Like some of you on this forum, I am an old timer. I do have a background in sales and have been through some sales training which is why I am astonished at some of the practices going on in the world of dealerships and car sales lots.

1. Carvana. Carvana may have some nice cars....only one problem. Some of us prefer non-smoker cars. I called Carvana and asked if the Carvana rep would mind going to a particular car they had for sale, starting the engine and turning on the A/C. Would they please run the A/C for ten minutes or so and see if they smelled cigarette or cigar smoke? Carvana said NO, they were simply too busy to go do this. So I said I was too busy to spend my money on any of their cars.

next.

2. Local car dealers. Every local car dealer I have visited has their cars priced $4,000 to $6,000 ABOVE Kelly Blue Book and NADA blue book values.

3. Consignment car dealers. I have located some dealers who do consignment sales, particularly for classic/vintage cars. Only one problem; they do NOT allow ANYONE to test drive the cars they have on consignment. Can I at least start the engine and listen? NO, our carbon monoxide detectors will not allow it. Do the cars come with a warranty or guaranty? NO.


I call the above three items DEAL KILLERS.

I remember once looking at a used 1969 Mustang convertible on a dealer's lot. I drove it and heard a whining, grinding noise coming from the transmission, which stopped when the clutch pedal was pressed. Suspecting a bad throwout bearing, I asked the dealer to disassemble the transmission to allow me to examine the transmission for excessive wear. The dealership declined. Naturally, I left in a huff...

Sarcasm on the trans comment?

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

This. As long as a customer's request is not unreasonable, the salesman should try to please the customer. Tearing down a transmission is unreasonable.

In the old days, they would allow you to take the car home and drive it for a week to see how you liked it. They sold a lot of cars doing this. They also offered a 30 day warranty after the sale, no questions asked. They would throw in free oil changes for the first year, etc etc. They were closers.

Those days are GONE. Today's car sellers believe you should be happy they are there to clean out your wallet.

Selling a car with that kind of grinding noise going on is also unreasonable.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Used cars are known to have issues. that is why God created test drives.

Also, doesn't hurt to take the car to a qualified mechanic and pay to have the car inspected. You want a written report from the mechanic. And, if it is an expensive or collector car, might be best to take the car to two different mechanics for a thorough inspection.


Remember boys and girls, the average car, SUV or truck has between 10,000 and 15,000 parts and many of them are moving parts.....