For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no big
deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm close
enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this is
I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
one. R.I.P
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
> big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
> close
> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
> is
> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
> one. R.I.P
>
>
LOL!!
Similar to my wife and I. I have a company truck. My wife's car is a '93
Chevy Caprice. It really is a nice car even with the 160,000 miles on the
clock. No rust, clean interior, and we are gonna drive it 'til the wheels
fall off, and probably will put them back on and drive it some more!
On the other hand I like motorcycles, always have. I have never been without
at least one motorcycle in my possession. Last summer the missus and I took
the plunge and bought our first Harley. Shopped around for used for a while,
then said screw it and dropped $21K+ for a new Ultra Classic. Some people
can not figure out why we would drive a $2000 car, and drop so much on a
bike. Well, you gotta have priorities! A car gets you to work and back, buy
groceries, no real enjoyment in that. The bike is much more important! We
ride it for pleasure, for enjoyment, much more important that getting to and
from work!
Greg
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> That said, I would buy from CarMax if shopping for a new car,
OOps make that if you are shopping for a USED car.
Wed, Dec 28, 2005, 3:01am (EST+5) [email protected] (CW) doth claimeth:
For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck",
<snip> Best I can hope for out of this is I get something that I will be
able to drive for as many years as the last one. R.I.P
Nah, you're looking at it all the wrong way. Get a brand new crate
engine, for something over a grand, have it installed for a bit more,
then you've got a totally reliable truck. And can keep on bugging the
people after you to get a new truck. Best of both worlds. Plus you
save a bundle.
Looks like my two sons are actually (really) getting ready to
finish my "new" truck for me. So hopefully, the new year will see me
hauling wood in it. But, for now my '79 GMC, half-ton, long bed, daily
driver, will do.
JOAT
You'll never get anywhere if you believe what you "hear".
What do you "know"?
- Granny Weatherwax
Dave Jackson wrote:
> holy moley!!! I thought I was stubborn hanging on to my 1984 Chevy 4x4 as
> long as I could.... Getcha a newer fuel injected one! I bought a 1997 Chevy
> 4x4 with the same (350ci) engine and get at least 10 mpg more. It makes a
> real difference! I drive close to 100 mi a day to and from work, the gas
> savings almost made the payment on the newer truck! --dave
> "
Dave Jackson wrote:
> holy moley!!! I thought I was stubborn hanging on to my 1984 Chevy 4x4 as
> long as I could.... Getcha a newer fuel injected one! I bought a 1997 Chevy
> 4x4 with the same (350ci) engine and get at least 10 mpg more. It makes a
> real difference! I drive close to 100 mi a day to and from work, the gas
> savings almost made the payment on the newer truck! --dave
> "
>
Hummm, my 1958 land-rover was sold on only a few years ago, still
running somewhere stateside....Still got me '52 Matchless though!
I've bought 3 vehicles from Carmax, been happy with each one and paid a fair
price for each one. I sold one back to them and replaced with it something
else, they made it pretty painless and the amount they paid was fair.
The buying transactions were easy too.
We financed one, paid cash and the trade-in for the other 2.
I'd go back and will when I need another vehicle.
John E.
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > That said, I would buy from CarMax if shopping for a new car,
>
> OOps make that if you are shopping for a USED car.
>
>
CW wrote:
> The money is no big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles.
<snip?
SFWIW, the last time I bought a vehicle, never got out of my chair in
front of the puter, except to go to the nearest dealer, write down the
model numbers needed to spec the vehicle and come home.
I wanted the lowest cost "Tonka Toy", on the planet.
4 cyl, stick, air & FM radio. That's it.
There are 50 Toyota dealers within 20 miles.
Sent each one a fax requesting a bid by return fax.
Refused to answer any phone calls, faxes, etc, asking questions
concerning bid request.
Probably got about 20 bids by return fax.
Selected lowest bid and bought truck.
THe whole process didn't take more than about a half day.
YMMV.
Lew
I've been looking in the paper today at the ads. It appears to be a buyers
market right now. Good timing. Another thing in my favor is that I live just
outside Seattle. There are probably 100 car dealers in a 15 mile radius.
Don't like the deal, there's always someone else. Thanks for the tip on the
book. I'll look that one up.
