More car stuff

[altivo]

Went to the Ford dealer on my lunch break, drove an '07 Escape with the 4 cyl. engine but it had an automatic transmission. Liked it, except for the automatic. It will suit, so I asked them to get me a price with the 5 speed manual. A series of questions about options, like radio, roof racks, and so forth followed. Twenty minutes later they had located two vehicles that met my requirements, even down to color (one blue, one red) so I told them to go ahead and try to trade with the other dealer to get me one. They seemed sure they could manage that so I left them a deposit. If they can't get either one, I'll just custom order and wait. I know what I want.

Compared to other experiences with car dealers, this was pretty pleasant. I always go with a pretty firm idea of what I'm after. Sometimes they try and try to sell me something different. I have walked out of a number of places for that reason. No arguments this time, it was "the customer is always right" all the way. Now we'll see if they can deliver. They claimed they would have the new car by tomorrow, and I doubt that. By Thursday sounds more like it, or possibly the custom order will be necessary.

I was amused by the surprise they expressed at my preference for a manual transmission. "You're one of a dying breed," the salesman said. Later the sales manager asked me again if it was really true that I had never owned an automatic. I assured him that it was. I've owned six automobiles, three of which were purchased new. All had manual transmissions. I've never had a clutch replaced or a transmission overhauled. I always get exceptional mileage. Good reasons to stick with what I'm used to.

When I asked if they'd give me a trade-in value on my Cherokee, there was more surprise. "You bought that new? I guess we won't be seeing you back for another car for a while..." Well, I hope not. I believe in getting my money's worth out of a purchase that size. ;p

Comments

[doco.livejournal.com]

They likely think you're one of those old farts who come in every 12 years to buy a new vehicle after their old one has rotten away, and therefore must be milked at the regular service intervals instead, because you won't know that a modern car can well handle 15,000 miles without an oil change.
Expect lots of customer loyalty coupons. ;)

That, and driving stick is aiding the terrerists because it's un-American. It makes perfectly sense if you expect driving on unpaved roads or in fierce conditions though.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Spoons on you for your crits on Manual gearboxes XD

I love manuals, a lot simpler, direct power and better fuel economy (not including CVT) And having the right gear at the right time and not having to floor it to get it to kick down ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

And where I live and the way I drive, I don't need to do those 3000 mile maintenance things anyway. Even by the book, I'm allowed to go 6000 miles or six months, which is what I do as a rule. Not that skipping a $29 oil change is that much saving, but not wasting the oil is significant in my opinion.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

They did a study in America I remember reading and it's actually cheaper to buy and keep a car and repair it if things go wrong rather than buying one on loan and swapping it every couple of years.

My little hatchback still had the original clutch in it, I only replaced it because I was replacing the release bearing and the pressure plate. That car had done a 120,000miles too :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, and rather than borrowing money to buy a car, I prefer to save it up myself and pay cash price all at once. No payments, no debt. Instead of paying interest, I collect it. :)

[pioneer11.livejournal.com]

Your right about getting your moneys worth. If you buy a vehicle
make sure its what you want and, to quote my father-in-law;

"Drive it till the wheels turn square"

As for driving a stick...I'd like that but I'm the only
member of the family that can do it, so, autotrans it is.

I'm glad they got you what you wanted without fuss.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Someone said to me a few days ago: "Having a stick shift means that your friends/kids/spouse don't ask to borrow the car." ;p

These days, that appears to be true. I suppose next time I buy a car, they won't even make them any more.

[flaredragon.livejournal.com]

I can't stand stick.... just the idea of possibly stalling out the car every single time you shift gears is enough to make me stay away. My concentration can't handle both the road and not stalling at the same time. x-x I think manuals are just way more effort than they're worth.

One of a dying breed, indeed. You would get along well with Equus. =P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I remember feeling that way. Driver Ed classes taught only automatics of course. But my mom had a red Corvair convertible. It was a stick, and I wanted to drive it. She said I could. So I learned. It becomes a very automatic process, you don't have to think about it at all once learned. I think the right brain does it. As a talented musician, I know you would learn to do it effortlessly if you needed or wanted to.

It really only takes a few days to get the hang of it if you persist. Where you are, you could probably practice on roads that aren't full of impatient drivers. I had to learn in Detroit Michigan where there are NO empty roads at all. :)

Yes, I'm pretty sure I'd get along with Equus on some level or other. He and I have some thoughts and ideas in common all right.

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

If the dealer works with you, and is pleasent, that's half the battle. Best of luck.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

They went all the way to East St. Louis to find the one I wanted. It's supposed to arrive tonight and be ready for me to pick up tomorrow morning. This dealer has always done pretty well on delivering what they promise, both for Gary and for me.