The Other Used Vehicle Experience

[oldE]

Or: Why I like living in here.

Safety Inspection revealed our 98 F150 was going to need more work than I was willing to put into it, so it was time to move on to a newer truck. A few days of research on mid-2000s vehicles available in the area gave us a list and price range.

On Tuesday, we took a drive. The nearest dealer is 30 miles away.
Our first stop took us to the GM dealer. When we walked in, the first person I saw was Rob. I have known Rob since he worked for one of our drivers twenty five years ago, my wife knew him when she taught elementary school. We gave him our wish list and he told us what he had available and apologized he had nothing meeting our needs today. We chatted for a while, thanked him, shook his hand and walked out.

Second stop was the Ford dealer. A few days before I had talked with Scott, who I have known for over twenty years, regarding a truck he had taken in on trade. He took our old vehicle for a drive, came back and made another offer. He came awfully close to our budget, but we had to tell him we couldn't swing it. He said, "No hard feelings." Thanked us for coming in and said he hoped we'd be back.

A mile up the road is a private dealer which used to be a VW shop. We have, since the early 80s, bought 4 cars from these folks. They had a truck on the lot that looked to fill the bill. We stopped in and before we could ask for the keys they were in our hand. Ed (who we have known since he was washing the cars) and his dad, (the owner) looked over our truck while we took theirs for a drive. When we came back, I told Ed what we wanted for our truck, he made an offer. In the next five minutes we worked out they would transfer our cap and trailer brake controller and would loan us a car so we didn't have to hang around while we waited. Two hours later, we came back. All was done. We signed the paperwork and a cheque and drove our 2006 F150 home.

Did we pay the absolute rock bottom price for the truck? Probably not, but I know (from experience) if I call up or stop by with a concern they will look after me however they need to.

I mentioned in another thread there is more to a purchase than the bottom line. When you are dealing with friends, you are perhaps wiling to acknowledge this is their living and you would like them to be around to look after you in the future. Maybe it is a rural thing, stemming out of a sense of community. In any case, I feel a lot of empathy for folks who spend time in dealerships where they feel they are a mark.
May your next vehicle, house or other purchase be done through someone you trust and respect.

Best
Les

[desertt5]

I want to buy my next car up there.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by oldE

I mentioned in another thread there is more to a purchase than the bottom line. When you are dealing with friends, you are perhaps wiling to acknowledge this is their living and you would like them to be around to look after you in the future. Maybe it is a rural thing, stemming out of a sense of community.

There is a whole lot of truth in the above.

The independent mechanic I have used for over 20 years charges more for his work, but he is honest and impeccable.

I was on a business trip many years ago. My wife called and said she had broken down on the beltway on her way home from work and needed our AAA number. This was early in our marriage and she was driving a 1986 Ford Ranger. We also had two infants at home. It was also raining.

I gave it to her and then called Bill.

Bill dropped what he was doing and jumped in his tow truck to go get my wife, about a 40 mile round trip. He got the Ranger back to his shop and lent my wife his car so she could get home to the kids. We lived about 20 miles away, south.

He didn't charge us a thing.

[recycled sixtie]

I avoid dealerships because:

1. The 2nd to last time I went to a dealership I had trouble getting my keys back to my trade in Chrys. van. I was just at the point of calling the police to get the keys back.....

2. The last time I went to a dealership I was subsequently bombarded with ph. calls from the dealership to buy which I did not.

I like buying and selling privately (I am a used car buyer only now) because:

1. You can more readily get receipts on work done.
2. You can assess the seller's personality - how diligent is re. maintenance etc.
3. More flexible on price.

Oh yes. I think folks down east meaning Nova Scotia, New Brunswick etc.are more down to earth, caring and easier to deal with. Sounds like you have a good car seller/repair shop in N.S. You are right sometimes a bit more $$$ will give you better service.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

I avoid dealerships because:

1. The 2nd to last time I went to a dealership I had trouble getting my keys back to my trade in Chrys. van. I was just at the point of calling the police to get the keys back.....

I had that happen on a test drive a few years back. I was ready to start serving up haymakers and breaking random stuff until I got my keys back. Told the guy that I will never visit this dealership again and I will tell all my friends not to come because of this treatment. Almost like holding you prisoner.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

I avoid dealerships because:

1. The 2nd to last time I went to a dealership I had trouble getting my keys back to my trade in Chrys. van. I was just at the point of calling the police to get the keys back.....

A dealer did this to me once, back when Auto Trader was a printed magazine.

I dropped the tailgate on a pick-up, sat down, and right where they could see & hear, started calling about other cars.

They came out from the back pretty quickly with their "offer". I said no thanks and left.