"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Good luck. Certainly understand your feeling regarding dealing with car
> dealers (almost feel like you have to take a shower after visiting the
> showroom). Try to find one where they simply show you the cars and tell
> you the asking price without pressuring you (there are a few of those out
> there). If they sit you down and ask you what it's going to take to get
> you to drive out with the vehicle *now*, get up and walk out -- they
aren't
> worth dealing with. Get yourself a copy of a book "Never Get Taken Again
> -- The NEW Rules for Buying a Car" by Remar Sutton. I read an earlier
> version of that book, it was quite helpful disclosing the various tactics
> dealers use.
>
> I don't know what conditions are like now, given the recent gas price
> runup, reasonably-priced used pickups may be easily obtained. When I
> bought my 97 F-150, I found that all of the used pickups available were at
> or around 80k or more miles and only yet priced at around 2/3 the cost of
> a new pickup. I decided that new was more cost-effective than used at
that
> point.
>
>
>
>
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----+
>
> If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough
>
>
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----+
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
> big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
> close
> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
> is
> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
> one. R.I.P
>
>
My trucks never die of old age... My two sons have killed three of them...
in '96, I "loaned" a 91 Mitsubishi to son #1 for college, maintained it for
him till I moved to Japan in '99 only to have him total it soon after...
in '01 I bought a '99 S10 for son #2 to take to college (with hope of
getting it when i transfered back to the states and he had a job)... that
one lasted a year before he loaned it to a buddy who totaled it...
in Jan 04 I gave son #1 a 02 Ranger that I really liked and hoped to get
from him when he steadied out (new chemical engineering job (7 years of
college) after he tired of his restaurant job) and he had that one stolen 8
months later...
lesson learned... when you find a truck you like, make it one that has
everybody wondering why you own it and it will live a long time.
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I new I couldn't be the only one.
>
> "Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> LOL!!
>> Similar to my wife and I. I have a company truck. My wife's car is a '93
>> Chevy Caprice. It really is a nice car even with the 160,000 miles on the
>> clock. No rust, clean interior, and we are gonna drive it 'til the wheels
>> fall off, and probably will put them back on and drive it some more!
>> On the other hand I like motorcycles, always have. I have never been
> without
>> at least one motorcycle in my possession. Last summer the missus and I
> took
>> the plunge and bought our first Harley. Shopped around for used for a
> while,
>> then said screw it and dropped $21K+ for a new Ultra Classic. Some people
>> can not figure out why we would drive a $2000 car, and drop so much on a
>> bike. Well, you gotta have priorities! A car gets you to work and back,
> buy
>> groceries, no real enjoyment in that. The bike is much more important! We
>> ride it for pleasure, for enjoyment, much more important that getting to
> and
>> from work!
>> Greg
>>
>>
>
>
Well, CW, it is a big club if you'll just look around. Ya gotta believe!
Beej
Charles Self wrote:
> I had an '87 Dodge D150, slant six, that I ran from '88 until 2003. It
> wasn't a world beater for power, gas mileage or much else, but it ran
> reliably, and had only one non-normal repair in my 165,000 miles of
> use...pinhole in the water pump, so that had to be replaced. Otherwise, all
> maintenance. I was afraid, with 200,000 or so on the clock, it wouldn't make
> it over the mountains to WV, so I sold it in '03 for about 30% of what I
> paid for it in '88. The guy is still driving it locally.
>
> I am currently driving a '98 S10 that is far less of a world beater anywhere
> except gas mileage. At my current driving pace, it may outlast me.
Just passed 100,000 miles on my Tonka Toy.
Freind of mine just drove cross country with his which has over 350,000
on it.
Other than oil and filters changed on a regular basis, the only other
items replaced include some rubber, a set of plugs & wires, and new
front brakes at 90,000.
When it passes 400,000, will probably sell it and stop driving.
Detroit seems unwilling to build products with that kind of reliability.
Lew
Charles Self wrote:
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
>> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
>> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
>> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
>> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
>> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
>> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
>> big
>> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
>> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
>> close
>> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up
>> there with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of
>> this is
>> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the
>> last
>> one. R.I.P
>>
>
> I had an '87 Dodge D150, slant six, that I ran from '88 until 2003. It
> wasn't a world beater for power, gas mileage or much else, but it ran
> reliably, and had only one non-normal repair in my 165,000 miles of
> use...pinhole in the water pump, so that had to be replaced. Otherwise,
> all maintenance. I was afraid, with 200,000 or so on the clock, it
> wouldn't make it over the mountains to WV, so I sold it in '03 for about
> 30% of what I paid for it in '88. The guy is still driving it locally.
>
> I am currently driving a '98 S10 that is far less of a world beater
> anywhere except gas mileage. At my current driving pace, it may outlast
> me.
