pennypinch
04-29-2001, 04:41 PM
Wow. If ever there was a demographic seemingly spawned from inferior DNA, it must be that of the average car salesman. I swear, it's like their parents smoked and drank heavily during pregnancy, and by some stroke of luck (or government intervention) they all end up in the same "profession".
I'm not even talking about the Yugo or Geo dealers, either. You'd think, with the sort of bigger-ticket items sold at an Acura or Infiniti dealership, you'd attract a slightly better class of humans. WRONG!
So I strolled into the Glendale Lincoln/Mercury dealership today. Wanted to look at an LS. Now, I'm a pretty young guy (22), and I was dressed pretty casually: short sleeve button-up shirt and a pair of cargo shorts, with flip-flops, no less. In short, I looked like your average young urban professional with flip flops instead of shoes. The guys at the Lincoln dealership not only didn't deign to help me, but also couldn't figure out if a car was used or new, DESPITE THE FACT IT ONLY HAD A LIMITED WARRENTY. Yeesh! Suffice to say, I spent a grand total of about 8 minutes in the joint, didn't even ask to test drive one of their pieces of crap, and told them straight out how useless and moronic they were.
Rolled across the street to the Glendale Infiniti dealership, and was promptly greeted by an amiable, if slow, chap. I started to discuss what I was looking for, and quickly realized I was dealing with an oversized amoeba. Around and around in circles we went, until finally I just asked to take a test drive. Now comes the best part. Pulling the test car our of the (admittedly very small) parking space, the guy manages to hit not one, not two, but THREE other cars on the lot. Whatever, better for me! I've got this guys balls in a vice grip, negotiation wise! "Hey, if you can't throw that navigation system in for free, I might have to mention you were playing A-team with the new car lot!"
Driving around, I quickly sized the guy up for what he was: a mentally- disabled guy that was probably a friend or relative of the dealership owner. *sigh* If I had actually liked the car, I bet I could have scored it for thousands less than invoice. Alas, the I30 is a bitterly disappointing car, from it's wack stereo, to it's humdrum engine, to the chinsey, Honda-esque feel of its switchgear, right down to the only-California nav system. Booo!!!
So it looks like a battle between an Acura TL Type-S or a 1994 Porsche Speedster, if I can find one at the right price and colour (non-yellow, thank you very much!).
Oh, and when I've made my money, I'm going into selling cars. I'd bet a half-competant human being would make a killing.
I'm not even talking about the Yugo or Geo dealers, either. You'd think, with the sort of bigger-ticket items sold at an Acura or Infiniti dealership, you'd attract a slightly better class of humans. WRONG!
So I strolled into the Glendale Lincoln/Mercury dealership today. Wanted to look at an LS. Now, I'm a pretty young guy (22), and I was dressed pretty casually: short sleeve button-up shirt and a pair of cargo shorts, with flip-flops, no less. In short, I looked like your average young urban professional with flip flops instead of shoes. The guys at the Lincoln dealership not only didn't deign to help me, but also couldn't figure out if a car was used or new, DESPITE THE FACT IT ONLY HAD A LIMITED WARRENTY. Yeesh! Suffice to say, I spent a grand total of about 8 minutes in the joint, didn't even ask to test drive one of their pieces of crap, and told them straight out how useless and moronic they were.
Rolled across the street to the Glendale Infiniti dealership, and was promptly greeted by an amiable, if slow, chap. I started to discuss what I was looking for, and quickly realized I was dealing with an oversized amoeba. Around and around in circles we went, until finally I just asked to take a test drive. Now comes the best part. Pulling the test car our of the (admittedly very small) parking space, the guy manages to hit not one, not two, but THREE other cars on the lot. Whatever, better for me! I've got this guys balls in a vice grip, negotiation wise! "Hey, if you can't throw that navigation system in for free, I might have to mention you were playing A-team with the new car lot!"
Driving around, I quickly sized the guy up for what he was: a mentally- disabled guy that was probably a friend or relative of the dealership owner. *sigh* If I had actually liked the car, I bet I could have scored it for thousands less than invoice. Alas, the I30 is a bitterly disappointing car, from it's wack stereo, to it's humdrum engine, to the chinsey, Honda-esque feel of its switchgear, right down to the only-California nav system. Booo!!!
So it looks like a battle between an Acura TL Type-S or a 1994 Porsche Speedster, if I can find one at the right price and colour (non-yellow, thank you very much!).
Oh, and when I've made my money, I'm going into selling cars. I'd bet a half-competant human being would make a killing.