Trials and Tribulations: A weekend of test driving

[IMADreamer]

So I have taken the last few days to test drive some more cars. It's been intereting to say the least. For those of you who like short stories I haven't bought a new car yet.

The long version: Car dealers are assholes. I went to the Mazda dealership yesterday to drive an RX-8. They only had red ones so I knew I wouldn't be buying that day. Then there was the salesmen who was a total dick. All was well at first but then he started with the BS. "we can't go down on this price because this car is so hot we can barely keep them on the lot". My reply was "how come there are 6 of them here, 3 of which are 05s?" no response. Then after I asked him if he could order one in black, with the aero kit he had to go "talk to his manager" and for some reason three guys come back with him. They were ganging up on me and I definately felt uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable so I would buy a car but I'm going to leave uncomfortable. Then one of the guys said "can you even afford this car?" I got pissed and said "that's none of your damn business. It's between my bank and me." So I started to leave, then one guy was telling me to wait and we could talk, but I just got in my car and left. I will never buy a car from that dealership even if they sell me one for the change in my pocket.

Then there was this morning. After many people here suggested I look at a GTO I thought that maybe I was being closed minded and owed it to myself to look at a GTO. So I went to the local dealer who has an 05 in stock to drive it. When I got there someone was already testing it so I decided what the heck I will look at the Cobalt SS. They have one in burnt orenge which wouldn't not be my first color choice but oh well. So I drove it, and honestly it was impressive. The interior was very nice, it has loads of power and the gearbox feels good. However, after all that and a good half hour at the saleman's desk we came to 21700 OTD. I told him I would think about it but in reality I think I refuse to pay 21k for a FWD chevy. I wonder if I would be truely satisfied with it after the new wore off.

Well that's my test drive experience for this last few days. I am heading to Nissan later this week.

 

[guska]

car salesmen can be pricks, really. Good on you for not caving in to the first ones.

 

[Master_Yoda]

Yeah car salsemen can be pricks. But the people at Marin Honda, when me and my dad went to buy the 04' Accord. They were the nicest people i have met. I mean, i was like WHA! WHA! WHAT! I though you guys were assholes...

Anyways RX-8 isn't the greatest car.. But the Colbalt is a nice car I must say, but I wouldn't waste my mom on a FF Chevy either, I would be missing out on some of my favorite cars... Cause I can get a Black Toyota Supra 98' for about 10k around here...

I think you will like Nissan, what car you going to drive? 350Z? If so, convertable, or non?

 

[Jay]

Sadly many dearlers suck like that Mazda one, So you didn't stay long enough test the GTO?

Nice write up, look forward to more. 👍

 

[Duke]

Definitely try a GTO, particularly a used '05. In '05 when I was considering one, the '04s were dirt cheap even in pristine condition with minimal mileage. I realize there are a few model year differences, but some people buy them thinking they are something else, and flip them pretty quickly. The manual trans mission is a must-have, though the autos drive more like a GT car than some would care to admit.

You could easily be in an '04 GTO with well under 20,000 miles on it for about where you were dickering on that Cobalt.

 

[IMADreamer]

Sadly many dearlers suck like that Mazda one, So you didn't stay long enough test the GTO?

Nice write up, look forward to more. 👍

The couple that test drove the GTO were working on a deal for it when I had to go to work so I didn't get to drive it. I told the salesman if the deal fell through to call and I would come drive it. So we will see. There is another dealer about 30 minutes away that has 3 05s in stock so I may go there later this week to see what they have if I don't get to drive this one.

 

[IMADreamer]

I think you will like Nissan, what car you going to drive? 350Z? If so, convertable, or non?

I am looking at the nonconvetible. I think I am going to like it too. I have heard nothing but good things and I respect Nissan very much as an automaker.