That 220 slant 6 was one of the best engines ever built. I had one in an old
73 dodge van. It easily had over 200,000 miles on it when it was retired
and sold. Bought it just after high school and used it for everything.
Rich
--
"you can lead them to LINUX
but you can't make them THINK"
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
> big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
> close
> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
> is
> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
> one. R.I.P
>
I had an '87 Dodge D150, slant six, that I ran from '88 until 2003. It
wasn't a world beater for power, gas mileage or much else, but it ran
reliably, and had only one non-normal repair in my 165,000 miles of
use...pinhole in the water pump, so that had to be replaced. Otherwise, all
maintenance. I was afraid, with 200,000 or so on the clock, it wouldn't make
it over the mountains to WV, so I sold it in '03 for about 30% of what I
paid for it in '88. The guy is still driving it locally.
I am currently driving a '98 S10 that is far less of a world beater anywhere
except gas mileage. At my current driving pace, it may outlast me.
On 12/27/2005 10:19 PM Greg O mumbled something about the following:
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
>> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
>> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
>> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
>> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
>> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
>> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
>> big
>> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
>> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
>> close
>> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
>> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
>> is
>> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
>> one. R.I.P
>>
>>
> LOL!!
> Similar to my wife and I. I have a company truck. My wife's car is a '93
> Chevy Caprice. It really is a nice car even with the 160,000 miles on the
> clock. No rust, clean interior, and we are gonna drive it 'til the wheels
> fall off, and probably will put them back on and drive it some more!
> On the other hand I like motorcycles, always have. I have never been without
> at least one motorcycle in my possession. Last summer the missus and I took
> the plunge and bought our first Harley. Shopped around for used for a while,
> then said screw it and dropped $21K+ for a new Ultra Classic. Some people
> can not figure out why we would drive a $2000 car, and drop so much on a
> bike. Well, you gotta have priorities! A car gets you to work and back, buy
> groceries, no real enjoyment in that. The bike is much more important! We
> ride it for pleasure, for enjoyment, much more important that getting to and
> from work!
> Greg
>
>
My geezerglide is my primary transportation as well as for my
relaxation. I ride year round to/from work 40 miles each way, so I rack
up the miles (about 25,000 a year). Today was a relaxation day, 225
miles going absolutely nowhere (hmmm, don't remember this road, wonder
where it goes, ahh, I think I'll take this road, etc). After 6 hrs, I
finally found the road heading home.
--
Odinn
'03 FLHTi ~73,000 miles
Sturgis 2005, 7500 miles and 24 days
http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/Sturgis2005
holy moley!!! I thought I was stubborn hanging on to my 1984 Chevy 4x4 as
long as I could.... Getcha a newer fuel injected one! I bought a 1997 Chevy
4x4 with the same (350ci) engine and get at least 10 mpg more. It makes a
real difference! I drive close to 100 mi a day to and from work, the gas
savings almost made the payment on the newer truck! --dave
"
CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
> big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
> close
> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
> is
> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
> one. R.I.P
>
>
I new I couldn't be the only one.
"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> LOL!!
> Similar to my wife and I. I have a company truck. My wife's car is a '93
> Chevy Caprice. It really is a nice car even with the 160,000 miles on the
> clock. No rust, clean interior, and we are gonna drive it 'til the wheels
> fall off, and probably will put them back on and drive it some more!
> On the other hand I like motorcycles, always have. I have never been
without
> at least one motorcycle in my possession. Last summer the missus and I
took
> the plunge and bought our first Harley. Shopped around for used for a
while,
> then said screw it and dropped $21K+ for a new Ultra Classic. Some people
> can not figure out why we would drive a $2000 car, and drop so much on a
> bike. Well, you gotta have priorities! A car gets you to work and back,
buy
> groceries, no real enjoyment in that. The bike is much more important! We
> ride it for pleasure, for enjoyment, much more important that getting to
and
> from work!
> Greg
>
>
"Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
>> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
>> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
>> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
>> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
>> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
>> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
>> big
>> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
>> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
>> close
>> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up
>> there
>> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
>> is
>> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the
>> last
>> one. R.I.P
>>
>>
>
> My trucks never die of old age... My two sons have killed three of them...
> in '96, I "loaned" a 91 Mitsubishi to son #1 for college, maintained it
> for him till I moved to Japan in '99 only to have him total it soon
> after...
> in '01 I bought a '99 S10 for son #2 to take to college (with hope of
> getting it when i transfered back to the states and he had a job)... that
> one lasted a year before he loaned it to a buddy who totaled it...
