Living Car Free - My chance to "toy" with the car dealers.

Let me start with that I'm "car-lite" rather than "car-free". My job is that of a field sales rep, so I have to drive to see customers and to the office. The nice part is that the company pays me a monthly auto allowance and the use of a company gas card. Kind of nice; it pays for the repairs etc and fuel. Whatever monies I'm short from the company I pay out of my pocket, usually a small amount. The car I use is a 1999 Chevy Blazer, small S-10 type, that I bought used in 2002. My son-in-law is an auto mechanic and has his own shop. He used to work for the various GM dealers in the area. So my Blazer is well taken care of and works well considering that it's got 162,000 miles on it. On the weekends I ride my old Raleigh Sports to do errands or I walk. A couple of times a month I get all "suited-up" and ride my road bike with the local bike club or just do a solo ride to wherever I want to. The reason for this post is that my wife, family (except my son-in-law), friends and business associates are really pushing me to get a new vehicle; mostly my wife. The usual comments are: "well, you know that it's getting alot of miles on it", "how old is that thing?????", "boy, you can get some great deals now on an SUV", "this thing rides like a truck and makes alot of rattling noises. You should get something more comfortable". The last one is my wife's comment. They've also sent me print-outs from the web on vehicles for sale at local dealers; all of these I've carefully thrown in the trash. I really don't give a cr*p about new cars or what the auto industry is doing. When I find a job closer to home, I'll dump the car completely; that's going to take a while though and I digress. So I've decided to indulge my wife and go car shopping this weekend and no, I don't have any plans to buy. I do plan to play with the car dealers. I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, but it will do me some good to get the upper hand by symbolicly walking away from "such a great deal" but more importantly the unsustainable auto-centrice way of life.

Get a prius or ultra-low emision vehicle if you can afford it. Or at least make sure your son is doing everything he can to make that old truck have lower emissions. Those things can be pretty dirty.

I had it smogged in May for registration by a test only facility. The numbers were so low that the technician was surprised. It helped, I think, to have the injectors replaced earlier this year under the GM emissions warranty. A Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid would be nice but I need something to carry reels of cable; sometimes 4-6 reels weighing 30-40lbs each. A hybrid SUV? I don't know.

Best question to ask:
How much will this vehicle lose in depreciation per year?

Hopefully this will confuse the salesman who will be trying to push the monthly payment figure with no mention of baloon payments or depreciation.

I'm a reformed car guy. I'm basically car lite as well, but I used to really be into cars. Now I really don't enjoy driving them at all.

I would like to point out to you that buying a hybrid is pretty pointless. It's a gimmicky way to get Americans to adopt a more intelligent lifestyle, and you seem to be heading in the right direction. You can get vehicles that get the same or better mileage than a Prius for a lot less money, and they'll be cheaper to operate from a maintenance perspective as well.

Have fun playing with the car dealers. I used to have fun with them too, but now I have other hobbies. Like riding. :)

Az

So I've decided to indulge my wife and go car shopping this weekend and no, I don't have any plans to buy. I do plan to play with the car dealers. I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, but it will do me some good to get the upper hand by symbolicly walking away from "such a great deal" but more importantly the unsustainable auto-centrice way of life.

I dunno...I used to be a car salesman--hated it--and this past Moday I spend way too long in a dealership. I can't stand the atmosphere, I can't stand most car salesmen and I really don't give a crap about cars afterall. It's transportation--not a lifestyle. Status symbol my a$$. No one cares what I drive. Why would you even want to waste time there? You could be out riding instead!

So I've decided to indulge my wife and go car shopping this weekend and no, I don't have any plans to buy. I do plan to play with the car dealers. I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, but it will do me some good to get the upper hand by symbolicly walking away from "such a great deal" but more importantly the unsustainable auto-centrice way of life.

May I recommend staying home or doing something more productive with your time? Yes many car dealers are bombastic and deal driven, but I'll bet many also work hard, help customers obtain affordable cars within their means, which helps THEM get to work and support THEIR families.

Yes - I think wasting a professionals time when he could be helping real potential customers is being mean spirited.

If you want to real challenge why not talk to customers OUTSIDE the dealership going in to BUY a car? It's easy to screw with a salesperson, but it takes real logic and thinking to talk to a potential customer about being car-free or car-lite. (Just like it's easy to complain about cigarette makers, but if the demand wasn't there the supply would decrease).

I have no plans for a car in my future, but conversly I have no plans for a huge new plasma TV either, and I don't think it proves anything to spend the day at Circuit City and not buy one because I think such obsessions with entertainment and consumerism can impede ones quality of life.

I've got to agree with James on this one. I know where you're coming from and sure, some car salespeople may be massive shiatheads, but I really don't see what good could come out of taunting them or, worse yet, tormenting some poor schmuck who just happens to be unlucky enough to have to work in a dealership at the moment. He/she probably feels crappy enough without your help.

