My car is a piece of crap. I know it. I've lived with it for years. I've been holding on and holding on because I just hate the idea of spending a lot of cash on a car I'm just going to drive on the weekends.
However, I realized that my car is a symbol of some of the worn out, torn up things I have in my life that I need to upgrade.
Last week, I started to smell oil...burning...when I was driving. Now I made this mistake with the first car I owned. I drove it until it died an undeservedly shabby death, stranding me on the freeway, once, twice, three...possibly more times.
I've been looking at a few cars. Upscale and not. Wednesday I decided I need to get this done, So I made some calls. I ended up at the Scion dealer near my house. I want to keep the local economy going and dealt with a car salesman.
My opinion car salesmen are all the same guy. Half human half....something. The something varies but it's not good.
The new car part was straight forward. The basic car has everything I want and it's an easy deal. I wanted to drive down the price and was prepared for war but first we had to deal with the trade in. Which, in hindsight was a mistake. Deal with the hard work on the new car price, get it as low as you can and then deal with the trade in and get as much as you can. Next time my plan will be better.
Anyway, the piece of crap was on the lot. The used car guy went out and looked at it. 1993 honda with 180K + miles. Bruised, dirty, smelled like oil, french fries and a few old girlfriends. hehehehehehe
anyway...used car guy comes back and in a sympathetic voice, "we can't do anything with that car, I don't want to insult you by making an offer" So I told him, OK. And got up to leave. I learned a while back in any negotiation you have to be ready to pick up and walk out so the boundaries are set.
As I got up the guy asked if that would kill the deal and I told him yes. His eyes shifted and he took a couple of short hard breaths. "Hold on" he said. He disappeared and resurfaced and told me the dealership wouldn't make any money on my car and in fact they would lose money by taking it but they would ....give me.....$500 just to make the deal go. " Now imagine his voice trying to make me feel sympathy for a car dealer. It really made me feel a sick sort of pride to see him squirm this way. I'm sick in the head but...it's true.
I told him I need $1200 for my car or I wouldn't make the deal. I wasn't a dick. I just told him the truth. Friendly and matter of fact. It's not my style to pound the table and make demands. The gentlemanly approach is more my style. I wonder why?
Used car guy seemed a little off. He came back with $850. The best he could do.
I told him no.
"but..." he added "$850 is so close, it's such a small difference between $850 and $1200"
I smiled and agreed. "You're right. So ....give me $1200 and it's a deal."
Now this part pissed me off. He looked at me. Dead in the eye. We locked in and I could tell he was looking for weakness. His little black moustache pinched up just below his nose but his eyes stayed on mine. I could feel the tension on his side of the table but I was relaxed. I knew the one thing that was key. He had a car. Cars are everywhere. I could go across the street and get another car, but I had money. And everyone, EVERYONE likes money.
"OK, $1200 but promise to give us a good survey"
I smiled, "Sure" and shook his hand.
For other reasons I didn't pick up the car that night I came and got it today and my mistake I was tired and really just wanted to get the thing done so rather than go three rounds with this guy over the price I moved some things around and bought it cash.
I've had the car for about 2 hours now and it's nice.
BUT, the highlight of my day, year....
My phone rang about 40 minutes ago.
My salesman called.
"Paul, how do you this $1200 car started?"
The saying goes timing is everything and it has never been truer than that today because as I was backing my brand new car in to my driveway my old Honda was gasping and gurgling it's last breath. I can imagine if it had a hand it would be out stretched with middle finger extended screaming "I'll see you in HELL!" as it drew it's final breaths and the dealer and sales people stood around slowly shaking their heads.
Timing=everything.
