How much would this annoy you?

[roadie gal]

My current car, a Honda Pilot is 8 years old and rapidly approaching 100k miles. So I'm starting to think about a new one. Yesterday, just for grins, I went to my "local" dealership. (It's actually 45 miles away, but it's the closest one) Needless to say, the car has changed a bit in the past 8 years. As I went on the test drive I asked the salesman a few things about the car, including whether or not it has a full sized spare. He assured me that it comes with a full sized one. I didn't check after the test drive because I completely forgot by the time we were done.

I liked the saleman well enough. He was helpful and didn't push me to buy the car right there. He was also very sweet to my dog, who was hanging out in the old car while I did the test drive.

Well... I checked this morning online. The only model that comes with a full sized spare standard is the most expensive one, which is NOT the one I was looking at.

Am I wrong to be annoyed? I just wonder how many other things I asked him about the car are untrue. I think a bit of my annoyance is my experience as a woman buying cars for the last 30+ years and the obvious difference in the way they treat men and women. But still, if you don't know, then say so. Or tell me the truth.

Would you still buy a car from this man?

[OakLeaf]

Well, I'd be annoyed for sure, and I might think twice about buying from him. But. I've never gone for a test drive without doing quite a bit of online research first, and by the time I've narrowed it down to the 2-3 models I actually want to test drive, I ALWAYS know the specs better than the salespeople who have to know a little bit about the dealer's whole line. So, on that basis, I might be inclined to give the guy a break, too.

[indysteel]

Yes, I'd be annoyed, but I agree with Oak, too. Granted, I haven't bought a new car in quite some time, but I tend to research the heck out of things before I ever talk to a salesperson (which is why a number of the bike shops in town have annoyed me; they don't know their stock very well).

But I'm still stuck on getting rid of an 8-year old Honda with only a 100k miles on it. Unless you're already experiencing a lot of problems, my guess is that car has a lot of life in it. Or maybe I'm just envious that you're potentially getting a new car. I have a 12-year old car that's approaching 100k, and I'm hoping to keep it a while longer since it otherwise runs (mostly) well and my job situation become a bit iffy next year. I'm so ready for a new car though......

[luvmyguys]

Yes, I'd be annoyed, but I agree with Oak, too. Granted, I haven't bought a new car in quite some time, but I tend to research the heck out of things before I ever talk to a salesperson (which is why a number of the bike shops in town have annoyed me; they don't know their stock very well).

But I'm still stuck on getting rid of an 8-year old Honda with only a 100k miles on it. Unless you're already experiencing a lot of problems, my guess is that car has a lot of life in it. Or maybe I'm just envious that you're potentially getting a new car. I have a 12-year old car that's approaching 100k, and I'm hoping to keep it a while longer since it otherwise runs (mostly) well and my job situation become a bit iffy next year. I'm so ready for a new car though......

My Honda cratered before it should have (still had 5 digits on the odometer). Hubby's Accord lasted a little bit longer. But then, it was starting to crater during the Cancer Year and I was so not dealing with car drama at that point, so I took it over to Carmax and found something else. It wasn't new, but it's had a whole lot less drama than that car did.

[roadie gal]

I agree. I research the heck out of things like all of you. I've narrowed it down to another Pilot or the Nissan Pathfinder. I just forgot about checking the spare tire and I needed to know some specifics about the 4 wheel drive that were unclear on the website. Now I'm doubting what he told me about the 4WD.

We'll probably be selling the old car to a friend whose son is turning 16 soon. It'll be perfect for his first car up here.

[smilingcat]

Car salesman annoy me to no end. It's bit better when you go to Lexus dealer, or the high end ones. Toyota wasn't too bad. Honda wasn't too bad. Nissan don't care for them. Guy at the Jaguar dealer really made me mad so I asked to see the manager and told him why they lost a sale. He wasn't happy when he saw what I was driving and realized that I could afford the thing. Yet at another Jaguar dealer who also rep'ed other English car were very nice so ended up buying from them. It wasn't a Jaguar though.

GM dealer was the worst.

They always want my SS and license number at more pedantic dealers. If they insist on SS I walk out cause what they are doing is running a credit check. Mine is good but when I say buying in cash I MEAN IT!! No need for my SS number. High end dealers are not as pushy in that department. They know better not to push it.

It also depends on where you live too and where the dealer is located.

[indysteel]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but OP said "eight years, 100k miles," as if the car is well past its prime. I know more people who've gotten closer to 200k out of their Hondas than had dogs that tanked at 100k. That's not to say that they're maintenance free, just that that maintenance was still typically cheaper than a new car.

Roadie Gal, please don't think I'm talking you out of a new car. If that's what you want, go for it. I was just wanted to point out that 100k isn't necessarily the limit to the average Honda's useful life.