> in Jan 04 I gave son #1 a 02 Ranger that I really liked and hoped to get
> from him when he steadied out (new chemical engineering job (7 years of
> college) after he tired of his restaurant job) and he had that one stolen
> 8 months later...
> lesson learned... when you find a truck you like, make it one that has
> everybody wondering why you own it and it will live a long time.
>
Actually, lesson learned: never loan a kid anything you truly want back.
"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If they sit you down and ask you what it's going to take to get
> you to drive out with the vehicle *now*, get up and walk out -- they
aren't
> worth dealing with.
I'd have to disagree with that statement Mark. As a sales guy in high tech,
that's the ultimate question. It's always best put on the table up front.
There's different ways to ask it, but it's always a discovery point that is
quickly approached and sometimes, even that directly. It quickly determines
whether the buyer and the seller have any good reason to spend any of each
other's time.
When asked that question, the buyer should be able to answer it with a fair
price offer. Perhaps allowing for a bit of time to consider the question,
but it's not an unreasonable question. When I go to buy a car, I've got my
choices of cars narrowed down to one of a couple or few different models,
have researched them on the net and have a good feel for the book values
(all three categories) of each model equipped as I would want it. That puts
me in a good position to either preempt that question with an initial offer,
or to answer the question if it's asked before I make an offer.
The question itself is a perfectly legitimate question though that invites
the process of negotiation. That's a big part of what buying a car is all
about. I'd be much more concerned about a dealer who tried to avoid that
process.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
Lew has a good suggestion... I used a slightly differnt flavor of that
approach.
I have fewer dealers to choose from. It took me one afternoon of driving
around to come to the conclusion that there had to be a better way.
Rule 1. Don't confuse shopping with buying. Those things happen on different
days.
Shop, that is figure out what you want and what is out there. Go ahead and
kick tires to figure out what you want, but the answer to what is out there
can be had online.
Research. It takes all of 10 minutes to determine what you should/are
willing to pay with on-line research.
I did all my shopping on-line. When it came time to buy, I showed up at the
dealer and said "I beleive you have VIN xxx" on your lot, I would like to
take it for a test drive.
20 minutes of test drive, 20 minutes of negotiation and, 10 minutes of
paperwork; done in under an hour.
CHeers,
Steve
"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> CW wrote:
>
> > The money is no big
> > deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles.
>
> <snip?
>
> SFWIW, the last time I bought a vehicle, never got out of my chair in
> front of the puter, except to go to the nearest dealer, write down the
> model numbers needed to spec the vehicle and come home.
>
> I wanted the lowest cost "Tonka Toy", on the planet.
>
> 4 cyl, stick, air & FM radio. That's it.
>
> There are 50 Toyota dealers within 20 miles.
>
> Sent each one a fax requesting a bid by return fax.
>
> Refused to answer any phone calls, faxes, etc, asking questions
> concerning bid request.
>
> Probably got about 20 bids by return fax.
>
> Selected lowest bid and bought truck.
>
> THe whole process didn't take more than about a half day.
>
> YMMV.
>
> Lew
"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Probably got about 20 bids by return fax.
>
> Selected lowest bid and bought truck.
>
> THe whole process didn't take more than about a half day.
That's a lot of bids. How much difference betweenthe highs and lows?
Now you can do the specs from web pages. I already know what I'm going to
buy next summer right down to the options and color.
Last time it took about 15 minutes at the dealer's place. Dealer had
exactly what I wanted, asked for a price. It was too high and started to
leave. Told him I had a price in mind, all he had to do was match it. After
a few minutes with his calculator, he beat it by $100 so I bought.
Be sure to check www.kbb.com for some pricing information also.
Great idea. Thanks.
"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> CW wrote:
>
> > The money is no big
> > deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles.
>
> <snip?
>
> SFWIW, the last time I bought a vehicle, never got out of my chair in
> front of the puter, except to go to the nearest dealer, write down the
> model numbers needed to spec the vehicle and come home.
>
> I wanted the lowest cost "Tonka Toy", on the planet.
>
> 4 cyl, stick, air & FM radio. That's it.
>
> There are 50 Toyota dealers within 20 miles.
>
> Sent each one a fax requesting a bid by return fax.
>
> Refused to answer any phone calls, faxes, etc, asking questions
> concerning bid request.
>
> Probably got about 20 bids by return fax.
>
> Selected lowest bid and bought truck.