 

[neanderthal]

definitely arrange your own financing first. if the dealer says they can do better, realise they get a little back from the bank, so you can negotiate that into your price too.

and be patient. getting in a new car is like taking a drug. i took my brother to pick up his car, sat in a new Z and nearly bought a car i didnt need. and i wasnt even the one who was there to buy a car.

test everything, every competitor. do it twice. do it three times. you'll change your mind several times. i love love love the G35 coupe, but that trunk opening is too small, even if the trunk itself is large enough.

if you regularly bike or paint or something, take your bike/ easel/ whatever and see it you can schlep it easily in the car.

and when you finally decide on the car, you can always check out a service like this (costco members only)or this and other services and agents who can prenegotiate a fixed price for members. if you dont have thier memberships, costco and AAA are only about $50 and could be worth whatever you save. i have both, i have never used the AAA and i only keep it so that my cousin who is on the account with me, can have it. even though she doesnt drive.

you can also check out edmunds.com to see dealer invoice, current rebates, holdbacks, etc.

and dont be afraid to bid two dealers against each other. which really means dont be too fixed on what you want in the car.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Was there any '06 GTO's at the dealer? Or did they sell all of them off? I haven't seen an '05 GTO, well, since the '05 model year finished off. The last few GTOs that the local Pontiac dealer was going to get are pretty much gone, and after I checked the other, they are on the way out as well. Id say that for the $32K or so to get a nicely equipped model (oh wait, there are like three options on it...) it is still one of the best deals out there, and offers up quite a bit of functionality compared to the rest of it's competition.

I've found a similar problem with the RX-8 here in Michigan as well, as they seem to be having some difficulty moving them off the dealer lots. The MX-5 is selling well, no questions there, but we still have a few '05 RX-8s as well. I just think the car is too damn expensive for what you get, not to say that it is a bad car all together, but it just isnt quite as much of a car as the 350Z or GTO.

I'm happy you liked the Cobalt SS, as they are pretty nice cars. Yeah, for $21K they might be a bit expensive for a FWD Chevy, but the Civic Si costs the same, and the GTI is another $2K on top of that. If you still like the Cobalt SS but what to cut the price, check out the model without the supercharger. With 171 (or is it 174?) BHP on tap, it is decently quick, and uses the same suspension and transmission as the S/C SS.

 

[IMADreamer]

...Was there any '06 GTO's at the dealer? Or did they sell all of them off? I haven't seen an '05 GTO, well, since the '05 model year finished off. The last few GTOs that the local Pontiac dealer was going to get are pretty much gone, and after I checked the other, they are on the way out as well. Id say that for the $32K or so to get a nicely equipped model (oh wait, there are like three options on it...) it is still one of the best deals out there, and offers up quite a bit of functionality compared to the rest of it's competition.

I've found a similar problem with the RX-8 here in Michigan as well, as they seem to be having some difficulty moving them off the dealer lots. The MX-5 is selling well, no questions there, but we still have a few '05 RX-8s as well. I just think the car is too damn expensive for what you get, not to say that it is a bad car all together, but it just isnt quite as much of a car as the 350Z or GTO.

I'm happy you liked the Cobalt SS, as they are pretty nice cars. Yeah, for $21K they might be a bit expensive for a FWD Chevy, but the Civic Si costs the same, and the GTI is another $2K on top of that. If you still like the Cobalt SS but what to cut the price, check out the model without the supercharger. With 171 (or is it 174?) BHP on tap, it is decently quick, and uses the same suspension and transmission as the S/C SS.

Of the three dealers in my area there are only two 06 GTOs. Both are automatics. The auto may actually be a good choice but I think I want to shift my own gears.

I considered the Civic SI but I refuse to pay that price for a civic. Honestly I think I would choose the Cobalt SS over the SI. I felt like the cobalt was roomier and definately had more pep. That's not saying the SI isn't quick but the Cobalt had instant power at any speed and gear I put it in and it made it to 90 without breaking a sweat.

I guess my plan is to drive the Z this week and the GTO and then take a step back and see where I am. After every test drive I have made notes of things I liked and didn't like so later this week after I have driven everything I will look through those and see what I want to take a harder look at.