[Owlie]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but OP said "eight years, 100k miles," as if the car is well past its prime. I know more people who've gotten closer to 200k out of their Hondas than had dogs that tanked at 100k. That's not to say that they're maintenance free, just that that maintenance was still typically cheaper than a new car.

Roadie Gal, please don't think I'm talking you out of a new car. If that's what you want, go for it. I was just wanted to point out that 100k isn't necessarily the limit to the average Honda's useful life.

This. My Accord is nearly 14 years old and nearly 141k. Still going strong. (Yes, I've had some spendy maintenance, but it's not at the point where a new car would make more sense.)

[Crankin]

It wouldn't annoy me, as I could care less about having a full sized spare.
But, I wouldn't buy from that salesman if I ended up going to that dealer in the end. I learned my lesson when I bought my car in April. There were few cars that met my specifications; DH did some research, I did none. I wanted the Audi A3, a very small station wagon. I drove it, found out that it is being discontinued this year, and for some reason, I wasn't in love with the way it drove. I then drove the A4 wagon, which felt similar to my 3 series BMW that was 10 years old. I loved that car, but I was getting tired of being able to "just" fit my bike in the rear hatch, I had an "issue" where my car died as I was on my way to a client in a very bad part of town, and some expensive maintenance was coming up. So, I bought the A4, and I really hate everything about it. We got a big discount as Audi is a customer of DH's company, but that hasn't made up for the way I feel. It drives great, but I hate the "geometry." I feel like I have huge blind spots when I make certain types of turns, as in the wide panel in between the windows blocks my view; I don't like the way the controls work, and I can't figure out how to use at least 3/4 of them. I injured my head, pretty badly because the door is so much bigger than the door in my old car, when I bent down to get in, I ran my face right into the point of the door.
I just think that there is no way I could have known this stuff after a test drive. DH tells me that all new cars have the features I am complaining about and I should quit being an old lady, but I will not keep this car for 10 years. I guess it's a cautionary tale, no matter what car you buy. When I bought the 3 series, I did a ton of research, and test drove 3-4 cars. I just hate going to car dealerships. The salespeople all are predatory and treat women like sh*t, even the women salespeople.

[Irulan]

Well... I checked this morning online. The only model that comes with a full sized spare standard is the most expensive one, which is NOT the one I was looking at.

Am I wrong to be annoyed? I just wonder how many other things I asked him about the car are untrue. I think a bit of my annoyance is my experience as a woman buying cars for the last 30+ years and the obvious difference in the way they treat men and women. But still, if you don't know, then say so. Or tell me the truth.

Would you still buy a car from this man?


Car salesman annoy me to no end. It's bit better when you go to Lexus dealer, or the high end ones. Toyota wasn't too bad. Honda wasn't too bad. Nissan don't care for them. Guy at the Jaguar dealer really made me mad so I asked to see the manager and told him why they lost a sale. He wasn't happy when he saw what I was driving and realized that I could afford the thing. Yet at another Jaguar dealer who also rep'ed other English car were very nice so ended up buying from them. It wasn't a Jaguar though.

GM dealer was the worst.

They always want my SS and license number at more pedantic dealers. If they insist on SS I walk out cause what they are doing is running a credit check. Mine is good but when I say buying in cash I MEAN IT!! No need for my SS number. High end dealers are not as pushy in that department. They know better not to push it.

It also depends on where you live too and where the dealer is located.


I would probably go back with a print out, and ask why he misspoke. I'd probably call him on it, and ask if there was anything else he neglected to mention. Depending on the response, I might or might not walk
With the internet now, they just can't sell cars like they used to, and they shouldn't. You can look up prices and packages, and in some cases order your car online. We've bought two new cars since 08, and I tell you, if I'd gotten the least bit of crap from either dealer I would have walked. Thank god for my friend Jonny Z at Mazda, he truly made buying a new car with exactly what I wanted a pain free process; even brought a test drive up to my house. It was pretty much the same for DH,

If this Honda dealers loses the sale, I would talk to the manager and let them know why. With the economy the way it is, they should be very mindful of treating potential customers well.

[GLC1968]

I'd be annoyed but honestly, I've never had a car salesman that I felt I could trust to get everything right. Even my MINI sales guy (who knew a TON about MINI's) missed a few details about our model in particular. Hell, the guy who sold us our Tacoma TRD actually got the number of cylinders in the truck wrong!

I think of car salesmen as a means to an end. Nothing more.

I did walk out on a guy at a Jeep dealer once for trying to sell MY jeep to my male friend who was with me. My friend finally said 'if you can't speak directly to the woman who is buying the car, we are leaving"...which we did. I also had a Saturn guy try to tell me that I didn't 'need' the sporty model as "the base one will get along just fine for you". When I told him what car I had totaled (forcing the new car buying experience), he said "Oh, well in that case, you DO want the sport model". Really? 'Cause me just saying so wasn't enough? I had to prove it to you with my previous choice of cars? Idiot.