>
> THe whole process didn't take more than about a half day.
>
> YMMV.
>
> Lew
On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 03:01:54 GMT, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
>When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
>would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
>this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
>money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
>it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
>never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no big
>deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
>the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm close
>enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
>with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this is
>I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
>one. R.I.P
>
Good luck. Certainly understand your feeling regarding dealing with car
dealers (almost feel like you have to take a shower after visiting the
showroom). Try to find one where they simply show you the cars and tell
you the asking price without pressuring you (there are a few of those out
there). If they sit you down and ask you what it's going to take to get
you to drive out with the vehicle *now*, get up and walk out -- they aren't
worth dealing with. Get yourself a copy of a book "Never Get Taken Again
-- The NEW Rules for Buying a Car" by Remar Sutton. I read an earlier
version of that book, it was quite helpful disclosing the various tactics
dealers use.
I don't know what conditions are like now, given the recent gas price
runup, reasonably-priced used pickups may be easily obtained. When I
bought my 97 F-150, I found that all of the used pickups available were at
or around 80k or more miles and only yet priced at around 2/3 the cost of
a new pickup. I decided that new was more cost-effective than used at that
point.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Lew Hodgett said:
>Just passed 100,000 miles on my Tonka Toy.
I just sold, reluctantly, two cars that I have had since 1979 and
1983. The Toyota with 4-ME straight six and EFI had over 360,000
miles, and the Peugeot had over 480,000 miles.
http://webpages.charter.net/videodoctor/toyota.htm
http://webpages.charter.net/videodoctor/peugeot.htm
Both still ran, just didn't have room. It was like selling a child...
(SWMBO wouldn't buy that argument...)
FWIW,
Greg G.
On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 23:11:38 -0500, "Mike Marlow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> If they sit you down and ask you what it's going to take to get
>> you to drive out with the vehicle *now*, get up and walk out -- they
>aren't
>> worth dealing with.
>
>I'd have to disagree with that statement Mark. As a sales guy in high tech,
>that's the ultimate question. It's always best put on the table up front.
>There's different ways to ask it, but it's always a discovery point that is
>quickly approached and sometimes, even that directly. It quickly determines
>whether the buyer and the seller have any good reason to spend any of each
>other's time.
>
I certainly agree that the question is not unreasonable, it is the
tactics used that are disagreeable.
>When asked that question, the buyer should be able to answer it with a fair
>price offer. Perhaps allowing for a bit of time to consider the question,
Therein lies one of the problems at the "high-pressure" dealerships, time
is all on their side, they are not going to allow one to consider the
question
>but it's not an unreasonable question. When I go to buy a car, I've got my
>choices of cars narrowed down to one of a couple or few different models,
>have researched them on the net and have a good feel for the book values
>(all three categories) of each model equipped as I would want it. That puts
>me in a good position to either preempt that question with an initial offer,
>or to answer the question if it's asked before I make an offer.
>
When in the initial process of looking, I will go into a dealership to
get a feel for some of the candidates on my list. This is also the time
when I will form an opinion of the dealership itself. There are
dealerships that despite the fact you have told them up-front that at this
time, you are looking and downselecting a candidate list of cars that will
still try to get you to "drive it off the lot now". Those are the
dealerships to stay away from.
>The question itself is a perfectly legitimate question though that invites
>the process of negotiation. That's a big part of what buying a car is all
>about. I'd be much more concerned about a dealer who tried to avoid that
>process.
In the proper context I agree.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
I worked in the new car industry for many years and typically get a good
deal as I know the jargon that lets them know that I am on to their game.
That said, I would buy from CarMax if shopping for a new car, providing you
have one local. There IS NO PRESSURE to buy anything.
"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For the last fifteen years, I have been driving a 1976 Ford F250 pickup.
> When people would ask "when are you going to buy yourself a new truck", I
> would tell them that I would get a new (to me, I don't buy new) one when
> this one died. Well, today I pronounced it. With a bit of work and more
> money than I'm willing to put into it, it has a few more years in it but
> it's not worth it to me. This is a dark day. Not because my truck died, I
> never really liked it, but now I have to buy a new one. The money is no
> big
> deal, I just loath shopping for vehicles. I hate to drive. I can tell you
> the make and model of every car and truck on the road, as long as I'm
> close
> enough to read the nameplate. In addition, car dealers rate right up there
> with lawyers as my most favorite people. Best I can hope for out of this
> is
> I get something that I will be able to drive for as many years as the last
> one. R.I.P
>
>