

I

I bet if B Line drove up in his BMW and acted serious they would let him drive the car.

So someone should have to drive up in a BMW in order to be allowed a test drive in a CTSV? Maybe I should have also rocked my Rolex and carried a tight wad of money..

p.s. if that is the type of customer they want, I'm more than happy not to associate with their market.
p.s. - My brothers last car before the Range Rover was an Escalade. !

Wagner · #44 03-15-2009, 06:26 PM

TATE BMW told me, and I quote:

"You can't afford the BMW X5, how about we look at the X3 instead?"

Then I drove away in my new M3. Dealers can simply suck.

E61Silver · #45 03-15-2009, 06:27 PM

B Line did you read my post some dealers are just jerks, however it does not hurt to walk the walk and show a little bling to get what you want.

Its not about the brand its about the dealer.

JCL · #46 03-15-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

So let me get this straight. After you read that a dealership is trying to potentially rip buyers off by having them negotiate on-site purchases before even allowing them to test drive the car, has enticed you to consider buying said car...

<snip>

Enjoy your CTSV's....

No, I said that I wanted to go drive the car. I read above (again, in several posts from different members) that the vehicle has really come a long way. A lot of people ask me for recommendations on what car to buy. I have never recommended a Cadillac before. I would like to understand what the fuss is all about. It is not really my kind of car, but an open mind never hurt anyone. You should try it.

Your post is mistitled, as several others have pointed out. You wanted to slam US automakers, when your real issue should be with your local dealer. Your post gave me a chance to hear again about the car itself. There is zero chance that I am going to your local dealer if I do want that test drive. I don't much care for LA.

I deleted from the quote that portion of your response that seemed to be calling me an asshat. I think this board should be better than that, and it is beneath you. Grow up.

B-Line · #47 03-15-2009, 07:00 PM

Other than the friendships one of the reason why many people visit this forum is for information. Clearly we live in a buy/sell economy where a vehicle purchase can easily be labeled, US vs. THEM.

Why? Because it's the people without information that are often put into deals, finances, leases, etc. that are not only bad financial decisions, if they had the right information they would see, they are being ripped off by professionals.

I spend a great deal of time and energy trying to educate people on forums about how to and how NOT TO buy cars. I have written volumes on it. And one of the principals of those posts directly focuses on things like:
A) DO YOUR RESEARCH
B) DON'T DO DEALS IN PERSON
C) ALWAYS CHECK and CROSS CHECK numbers to make sure that finance managers and such aren't "taxing" you with extra points to line their own pockets.
-- This is the mantra by which all car buyers should live to. This is how you prevent spending an extra $3k - $5k for a car because you didn't do your homework..

So suggesting to people that any form of dealer attempt to pre-negotiate before a test drive, or negotiate in person without research is as irresponsible as telling someone to go buy a timeshare.

It is this exact type of negligence that has lead to people buying homes they could not afford, credit debt they could not maintain and an overall blase attitude regarding high cost purchases at the bequest of a cheap salesman with a smile and a MILLION DOLLAR HOME or a CTSV.

So while you may think I need to grow up, I would argue that defending these types of business practices from a company that is begging for tax payer dollars during the worst economic crisis since the great depression is nothing less than playacting to an already abysmal system that treats it's customers like shit and forces consumerism to foreign brands..

I suggested that anyone who condones that behavior is an asshat. But personalize it if you want.

B-Line · #48 03-15-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wagner

TATE BMW told me, and I quote:

"You can't afford the BMW X5, how about we look at the X3 instead?"

Then I drove away in my new M3. Dealers can simply suck.

Wag, you make an interesting point but allow me to clarify. We called the salesperson and told her we were coming in for a test drive, she said, "price first." So we called back and asked to speak to the manager. The manager, the guy who runs the store, the head honcho on Saturday, said, "No" not until we have a deal in place.

It's one thing for a salesman to act like an asshole, it's another thing when a manager does the same thing. It's three times as bad when you call a second dealership and they repeat.

And since I have never had any such problem in any dealer I have been to in years, I have to put my astonishment on the brand, not the individual dealer, manager or salesman. It happened repeatedly on the same day.

If you go into one BMW dealership and they call you a cheap Jew, you blame it on a single salesman. You go into two BMW dealers and two people call you a cheap Jew, then there is something off about their hiring and staffing practices..

This issue is much bigger than one jerk at one dealership.. Our economy is in shambles, car manufacturers are crumbling and asshat tells me I can't test drive a car until he tries to pork us for some extra interest points!!!????!!!