Sunday 1 December 2013

Ex-Car Hunting

At the beginning of November, my friend Terry and I went out on a little journey. With the influx of money I was getting from my job I decided that it was time that I stopped borrowing the spare car and get one of my own.

The timing couldn't have been better. I would have a few weeks to get used to it before the snow arrived, my Mother wanted to start using the spare car instead, and I was in high hopes that I was going to make probation at my job which would greatly help with car payments.

Though we all know how that went.

I'm still kind of miffed about it.

We had compiled a list of dealerships to go to and wanted to see as many as possible before the day was done. We started off with Nissan, though I'm certain it was Terry who wanted to see the cars more than me.

Immediately, the salesperson was very, very pushy. Maybe he was new, maybe he was just anxious about something, maybe it was the fact that I could see that his suit jacket was slightly too big for him and was slightly stained and I could smell freshly applied cologne on him.

The point is, I didn't like this guy. Nor the fact that he kept pressuring me to buy the first car at the first dealership I entered. And you know what, maybe if the cars I test drove were nice I wouldn't have be so bothered.

Both the sales manager and associate.

I tried the Sentra and the Versa. The first thing Terry and I noticed for both cars was the noise. This kind of rumbling/rattling noise from the engine. It wasn't bad now, but I knew that after an hour of this I'd go mad. I also didn't like how the Sentra controlled. Terry commented that both cars looked kind of like crap with crappy interiors. I'm going to default to his opinion because honestly, all the cars look the same to me.

When we mentioned our concern with the noise, we were assured that all cars in this price range would have this nuisance, it was an inevitability. Note that they also refused to give us a specific price. I smiled politely, and we left.

Next we went to the Mazda dealership, where to my surprise, we found a guy who:

a) Wasn't pushy.
b) Wasn't pushy.
c) WAS NOT PUSHY.

The Mazda 3 also surprisingly didn't have that awful noise, felt great to drive, Terry wouldn't shut up about how nice it looked, and it had heated seats.

Heated seats are the most amazing thing ever. I have no idea how I've managed to go so many Canadian winters without them.

My butt was so warm.

The Mazda salesperson was also the only guy to give me a price on the spot, no pressure, come back when you feel ready. Impressed, we then went to see what Kia had to offer. The Forte was... how do we put this... It felt like a cheaper Mazda 3.

Terry didn't like the interior, sure it had heated seats and handled as well as the Mazda 3, and the salesguy was considering offering it at several thousand cheaper than the Mazda. But something felt off. Something just didn't feel right. Couldn't put my finger on it.

Oh wait, yes I can. Pushy salesguy. Man, I'm a pretty easy guy to satisfy eh? Don't try and push me into a massive investment on day 1 and we'll get along just fine.


Unfortunately, we all know how this story ends. I got laid off, I can't afford a new car at this point in time and I guess I'll just have restricted access to the spare one.

But the entire trip wasn't for naught. At least now I have a better idea of what kind of car I'd be looking for in the future and where to go. Seriously though, heated seats are amazing. God I love heated seats.

27 comments:

  1. I also got annoyed when someone push me into something to buy. Good you can handle that pushy guy over there.

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  2. Sorry that you can't get a car man but at least now you have an idea of what you'd like to get, great post buddy, you're so right about salesmen in general, pushy isn't a good thing.

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  3. When you are back to car-buying, I think the Mazda 3 is a good choice. I had once once and loved it. Decent gas mileage and wonderful to drive - very sporty. I was sorry to get rid of it, but it was a straight shift and my son was just too anxious to manage learning to drive a stick, so I bought a car with an automatic transmission.

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  4. I was just talking about cars with my colleague today.. It doesn't matter to me as long as it can bring me from point A to B.. I'm pretty satisfied by it.. Don't worry we all know you will get a better job someday.. And who knows you can buy better cars than Mazda 3 :)

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  5. Heated seats? Warm buns? More like sweaty assholes all around. Right?
    At least you got educated and have a good idea on what/where to buy now. Let's hope you'll be able to soon!

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  6. I don't have heated seats and now I feel like I'm missing out. Wait, I don't even have a car. It sucks you couldn't get one but at least you do know what you're looking for further down the line, and you should get one you like soon enough.

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  7. Next time you're in a position to car shop, don't overlook Toyotas! I swear by them. Great cars.

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  8. There are plenty of pushy ones, mazda makes nice cars

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  9. You think heated seats are awesome? Cooled seats are pretty damn amazing, too, especially on a scorching summer day.

    I hate pushy salesmen. I once was searching for a car and had the guy tell me, "Sorry, you can't test drive it. You can buy it, though." And just kept pushing me to buy it on the spot. I had cash in hand, but no, sorry, not going to buy a car blindly.

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  10. A car is always a good thing to have. Nice purchase.

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  11. I got a rather terrible car, I really need a new one

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  12. You'll get another job and now you know which car you'll get :)

    I remember shopping for my car 2 years ago. Everyone assumed because it was a muscle car, it was for Mr. RK. Ha. They got the picture very quickly!

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  13. I find most of them are pushy. If you just lie and say you're not interested in buying right now, they'll ease up a bit and show you around just in case you change your mind. That's my experience anyway, I always make sure to pull that card.

    I couldn't even imagine a heated seat. I'm glad you like it, though.

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  14. In Australia, I can't even imagine heated seats ;)

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  15. I had heated seats for a year before I even knew it (one of the kids told me, hahahaha). I don't use them. I guess since we live in a cold state I should...I just never think to do it. :) My car's getting old now, but I'm not working at a 'real' job yet, so I can't get a new one.

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  16. I wish my car had heated seats. Heated windscreens are pretty amazing, too - my mum has one, and she never even has to bother with de-icer. Alas, I can't afford heated seats or windscreens. Oh well.

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  17. Hey it gives you a goal to aim for. I hate people who place with your seat heater button and turn high...it hurts after a while ;-)

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  18. i love cars... but I hate parking.

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  19. Winter is coming, prepare the heated seats!

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  20. its good you got idea what to see when you will again plan to buy a car

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  21. Seat warmers....ohhhhhh.....never underestimate the luxuriousness of a warm butt.

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  22. Oh, yeah, I must have heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rest of the car isn't so important as long as I have those two additions :) You'll get your car one day soon, I just know it.

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  23. I have a Mazda 3, and I love it! As soon as you get that job rolling again, grab one - they are great little cars.

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  24. Sorry about the job. :( I hope you find something better.

    Car shopping is awful. And WTF is up with the pushy car salesmen, haven't they figured out that NO ONE likes them??? Mazda 3's are nice though, I would go with that one when you can afford a car.

    xo

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  25. I have heated seats in my jeep with 2 settings, hot and very hot and I use neither. I always end up sweating like a pig. But my mother loves them coz it helps her bad back. :D

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  26. I love heated seats too! They're so comfy. Sometimes I wish I could take my car seat with me in class.

    I hope that sometime soon you'll be able to afford the car and you can look all flashy and cool driving it!

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