Why American car companies suck - Page 6

B-Line · #51 03-15-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

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.

If what you're suggesting is that I should go home, get my bling, and return to the dealer to justify a test drive allowance, I will not now nor will I ever.

Nothing is more offensive than when a salesman asks:
How do you plan to pay for the car?
How much do you owe on your current car?
What can you afford as a monthly payment?

Those are fishing questions. And the salesman is fishing to see how far he can milk you. And I'm not going to wear a shiny piece of jewelry to tell the salesman, "Hey, I'm milkable"...

If you walk into a BMW dealership wearing a ripped t-shirt and jeans, they assume you are there to buy a car.
Clearly if you call into a Cadillac dealer and try to arrange a test drive, you are just some poor slob off the street that can't really afford the car anyway.

It's a prejudiced way to do business and it pains me that it's the American car companies that do it. I've walked into Porsche wearing sandals and shorts and they throw me the keys to anything...

I don't need to showcase my wealth to "earn" a test drive from some Cadi dealer... I'd rather drive a Schwinn.

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LeMansX5 · #52 03-15-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

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..

Yup, carry the money and if they ask about money tell them "That's the money you could be saving with Geico"

LeMansX5 · #53 03-15-2009, 07:33 PM

CTS-V is 2nd only to M3 in Car & Driver 10 Best cars.

Top 10 Cars You Should Drive on a First Date

JCL · #54 03-15-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

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

But you are the one personalizing it, you are the one who was denied a test drive and got upset. Read back over your first post.

Nobody here has suggested that your dealer is one they want to do business with. Some of us appear to think you may be misdirecting your wrath. Several of us have pointed out that you are mad at the dealer, but you continue to drag Cadillac through the mud. Your dealer didn't ask for a bailout, GM did. They are separate entities. I don't condone your dealer's behaviours, and I would never deal with them.

Wagner got turned down for a test drive at a BMW dealer. I got turned down for a test drive at a Porsche dealer (I drove up in an X5, wearing a dark suit, I was planning to pay cash, and I asked for a test drive after two previous visits and discussions with the same sales rep. They said they had to drive it, I could be a passenger, on a predetermined course. I didn't buy a Porsche.) It isn't the manufacturer, it is the dealer.

Did you even ask the dealers why they have this policy? Might have been interesting to find out.

E61Silver · #55 03-15-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

CTS-V is 2nd only to M3 in Car & Driver 10 Best cars.

Top 10 Cars You Should Drive on a First Date

Yea but if some dealer gives you a hard time the car must be bad.

Juanted · #56 03-15-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

Your dealer didn't ask for a bailout, GM did. They are separate entities. I don't condone your dealer's behaviours, and I would never deal with them.

Exactly! B, again... I understand your frustration, but this has nothing to do with GM or Cadillac. It's about a lousy dealer.

FSETH · #57 03-15-2009, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaefer

Exactly! B, again... I understand your frustration, but this has nothing to do with GM or Cadillac. It's about a lousy dealer.

It sounds like it happened twice to him by two different dealers. It may be bigger than one dealer and more of a Caddy/GM thing.

Wagner, I would have never given that dealership a penny if they said something like that to me. I don't care if I had to drive an hour or two out of my way to the next nearest one.

4.6is Ryder · #58 03-15-2009, 09:53 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.

Not sure it's a reverse effect....I think it's more about what level of service will we get. In fact, I'll be sure to take the Cooper S and not the 650i....Phil

E61Silver · #59 03-15-2009, 10:08 PM

Looks like lots of different deals in LA

Cadillac Dealers in Los Angeles, CA on Yahoo! Local

B-Line · #60 03-15-2009, 10:32 PM

It did happen at two different dealers. And there off the cuff remark was, "we get a lot of tire kickers..."

So let me get this straight, someone who wants to test drive the car, is thinking about buying one, is OBLIGATED to buy one if they test drive? They are not allowed to drive a few different cars from different manufacturers to gauge which is the right vehicle for the buyer?

Again, allow me to explain this clearly.

This sales technique, buy then try, is sleazy, see-through and to the informed car buyer, unethical. They are not guarding the virgins ho-ha on prom night. - It is a car. It's not even a special car. We're not talking Porsche GT3-RS. We're not even talking Mercedes Black Line AMG SL. We're talking about a Cadillac CTS-V.
- And if the dealership(s) think they are going to try to "sell" the car by implementing some bullshit sales technique which involves a signed agreement or even financing structure prior to actually driving the vehicle, then they are going to get slammed by me.
- If it were only one dealer, I would blame the one dealer. But once you go into multiples there becomes a larger picture to measure the company against.
- I'm not asking for milk and cookies. I'm not asking for premium coffee and a balloon. I'm asking to test drive a vehicle that we are interested in buying and I will not negotiate the price and the terms before said test.

BMW sells cars by saying to people, please, please drive it. Same with Merc, Audi, Porsche, Infiniti, Lexus, etc. So unless Cadillac and their subsequent dealers are out-selling these other manufacturers, they had better open their eyes and learn how to deal with car enthusiast buyers, especially in a place like LA.

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