Re:An FBI Hostage Negotiator Buys A Car [audio]
by mitchty on Monday December 31, 2012 @01:22PM
(#4990190)
Yep this tactic doesn't work well for anyone that wants manual transmission cars in the USA. Most places get so few of them its hard to get deals on those specific types of cars.
Re:An FBI Hostage Negotiator Buys A Car [audio]
by obviouslygreen on Monday December 31, 2012 @04:39PM
(#4990995)
I would not have believed this if I hadn't helped a friend shop for a car recently. It was surreal to both of us that his only hard requirement was a manual transmission and, despite visiting every dealership we could find, few had them at all.
Interesting note: Be very careful about believing a dealer's website or phone description of a car as a "manual." We ran into multiple dealerships that misidentified paddle shift or "manumatic"/"tiptronic" cars as manuals.
He ended up with an RX-8, but that's an entirely different set of stories... :)
Re:An FBI Hostage Negotiator Buys A Car [audio]
by taude on Monday December 31, 2012 @02:25PM
(#4990489)
Same experience here with TDI VWs. Even "friends and family" don't get good deals....you're just lucky to ge the car you want.
Re:An FBI Hostage Negotiator Buys A Car [audio]
by grecy on Monday December 31, 2012 @03:57PM
(#4990865)
> don't get good deals....you're just lucky to ge the car you want.
If the supply of a certain good is constrained, then obviously the value goes up. Simply being able to purchase one is a good price by definition.
VW has 2 dealers in my region. Want a TDI Jetta with a manual transmission? Let the games begin -- they get 3 a month and the sales manager won't let it out the door for a good price.
Toyota used to have supply constraints for certain Camry models (some trims were made in Japan exclusively a few years ago). Want one of those? Good luck -- my dad had the guy demand a deposit to be on a waiting list, or take a lousy deal on one of the other trims.
Another thing that happens is that dealers need to trade with other dealers for specific cars. Sometimes these deals fall through, and the dealer who promised you a car is actually being honest -- he doesn't have it for reasons out of his control.