Cars: Search & Destroy

The dealer sold me this lovely sob story about how he bought the same car for his daughter, that's how much he believed in it, in the middle of the story his daughter changed into his niece, before he caught himself and said, I mean, my daughter.

Alternately, lie out of your ass and tell them you're looking at a private sale for a similar car that's 20-30% less, but stress that you really, really love their car. If you moon over it enough and convince them that you're itching to pull the trigger, they will either drop the price for you or start throwing mad free shit at you to get you to sign the papers.

Hahaha also ask him how much he would make his niecedaughter pay. And still lowball the price even if you're willing to pay it.

You're doing a bit of a number on yourself here, since the implication is that anything beyond the bare necessities is a frivolous expense.

Assuming that mileage etc is equal, EX IS THE BETTER VALUE. Not only because it has things will increase your actual enjoyment (e.g., moonroof) and things that make it safer (e.g., ABS, an extra 12hp), but because it doesn't really cost $1000 more - that same stuff that you like retains its value, and will allow you to ask more for the car when you eventually sell it or trade it in, whether that's one year from now or ten.

Depending on the price your dealer's asking, you may also want to look at a new Civic EX. Yes, a NEW CIVIC EX. The Civic is due for replacemant by the end of the year, and Honda's been quietly offering its dealers some pretty nice spiffs to keep the current model moving. In the past year, I've helped two different acquiantances get fully-loaded Civic EX sedans for $16.5K with minimal negotiation.

I'd recommend going to carsdirect.com and checking out how much they sell Civics for in your area. There's no downside, and they offer live prices, which lets you just say, hey Mr. Honda Salesman, I'd like to work with you but I'm not going to pay for the privilege, here's what I can get a new Civic for, is there any point in us talking further?

AND FUCK CARS AND CAR MOVIES (2 FAST 2 FURIOUS LOLOLOL)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

My first point of contact dude was really cool, like I had to ask him if I could do a test-drive, there was no pressure, but after awhile his crazy manager came out to seal the deal. At one point (after I brought in my mom) he was going on about his daughter again, and then he referred to letting the mother take of the warranty, and then he actually said, "Oh, it's my niece." Get one straight story.

After we agreed on the price, they said they were gonna send some in to talk to us about how to take care of our car while they set up the lease processing. I thought, cool, I'll get some tips. That's when the girl started going off about the paint and etc. She said, You don't want to get an alarm for the third most stolen car in America? And I was like, no, that's okay. And my mom was like, they always just go off in parking lots anyway. But I wasn't prepared for those pitches so was happy to read here not to worry about them. She was going to charge a special deal of $595 for the paint sealant/warranty.

I also drove a '02 green Corolla with 50,000 miles that was exactly like the rental car I took to North Carolina which was so so so much cheaper. But the drive was just not as nice at all. My car has only 5,000 miles on it.

But it is hard to recognize the odd nugget of truth under the pile of BS. Good call on the alarm, btw.

Instead of the alarm, just get a Club (but remember to use it). Also, during cold months, you can still leave the moonroof open (even at night). Just put the heater on your feet. This is one of my favorite things.

I'm so excited. I can't believe I have a car sitting in my driveway.

NEEEEEEAAAYAAYAHAAYAAYAYAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My mom used a charming & bewildering tactic as I was deept into negotiations last night. Out of the blue, she pulled this coupon out of her pocket, and said, this is for a car sale sponsored by the Apple Credit Union next weekend. Do you think we should go to this? As we were haggling over the price of the car that I pretty much intended to buy.

The most common ones around here are the Bush/Cheney, and the Kerry/Edawards stickers. I made my mom take hers off (K/E) her car, bc I was like, that election is over. But every one keeps them on, so maybe I should have let her keep it. And of course the ubiquitous yellow ribbon stickers. Sometimes even two or three. Gareth and I found that the more Support our Troops stickers a person has on their SUV, the less likely they are to let you merge into their lane.

If you go with bumper stickers, go all the way and just put it on. People who scotch tape them to the rear window are lame. The bumper sticker isn't going to make your 1994 Chevy Lumina completely worthless, dude.

I swear that read as "commuting with men in the nude"

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/facelvega.jpg

More to the point, I'm in love with their logo

http://www.cars-a-z.net/f/facel-vega-logo.jpg

http://www.pcauto.com.cn/pingce/gwsj/bmw/0410/pic/041019_1series_02.jpg
http://www.screensavershot.com/automation/bmw1.jpg