[IBrakeforPastry]

My car is also 8 years old, and I've been shopping casually, just seeing what's out there for when the time comes. I've had Subarus, and have only had good experiences with the local dealer. Thanks to the internet, I've been researching everything - makes, models, trim lines, and of course, colors. I mentioned to the Subaru dealer that the internet must have really changed car shopping because the consumer comes in armed with all the information already, and the dealer doesn't necessarily have to start from scratch. I don't think I'd be too annoyed with the Honda dealer if he seemed sincere. There are so many models out there, I don't know how they can keep them straight. Of course, "I'm not sure" is a better answer than making something up, but maybe he just made a mistake? If you otherwise felt fine working with him I'd probably give him another chance.

[Penny4]

Use it as a negotiating point, lol...."since I won't be getting the full sized tire you told me that came with the car, I won't be paying xxx" :)

[OakLeaf]

Use it as a negotiating point, lol...."since I won't be getting the full sized tire you told me that came with the car, I won't be paying xxx" :)

That is an EXCELLENT point! :D


Crankin, as far as the blind spots from the pillars, that IS how all new cars are made, because the side air bags are in there. It's a huge issue for me, too. Basically I have to open the side window and hang my head out of it if I'm on a lefthanded curve, or just look out the closed side window to make a left turn.

I won't pass on a lefthanded curve any more, after nearly hitting someone head on several years ago that was completely in the blind spot until I moved into the oncoming lane. :eek:

Maybe it's only an issue for shorter people, because even though hardly anyone pays attention when they're driving, I can't imagine why DOT would pass cars with such huge front blind spots and no mirrors or anything to deal with them.

Maybe we should write to DOT and ask them to set some standards for front visibility. I haven't gone digging deep enough to confirm, but I've heard that there aren't any standards at all for visibility out of passenger vehicles (unlike helmets, which require a certain field of vision through the faceshield).

But I do know for a fact that the philosophy of traffic safety is, and has been for the past 30 years at least, "crash all you like, just don't get hurt" - which is fine for occupants of two-ton missiles, but not for anyone else who's on or even NEAR the roads. It was actually at an international motorcycle safety conference that I first heard that phrase spoken by a traffic planner. That explains why they'd prioritize airbags over actually being able to see out of a vehicle one is driving.

[Crankin]

Yes, it's the pillars, and I realize that all the new cars have these pillars for side air bags. I am also sure this only affects short people. My issue comes when I have to make a left hand turn on a road that curves to the left; here in MA we have these horrible curved Y intersections with a little "green" in the middle. People often don't know which side of the road to enter/exit these Y intersections. They are always on country/suburban roads that are twisty. I have a lot of these to contend with in my town. I've learned to look behind, through the rear right passenger window, when looking to see if traffic is coming from the right on the street I am turning onto.
I hate car shopping and while I enjoy driving a nice car, it's not something that is super important to me, like my bike. I don't get "excited" about cars. DH loves cars and he just got a new one in December. Won't say which one, as it will enrage half of the forum members, but now he spends a lot of time on the forum for owners of this car. They must be an exciting bunch.

[nuliajuk]

It's not that uncommon for car sales people to not know much about the products they're selling. They're hired for their ability to close the deal. I went into a dealership once to look at a vehicle that I'd researched extensively and found that I actually knew a lot more about it than the salesman.
On the other hand there is something to the notion that women get treated differently. The worst I encountered was one who wouldn't even speak to me, and directed all of his comments to my husband, even though I asked the questions and it was made clear that I was buying the car. I imagine he didn't last very long at the job because we just walked out after a frustrating 20 minutes.

[Becky]

I have two thoughts:

First, there's a lot of little nuances to keep track of between models and trim lines, and I can understand getting something mixed up. If it were just an incorrect detail, I might give him the benefit of the doubt. OTOH, if there was more to it or he otherwise made you uncomfortable, walk away and don't feel guilty.

Second, we bought our last car via the internet and it was fantastic. Sure, it was about 2 weeks of emailing, but it was very easy to say no to stuff we didn't like or agree with. Once we agreed on the car and the price, we spent about an hour at the dealership just to sign paperwork. No debates or upselling...

[roadie gal]

I love the idea of using his mistake as a bargaining chip. lol.

I also love everyone's attitude of "It's ONLY 8 years old? Why are you getting rid of it?" I come from a family that trades in their cars every 2 years, so this is very refreshing. I mean that sincerely.

Part of the reason that I'm starting to think about getting a new car is that I hope to semi-retire in about a year. I want to get a new car when I can still easily afford it. Then I can keep THAT car for a long time. It's a fine balancing act and my current car isn't going anywhere in the next few months.