Went to a Ford Dealership Yesterday

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 06/19/2015 at 12:45 • Filed to: Car buying

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Can’t say I was impressed. It felt like a while until someone approached me, and there was no prices on any of the cars, which I guess is the new thing to do?

The salesman said all the prices are online, but I’ve spent the last couple of days checking their site, and I was hoping to just see the cars in my price range (<$8000) in person.

I asked where the cars under $10k were and he points me to the general direction of a side lot, which was infuriating because again, nothing had prices. I asked about the black Fusion I saw online, and it was just sold apparently. He told me a black focus was under $10k, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him that the yellow focus we just passed also was under $10k. I mean, their cars have come up on my search results for 2 weeks now, I’m surprised it hasn’t sold yet.

He asled me how soon would I be buying, and I told him the truth, “ I’m looking around, seeing what there is”. It was at that point he got really distant as a salesman. So he pointed me to some cars that did have prices, but aren’t on their site, but dirt cheap. I looked, nothing seemed interesting, so I left.

Not sure if I did anything wrong, but I was recommended to them by some friends, so I checked them out. But I really wanted to see what was on the lot. I’ve been staring at that black fusion for a while, and decided to check it in person. I didn’t call because sometimes i prefer the element of surprise, and I was practically window shopping Incase something popped out. I don’t think I did anything wrong, :/.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 12:50

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When I bought mine I just turned up out of the blue. Within ten minutes I was on a test drive. Afterwarda I inspected it and they left me to do so and returned when I looked done. Then we discussed numbers and that was that. Seems like you just got a crappy dealer.

StingrayJake > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 12:54

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Sounds like they acted like the sterotypical dealership salesman. They all complain about their image problem but do little to fix it.

Azrek > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 12:57

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You can ask for a print out. They should have something. I helped my girlfriend shop for cars and they had prices online, but when I asked the guy pulled a sheet out of his suit pocket which listed everything on the lot.

Depending on the lot, most of the cars are unlocked. So after I did my intro with the car dealer, I usually got a business card and told them we would come grab him when we had questions. This usually went over well. We’d poke around in cars and when we wanted to test drive something we’d wave and he’d come with keys.

She ended up with a ‘12 VW Jetta, but I was too busy playing in the 2008 Audi RS4 I found in a corner on the lot to care too much.

zeontestpilot > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/19/2015 at 13:01

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If it counts for anything, they were the one of the dealerships that got in trouble for deceptive advertising that Tom reported about pre-car buying. But my friends says they had a horrible reception at the nearby Chevy dealer, and had a wonderful time at this one. So...I have it a shot...

zeontestpilot > StingrayJake 06/19/2015 at 13:04

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I think it was my budget and non-urgency that turned him off. I mean, poor people need cars too, and no two used lots are alike, so first impressions are everything that make me want to keep checking the lot. I only check their stick because it’s on my way home.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:05

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Sometimes even a good dealer will have a salesman in a shitty mood, so you get shitty service. Just how it goes I guess.

zeontestpilot > Azrek 06/19/2015 at 13:06

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I was hoping he'd just get one, since I was looking. Another deakership the guy went in to grab that sheet so I can see what's available.

zeontestpilot > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/19/2015 at 13:08

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I think I might head back, I now realized the car I fancied was a dark red, not black, so they might have it.

But you do have a point.

Admiral-cb > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:15

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Have you considered private party? You could probably get a lot better value.

zeontestpilot > Admiral-cb 06/19/2015 at 13:18

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True, but I have no idea how to do that. I can only pay by monthly installments. Plus I'd still have to pay for getting the car fixed if anything is wrong, like brakes and such.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:18

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Well sometimes getting the car you want is worth bearing some shitty service.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:22

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I would start online. And seriously, look at Kia.

30 MPG all day, lots of room, child friendly, and you can find a good one under 10K. I would look for a 12+ model because the plus model has the 168-hp 2.0 and the base model (like mine) has the GDI 1.6 gamma that was rated one of Ward’s ten best engines from 12-14.

Plus it’s not bad to look at, and although the ride isn’t great it’s as good as any other hatchback, but with a lot more room. I’ve beaten this thing without mercy for 2 years and 45k miles and it just keeps taking it. The only things I’ve needed to do to it are a set of tires and oil changes.

Rico > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:36

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You take out a loan from a bank. You bought a house right? Did you pay cash or did you take out a loan aka a mortgage?

qbeezy > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 06/19/2015 at 13:38

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I literally did the same thing. MTT odometer was about to roll over 100k so I just randomly stopped by. Checked out was what I was interested in on the lot. Did a test drive. Inspected it moremore, left me alone. Then went to financing. So easy and smooth. Took less than an hour and half

OPPOsaurus WRX > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:39

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clearly if you hadn;t left this at home he would have been more helpful

Admiral-cb > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:41

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See if you can get in with a local credit union, they have the best rates on loans and a dealership isn’t making money on your financing.

