Got a question for Car Talk's car sales informant, "Deep Plaid?" (Also known as "Frank," since, well, that's his real name.) Post it here, and Deep Plaid will get back to you.
Also, if you've heard of other tricks of the trade, or you've personally experienced coy tactics on the part of your local car salesman, share it right here. We'd like to hear your story.
Yours in careful maneuvering when confronted with plaid, toupees and sans-a-belt slacks,
evidently you haven't been to some of the new car stores here
in texas. dfw area has even relaxed their dress codes somewhat since
the mid to late 80's. oh sure, the high end import stores in dfw area still
require that "phily lawyer" type dress code but, get out in the sub-burbs
down around austin, san marcos, the texas hill country it's jeans -wranglers,
wrangler boot cut dress slacks, cool- & comfortable:
the orde of the day- for texas car sales people!
dockers, boots and even cowboy hats -it's casual & comfort, but clean cut &
& neat dress. that's the order of the day down here!
deep plaid
I am shopping for a new car and I have seen in a few places on the web that they say "never accept when a dealership offers to get your car from another local lot" I am curious why this is? What is your feeling on it?
I have a sales person I like and respect but she says she will have to get the car from another dealership. There is another local place that I know has the model and color and options I am looking for, but I do not like their sales team as much.
My fiance wants to lease a custom porsche (he does not want to pay for all of the extra options the car typically comes with). The salesman has told us that he will not guarantee most of the pricing numbers, particularly the interest rate and the residual value, claiming that these will change over the two months it will take to make the car. This is despite requesting a healthy deposit that is not refundable if he chooses not to lease the car when it comes. Is this typical practice? He states that "porsche" sets these numbers, why do they vary from dealer to dealer even within the same state? Thank you.
This is for Deep Plaid (Frank): Hello, my name is Brittney. I am the eldest grandaughter of the late Jackie B. Cooper. I read the interview that you gave on the car talk website. I appreciate the good tone you used when talking about my grandfather. I'm sure you as anyone else who has met him know that he was and still is one of a kind. I am contactig you because I am starting to do some research for a book. I would love to talk to you, and ask some questions and get some quotes from you about your relationship with my grandfather and the things that you learned through training with him. My email address is killerbeansmommy@live.com, please email me as soon as possible. I would love to be in contact with you. Again thank you for speaking so kindly of Jackie. God Bless!
hello brittney,your grand pa jackie-well he's one of a kind!
i'm honored you contacted me.
a book is an incredible idea! i'd be honored to be a part
of that.
yes i'd love to help you.
sorry about not replying to quick. we had a death in the family
and i have been kinda out-of-pocket. please excuse the wait.
i have sent you an email -i'll help you all i can. please respond
to my email and we will start working on it.
thanks again "deep plaid" (Frank)
Hi Frank I need some advice on something. I bought a new car under the dealership's financing. It was a good deal because it's a 0.9% APR. But the two salesmen who sold us the car said that the financing is paying for the 1st two months of the bill as part of their promotion. Basically that's what got us into the deal too. We asked them several times and they said that yes, this is part of the promotion. A month later the bill came and they were already charging us for the first month! So we called them back and the salesmen said that they made a mistake that it was the previous month's promo! So I was very disappointed and told them that the deal was closed with the addition of this promotion and told them business is business and they have to be held accountable for what they did and say. But it seems like they are now giving us the run around about it.
What next step do you think I can do so we can avail of this. This was so unprofessional of them!
Thanks for all your advice so far. Quick question about profit percentages on a used vehicle. I know it's a "get all you can" game, but what's an acceptable profit percentage on a used car? If a customer came in and had done his homework (comps, Manhiem prices, etc...) and made an offer that was in the 10% profit range (above current wholesale), would you bite or tell him to walk?
10/11/2008 11:51:32 AM
