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
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.