So I’m looking for a new (used) car since mine is really old and starting to literally fall apart. I found a nice newer well-priced car on the website of a nearby dealership. I go in and take it for a test drive, I really like it and was strongly considering pulling the trigger because it was priced so well.
Salesman confers with his boss, comes back and says hey, I just found out I actually wasn’t supposed to test drive that car with you because it needs a new transmission, and it’ll take 2 weeks or so for that new transmission to come in. I say okay no problem, I can wait a couple weeks, I still have my old car in the meantime.
When he comes back again with the official quote, the price is TWO GRAND HIGHER than the online price, because “well I didn’t know it needed a new transmission and I just can’t possibly eat the full cost of that, so this is the new price now, I’m oh so sorry but I just can’t it’d be too hard for me and my manager said so :((((”
So I flat out told him the online price is what brought me in, and if that’s not honored (which would be fucking illegal to do but they don’t care) then I’m walking. Guy comes back with his manager who then begrudgingly agrees to honor the online price and we were able to do the business we were both there to do like mature adults.
Oh the funniest part is this dealership is very outwardly “Christian” (there was Christian music playing over the speakers the entire time and a little daily devotional book on the salesman’s desk) and the manager told me “you know we’re very Christian based so we would NEVER try to scam people” immediately after he tried to squeeze an extra two THOUSAND fucking dollars out of me for HIS fuckup.
This is my one isolated experience with a REPUTABLE dealer in my area, I have to imagine this shit happens all the time to people just trying to secure reliable transportation in Carbrain Hell
IMO reputable just means least amount of complaints. The outwardly christian bullshit is to set the rubes at ease. Its all smoke being blown directly up your ass. Depending on vehicle, 2k might get you a used rebuild. Very rarely is 2k going to get you a new transmission except for the most basic of automobiles, or something which has sold bazillions of units.
I sold a 2014 Durango recently. Before i sold it, i put a second transmission in it. Rebuilt used. I know the man who rebuilt it, and i got a great deal. My great deal still set me back 4.4k USD. For a USED transmission. New was between 6-9k, depending on where it was sourced from (OEM vs 3rd party).
I understand, if you need it you need it. But, unless forced to for some unknown reason, id buy a car private sale only.
If you take a car anywhere on a test drive, take it to a mechanic that isnt affiliated w the sales place. Pay them their diagnostic fee and let them look it over. Third party inspections are worth the cost. It costs, but have them drop the transmission pan. Drain some engine oil. Check the rear end for glitter. They will either reinforce the idea that the car is worth the cost, or wave you off from something stupid. I work on my own cars; i recently rebuilt a 47re for a dodge pick em up, but for something like a car purchase i am absolutely taking it to someone else to look over. It keeps me objective - for some reason i can overlook something wrong if im the one inspecting it (ah i can fix it if something happens etc) but having another person tell me ‘xyz is wrong here, abc is wrong there, this is about to need serviced, etc’ will pull me right out of that.
how do you pull this off, I guess you have to schedule the appts for the mechanic visit and test drive simultaneously?
Yeah, it takes preplanning. Ive attempted three times, was successful once.
The two unsuccessful attempts, one i got all the way to the mech’s shop before the sales guy asked what i was doing there. i told him i had an appointment for the mechanic to kick the tires for me. He said, he had an appointment for another test drive and the time rquired would take too long. I gave him the drivers seat and told him to just take me back to the sales lot. Second time i told the salesperson where we were going before, giving my first experience as back story. He kinda sucked air thru his teeth, said he didnt think that was kosher and that their mechanics had already repaired anything that was pertinent. I hadnt even left the lot. I just got out, told him thanks for his time and have a good day.
Arguing with jackals like that is an exercise in futility. Have a nice day and see ya is good enough for me.
i have done this several times just tell the dealership or private seller i want to take the vehicle for a used vehicle inspection and never had and complaints. Saved me a bundle once when a guy was selling an acura loaded with aftermarket mods that drove like a champ for a great price. Mechanic found that the frame had been damaged and rewelded. Mechanic told me he wouldn’t put his kids in it so i passed.