Buying from a dealership is no guarantee that everything is good with a car, especially buying from a shitty dealership. If something is wrong with the car you buy, you really can fix a lot of problems with some tools and Google. Also, with the money you save by going private party, you could probably get a decent extended warranty. There's more work involved but you will be able to buy more car for the same price.

Sn210 > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 13:43

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You didn't do anything wrong, apparently they don't need your business so I wouldn't give it to them.

E92M3 > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 14:00

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I think you nailed it. Salesmen (and women) read people in the first 5 mins of talking them. They’ve usually perfected their ability to read people over several years, sometimes decades. Car dealerships encounter A LOT of people that are time wasters. Some are just in the area and killing time. Others just want to test drive cars with no intent to buy. Some want a car, but are in no position to buy one. If you spend 30 mins with a person who you’ve read as a nonbuyer (even if you were twiddling your thumbs 5 mins prior), you could miss an opportunity of grabbing a serious buyer that pulled in during this time to another salesman. OR no one else could pull in for 2 hours. It’s all a gamble. I say try another day as it often depends on that salesmans mood for the day. You may get a different salesman tomorrow that’s willing to work harder for a sale. Pick a slow time. Mid morning/after lunch is generally slow. After 5pm it gets busy as people get off work. Weekends are their busiest time. They will often read you before you even get out of your car.

I agree though about the pricing. Put the price ON THE CAR, or at least suggested MSRP. It’s awkward to have to wait for a salesman to look thru his excel sheet that was printed that morning only to find out they want $7k too much.

zeontestpilot > Rico 06/19/2015 at 14:02

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Umm, neither. We’re land contract with the previous owners, who are friends of the family. The house is located on private property, which actually belongs to the church district. You have to be a member of the denomination to live there, which I am. But because some idiots burned the only bank that would finance here, no one will touch the houses to finance them.

So I pay the previous owner a monthly check, and once I pay the balance of the house ($65k), it’s mine. Which isn’t bad considering she paid $110k for the house. She got remarried and didn’t want two houses, plus her son didn’t want it either.

I know I know, it sounds backwards and sketchy, but we had a budget of <$100k for a house, and the housing market is crazy expensive here, at least out of my budget. My goal was to put a roof over my family’s head, and I accomplished that.

zeontestpilot > Admiral-cb 06/19/2015 at 14:04

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I can consider it, but I don’t see too many used cars around here in the country. They usually just park and leave them in their back yard, lol. I know flushing has used cars.

zeontestpilot > E92M3 06/19/2015 at 14:07

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Wed and Thurs I get off at 5:30, plus 40 minute commute home puts me after 6 arriving in the next town over, lol. Tues and Fru I getvofg at 4:30, Monday I work from home. My best bet is usually weekdays, :/.

zeontestpilot > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 06/19/2015 at 14:09

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Question, I was told that kias are horrible cars, how true is this? I have no idea honestly, but I really like the Souls.

zeontestpilot > OPPOsaurus WRX 06/19/2015 at 14:09

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There’s a problem there, I might spend that cash on a golf cart because I want one if those too!

zeontestpilot > Sn210 06/19/2015 at 14:10

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That's a relief. Each time I go someplace different, I get a different type of salesman, I can't read them.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 14:33

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From about 1998-2003 that was true. Then when they were bought out by Hyundai and started all of the platform and drivetrain sharing they improved significantly. My base Soul is a cheap car, to be sure, but it’s also a pretty great one. I’m a big fat boy and the interior has held up well. Loading my friend’s wheelchair has led to some scratches around the hatch but even as much as I abuse this car it’s tight as a drum at 45k miles. They’re much better than they used to be.

E92M3 > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 14:48

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Try Monday then, take a long lunch.

Rico > zeontestpilot 06/19/2015 at 17:21

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Lmao sketchy is definitely the way to put it. Pretty much it’s property tax fraud in a loophole sort of way but fuck it man do what you gotta do to make sure your family is good! That's the goal and you are accomplishing that!

zeontestpilot > Rico 06/19/2015 at 18:44

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When the owner realized who I was, she got all excited, “I know your mom!” And my grandparents too (but who doesn’t know them here?).

Still, her son never took over the house payments, never paid a cent as far as I know. I’m giving her a way out of the house, since it’s hard to sell and there’s no financing available (trust me, I called everywhere). Plus since this place is legally a campground, I have a couple lakes to fish from, a boat to fish from ( thanks gpa!) and anything else a camp might have. Did I mention that it’s a dream come true to live out here, :)