I used to be pretty agressive about sticking it to drivers, making fun of how much they paid every month on insurance & gas, rubbing in the fact that I could afford expensive holidays while they couldn't etc., but I don't think I won many converts. Now I just tell people that my vehicle runs on beer and try to answer questions without being all holier-than-thou.

If you want to make a symbolic gesture and flip the bird to car-culture just keep doing what you're doing - riding your bike!

So I've decided to indulge my wife and go car shopping this weekend and no, I don't have any plans to buy. I do plan to play with the car dealers. I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, but it will do me some good to get the upper hand by symbolicly walking away from "such a great deal" but more importantly the unsustainable auto-centrice way of life.
So some redneck a$$holes come into my bike shop, with absolutely no intention of buying a bike. After spending a great deal of my time, test riding a few bikes, they walk out and peel away in their huge trucks. I'm left fuming, because i'm trying to make a living too, regardless of what it is. I don't see the point in wasting people's time like this. It's bloody easy to walk into a car dealership and piss off a salesman. What you should do is RIDE to the dealership, and talk to potential customers. show them how it easy it was to ride into said dealer, and maybe get them engaged in a conversation about sustainable transportation. Try to steer them away from the monster SUV/van/whatever....

Why does your wife feel you need a new car?

May I recommend staying home or doing something more productive with your time? Yes many car dealers are bombastic and deal driven, but I'll bet many also work hard, help customers obtain affordable cars within their means, which helps THEM get to work and support THEIR families.

Yes - I think wasting a professionals time when he could be helping real potential customers is being mean spirited.

If you want to real challenge why not talk to customers OUTSIDE the dealership going in to BUY a car? It's easy to screw with a salesperson, but it takes real logic and thinking to talk to a potential customer about being car-free or car-lite. (Just like it's easy to complain about cigarette makers, but if the demand wasn't there the supply would decrease).

I have no plans for a car in my future, but conversly I have no plans for a huge new plasma TV either, and I don't think it proves anything to spend the day at Circuit City and not buy one because I think such obsessions with entertainment and consumerism can impede ones quality of life.


Ditto. It pisses me off to waste my time with someone who's not interested in what I'm spending my time working on something for them. Don't waste their time- they're hard working people too. You'd be better off going to the homes of the high tootin' executives of these car companies and banging on their door instead and picketing their place of work.

Koffee

Yeah, well they know that 80% of the people coming on the lot won't buy. Selling cars is a tough business. I'm not sure how intentionally going somewhere to annoy people can be counted as fun.

Why does your wife feel you need a new car?
If the OP pulls this intended stunt too often, wifey might decide she needs a new husband.

Get a prius or ultra-low emision vehicle if you can afford it. Or at least make sure your son is doing everything he can to make that old truck have lower emissions. Those things can be pretty dirty.

Still useing gas and oil.

It's pretty stupid to waste the time of those salesmen. I don't like the feeling of car shopping either, but I sure would value MY time more than that.

Don't you have anything better to do? Seriously...
I can think of like a hundred things I'd RATHER do.......

Geez...lighten up would ya. I've been in sales for 30 years and have put up with the same frustrations and anxieties. Point is, if I go and "look" then you, wife et al, will drop the issue. While at the shop I'm still an individual and can speak my mind and voice my opinions.

Geez...lighten up would ya. I've been in sales for 30 years and have put up with the same frustrations and anxieties. Point is, if I go and "look" then you, wife et al, will drop the issue. While at the shop I'm still an individual and can speak my mind and voice my opinions.

Fair enough thomj. If it'll get your wife to leave you alone, then do it. But your first post looked a bit mean-spirited to me. Not to mention, since I don't know you well I was half expecting you to go in there expecting to have some fun and games with the car salespeople and then somehow get convinced to buy a car by your wife and the salesman.

He still sounds mean-spirited. I guess since he has been in sales, it is OK for him to waste someone else's time. Why not tell your wife that you don't want a new car and that is that? Get your testicles out of the freezer and use them

You miss the point. It's about negotiating and compromise. Get your head out of your backside.

No, it's about you being a jerk and wasting someone's time when you have no intention of buying a car.

Still...... you miss the point. And don't call me a "jerk".

