I hate vehicle shopping!

[Jstpssng]

Actually that isn't quite accurate. Going online makes it easy to check things out. Ihave x.00$ that I want to spend; I know what I need (2006 or newer,4wd, 5K towing capacity, 18+ highway mpg empty, average mileage for the year). I know what I want (manual shift Tacoma or Ranger extended cab 4x4). The problem is that I don't speak salesmanese, and getting a price needs a secret handshake.

This morning I found 2 trucks which I'm interested in on a dealer's website. I'll be going right past there tonight, I could close the deal and bring the check up tomorrow.
Except I had to ask for the price, so I dropped an email.
Strike 1.

I got a reply which told me everything except what I asked for.
Strike 2.

I replied

If you can't give me a price, I won't waste your time.

"The managers are all in a meeting, but if you stop by this afternoon...."

Strike 3, everything from here on goes directly to spam.

The radio DJ was talking about his car shopping experience this AM. He found a car which he really liked but the power rear windows were stuck open. He told them that he would buy it if they fixed the windows but they tried to haggle over it... and lost the sale.

He said "I should have warned them that I have no patience for used car salesmen."

I found his tale to be very timely, and a man after my own heart.

 

[Got2BTru]

I also hate the shopping experience as well, but the wife and I play "good cop/bad cop" (she's always bad cop).

Not sure I agree with you on the price thing though. They want you to come in and take a look. If you're solely going on price, you might be missing something.

 

[kcflhrc]

Very possible the managers were in a meeting, who knows. I would have told him to have one of them call me and give me a price. If they cant simply do that then move on. Sounds like the guy you were talking to probably had no authority to give you pricing based on what his managers told him to do. This is not uncommon and e-mail tire kickers are a dime a dozen. A simple phone call should have got you a price.

 

[Jstpssng]

I also hate the shopping experience as well, but the wife and I play "good cop/bad cop" (she's always bad cop).

Not sure I agree with you on the price thing though. They want you to come in and take a look. If you're solely going on price, you might be missing something.

Price is a factor on anything I purchase. I know what I want to spend on a vehicle, and am trying to determine what that money will buy me. I can buy Grand Cherokees with <90k all day long in my price range but hope to have a pickup.
There is no way under the sun that I'm paying $17000 for a 10 year old vehicle with <140k miles, which is what some dealers are trying to sell. (And apparently succeeding)

Very possible the managers were in a meeting, who knows. I would have told him to have one of them call me and give me a price. If they cant simply do that then move on. Sounds like the guy you were talking to probably had no authority to give you pricing based on what his managers told him to do. This is not uncommon and e-mail tire kickers are a dime a dozen. A simple phone call should have got you a price.

Some places have their prices clearly marked... this eliminates tire kickers. If the managers were in a meeting there was no reason to send a second email until they could answer my question.

 

[kcflhrc]

I dont know man, my new Silverado was almost $50k before rebates. Rebates and other offers brought it down to right at $42k. So although I would agree $17k is a lot for a 10 year old truck that's a far cry from a new one. But those Grand Cherokee's are fine machines and will go **** near anywhere.

 

[forgeblast]

Check out true car, sign up for the manufactures email they will send you discounts you can pile on. If you own a small business, sign up for their business stuff. I saved 14k off the asking price of the truck I bought. Truecar, and tons of coupons/business items.

 

[Jstpssng]

I dont know man, my new Silverado was almost $50k before rebates. Rebates and other offers brought it down to right at $42k. So although I would agree $17k is a lot for a 10 year old truck that's a far cry from a new one. But those Grand Cherokee's are fine machines and will go **** near anywhere.

I can buy a 2015 Tacoma extended cab 4x4 for 26K... Bare bones, but it would last as long as a fancy model. Not in my budget yet though, besides the next few years could bring some changes in trucks that size. I'm hearing rumors that Ford may bring back some rendition of the Ranger as soon as this winter, and GM is talking about a diesle Colorado which could get decent mileage (Hopefully not powered by Volkswagen.)
My neighbor just bought an F150 with a 2.8(?) Turbo that gets amazing mileage, and I don't expect the price of gas to stay down forever.

 

[kcflhrc]

The Silverado does pretty good on gas with the 5.3 EcoTec. My wife drives it about 40 miles daily round trip to work and averages 17 mpg. I still cant bring myself to buy foreign trucks but I do ride a Yamaha. Ford is a definite contender and I wish I would have at least looked at them before I bought the Chevy. But the Chevy in LTZ trim is a very nice truck. It will be with me for some time. I do miss my 2010 Avalanche though, what a cool vehicle that was. The new Colorado is nice but **** near as much as a full size truck.

 

[Jstpssng]

The Silverado does pretty good on gas with the 5.3 EcoTec. My wife drives it about 40 miles daily round trip to work and averages 17 mpg. I still cant bring myself to buy foreign trucks but I do ride a Yamaha. Ford is a definite contender and I wish I would have at least looked at them before I bought the Chevy. But the Chevy in LTZ trim is a very nice truck. It will be with me for some time. I do miss my 2010 Avalanche though, what a cool vehicle that was. The new Colorado is nice but **** near as much as a full size truck.

My company truck is a 2014 Silverado with the V6 which shuts off cylinders... if it's idling it sounds almost like a Model A. It gave me 18.5 last weekend, if not for my right foot I could probably get low 20's. I've been driving mostly GM products since 2002 though, and want a change of scenery as I look out over the hood.

 

[kcflhrc]

My company truck is a 2014 Silverado with the V6 which shuts off cylinders... if it's idling it sounds almost like a Model A. It gave me 18.5 last weekend, if not for my right foot I could probably get low 20's. I've been driving mostly GM products since 2002 though, and want a change of scenery as I look out over the hood.

You could get a different hood ornament :laughing: Didn't know the V6 had the Cylinder Deactivation. It isn't even noticeable on the V8