The Car Buying Experience Part I

At 38 years of age, it's ironic that I have purchased a home but never purchased a car. I've always used my parents' car or had one "handed" down to me. Since it's time for me to bite the bullet and actually buy a car, I've done some internet research as well as gotten some internet quotes on a couple of cars that I'm interested in. Using the Edmunds.com website to compare cars and read the reviews. I winnowed my list to three cars. On the subcompact level, I chose to Nissan Versa. For the sedan, I chose the Hyundai Elantra. And the third was the Toyota Prius. With a click of the mouse, I was able to at least three dealerships selling each car to email me prices that they would be willing to sell me the car I chose with the specifications I wanted. Within eight hours, my email was FLOODED with introductions as well as actually price quotes on each of the three cars. I was overwhelmed with information and went into paralysis mode. I stopped thinking about buying a car for three or four days.

My mom came down to visit me as she does during one of my week-long breaks every year. With her by my side, I trekked down to the Toyota dealership in Fremont (we were there visiting her friends) to start the process. I stepped onto the front landing of the dealership and was immediately greeted by a salesman. Within 2 minutes, I knew there was NO WAY I was purchasing a car from this man. He was the worst salesman ever. It's not that he was pushy or slimy, it's that he had no concept that to sell a car, it wasn't his experience. He hovered over me, he told me what to do. When I was in the car, sitting in the drivers seat orienting myself with all the features, he on more than one occasion said, "let's go". Uhh, NO. I will go when I want to go. On the test drive itself, he didn't ask me if I wanted to drive on the freeway or if I wanted to go anywhere beyond down the street one mile and back. He even told me how fast to drive.

When I got through with the test drive, I reiterated to him that I was in no position to actually purchase a car that day. He insisted on having me go in and meet his manager and give him my phone number. I refused both and he got exasperated. I asked him why do I need to do these things if I'm not ready to buy. After some hemming and hawing he told me that he would get grilled by his manager were he to simply let me walk off. In a moment of pity, I went inside to meet the manager. It only got worse. I told him that I was looking for things that would make me NOT like the car. If a car doesn't have some annoying trait or feature, then I'm going to like it. I'm looking for reasons not to purchase rather than the converse. He wasn't listening to me. I answered the question three times before my Mom chimed in and spoke for me.

As we left the dealership showmroom, I let out a big sound of relief. I felt completely violated and this was a simple test drive. To get to where our car was parked, we had to walk through the used car lot. I made the mistake of stopping to look at a car for a moment. WHOOSH, there was a salesman. Asking me what I was interested in, what I wanted was there any way I could get provide him a sale today. He ran from car to car. My and I simply walked to our destination. As I'm backing out, this large unknown to me man is blocking me from where I was trying to go. It was the used car manager wanting to know about my opinions and thoughts about any of the cars.

So I end this episode with a memory from childhood. I, like many young boys of my generation, were raised on matchbox cars and the like. I remember being fond of these cars, to the point where I collected them. One day, I remember this as clear as day, my Dad must have jokingly asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said that I wanted to become a "car salesman." NOW, I know why Dad basically had a coronary on the spot.

You would think that I could follow directions

Getting the actual funds from my insurance company for the value of the Subaru has been one comic mishap after another. Both times, they were my fault. The first time, I was required to locate the certificate of title and make sure to go online to find the instructions on where to sign and then send it in. The representative on the phone said that at least 50% of people get the signature(s) wrong. Well, I fell into that half that had to have a form sent out from the insurance company giving the company power of attorney to act on my behalf to do whatever they need to do and give me my money.

I was sent the power of attorney sheet ALONG WITH a blank copy that clearly stated "SIGN HERE (Black Ink Only)", "PRINT NAME HERE (Black Ink Only)". There were three separate boxes on the form in which I was only supposed to sign in the last two. 30 seconds later I check the form to see that I've done it correctly and OOPS, I signed the first two boxes. I don't know what I was thinking when I put whiteout over the misplaced signature, but that's what I did and sent in the form.

A couple days later, I get a call from one of the representatives saying that they are sending me another power of attorney form express mail. Yesterday, I went up to my local corner store where I know the owner and I had her make sure that I was doing it right before I signed it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.