Let me start with that I'm "car-lite" rather than "car-free". My job is that of a field sales rep, so I have to drive to see customers and to the office. The nice part is that the company pays me a monthly auto allowance and the use of a company gas card. Kind of nice; it pays for the repairs etc and fuel. Whatever monies I'm short from the company I pay out of my pocket, usually a small amount. The car I use is a 1999 Chevy Blazer, small S-10 type, that I bought used in 2002. My son-in-law is an auto mechanic and has his own shop. He used to work for the various GM dealers in the area. So my Blazer is well taken care of and works well considering that it's got 162,000 miles on it. On the weekends I ride my old Raleigh Sports to do errands or I walk. A couple of times a month I get all "suited-up" and ride my road bike with the local bike club or just do a solo ride to wherever I want to. The reason for this post is that my wife, family (except my son-in-law), friends and business associates are really pushing me to get a new vehicle; mostly my wife. The usual comments are: "well, you know that it's getting alot of miles on it", "how old is that thing?????", "boy, you can get some great deals now on an SUV", "this thing rides like a truck and makes alot of rattling noises. You should get something more comfortable". The last one is my wife's comment. They've also sent me print-outs from the web on vehicles for sale at local dealers; all of these I've carefully thrown in the trash. I really don't give a cr*p about new cars or what the auto industry is doing. When I find a job closer to home, I'll dump the car completely; that's going to take a while though and I digress. So I've decided to indulge my wife and go car shopping this weekend and no, I don't have any plans to buy. I do plan to play with the car dealers. I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, but it will do me some good to get the upper hand by symbolicly walking away from "such a great deal" but more importantly the unsustainable auto-centrice way of life.
It is kinda taking his time from a buyer that he might make a living,dont you think?

Geez...lighten up would ya. I've been in sales for 30 years and have put up with the same frustrations and anxieties. Point is, if I go and "look" then you, wife et al, will drop the issue. While at the shop I'm still an individual and can speak my mind and voice my opinions.

Everyone agrees it's a really not a cool thing to do to another person. Whether "in fun" or not. Listen to them. Realize it's dumb idea, no one here will think badly of you :)

I still say hit the source. People BUYING the cars. Open chatting up folks about car free lifestyles takes a lot more guts and sharp wit than pretending to be interested in a car, then asking leading questions about whether it's necessary. The salesperson will not see you as a patriot of knowledge and enlightened living, only as another customer who can't make up their mind.

Hassling a car dealer makes about as much sense as harassing a convenience store employee for selling cigarettes.

Sales is a numbers game. The more contacts made the greater the chance to book an order. Time is wasted... there is no doubt of that....both by the salesperson and the potential customer.

You miss the point. It's about negotiating and compromise. Get your head out of your backside.

Who is compromising? Are you compromising and possibly purchasing a scooter from them?

The compromise is between my wife, associates and myself. If I do "A" and you do "B" then the result will be "C" and we'll all be happy.

It is not she wants you to get a new car, She wants a new car at your expense (I know, I know community property.) There are some really low cost sub-compact four cylinder, two seaters out there. Because of light weight and small engine they can have lower emissions then some honking great Hybrid SUV.

If you take your wife, you wont be WALKING AWAY. You'll be DRIVING AWAY - in a brand new vehicle.

Everyone will be happy except the salesman who wasted his time with someone who had no itention of buying anything.

I think this thread is done.

thom I'm surprised, you said yourself you're in sales, as you've heard before I recomend staying home. I'm in sales as well, and when people call and waste my time it's like taking money out of my pocket. True sales is a contact sport, but you're planning on being a wasted contact. One of the other agents in my office used to sell cars, when you're serious email the dealership. He said the internet guy can always get you the best deal. As an added bonus you'll have a lot less bs to put up with.

Do what you want and don't listen to the haterz. If car salespeople/companies don't want to have anyone waste their time looking at cars but not buying, they shouldn't bother with buyers unless they know they're going to buy a car. Obviously they don't, probably because quite a few purchases are based on impulse/pressure, so it's not like they're innocently allowing you to inpect the car and doing nothing but watching out for you/answering questions. What you should do is be considerate with your criticisms, and when it comes down to haggling, get them down to the point where they won't sell it to you because your price is too low, then it'll seem like the car was simply was too expensive, not like you went in to harrass them.

I'll go for the test drive, compain about their high prices, harm to the environment and city structure, and overall uselessness of the beast and then, I'll WALK AWAY!! Maybe I'm being mean spirited, .

Yeah, that is mean. They're poor slobs trying to earn a buck just like you....they're not individually personally responsible for the whole car culture.

Do what you want and don't listen to the haterz. If car salespeople/companies don't want to have anyone waste their time looking at cars but not buying, they shouldn't bother with buyers unless they know they're going to buy a car. Obviously they don't, probably because quite a few purchases are based on impulse/pressure, so it's not like they're innocently allowing you to inpect the car and doing nothing but watching out for you/answering questions. What you should do is be considerate with your criticisms, and when it comes down to haggling, get them down to the point where they won't sell it to you because your price is too low, then it'll seem like the car was simply was too expensive, not like you went in to harrass them.

Some have to much time on there hands. Does anybody ride?

I personally intend to upgrade my 93 Toyota Corolla for a new Honda Fit some time within a year. It is like a baby mini-van that gets 40 mpg.