-------------- Original message ----------------------
My favorite car-buying story is when I wasn't trying to buy at all.
My Ex wanted a truck. She had settled on a 65-66 Ford as her truck of choice. This was in 1989 or so, and these were quite commonly found for sale on car lots and around town. She had found several with bling wheels and bright paint for 2-3 thousand. I suggested we take a Saturday drive down old 99, looking at car lots to get an idea of the market.
At about the tenth lot we stopped at she spotted a short box 65 with an original slate blue paint color. She got all excited and we took it for a drive. Everything seemed to check out, but I had no money to speak of, as we were simply running recon that day.
The sticker price was $1,399, which seemed like a fair deal, but I didn't have it. Not even close. The sales dude simply contorted himself inside out over the next half hour as we tried to leave. I assured him we liked the truck and would return, but the poor guy either needed a fix or had some other very pressing financial needs. After 999, 799, 599 offered and repeated phone calls to "the boss", I finally emptied my pockets and showed him the 206 dollars and some change I had on me. Has asked if I could cough up more for the taxes. I said "That is every dime I have on me. I CAN come back, you know!"
We drove it home for $206 and some change.
She drove that truck for 3 years before tiring of a terminal electrical problem that required a new harness. I had dolled it up a bit with original wheels and dog dishies and a few other details during that time, but really had very little into it. A customer came by to pick up some parts and asked what I was going to do with that truck. "Sell it, I guess" I said, explaining the wiring problem. He offered $3500 for it as it sat. I went and got the keys and title.
B.
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--- Begin Message ---
- From: Jan & Roger van Hoy <vanhilla@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:15:24 +0000
Title: Re: [FWDLK] what's your bottom dollar?
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My favorite car-buying story is when I got my '81 Imperial in
2002.
The seller told me on the phone that he was desperate to sell
to pay of his DUII fine and attorney's fee. He'd gotten the car from the
original owner and [fortunately] hadn't driven it much after spending quite a
bit at the original dealer getting it back to top mechanical shape.
I did the usual cashier's check plus extra cash in my
pockets. Told him I had a cashier's check in my pocket made out to him for
X [listed price minus $800] and he said, with very little hesitation, that
he'd take it.
The punchline: he was a new car salesman at the local
Chrysler dealer !!!
--Roger van Hoy, Washougal, WA, '55 DeSoto, '58 DeSoto, '56
Plymouth, '66 Plymouth, '41 Dodge
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 3:00
PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] what's your bottom
dollar?
I've had a couple times when looking to buy a car
that I've had to tell the guy (usually at a dealership) that the only way I'd
buy the car is if they give it to me for a couple hundred bucks. It
usually finally tells them to leave you alone...at least about that certain
car.
As for people selling a car and a buyer asks the
"bottomline," it doesn't really surprise me, but I wonder how many people ask
that question and actually expect a straight answer. Maybe they were
never taught the art of negotiating but simply think they need to make one
offer and that will either be a sale or a no sale.
I suppose the best response is to just tell them
to look at the price on the window and if they don't like it they can make an
offer.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 7:36
AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] what's your bottom
dollar?
I know that some people, and that
included me until I was in my 30's, (long time ago) are on the shy
side when dickering with sellers. I was with a friend of mine
when he was dealing on a car and he was afraid to make the offer he thought
he could live with. When the salesman walked out of the room, I asked
if he wanted me to say anything to the sales guy. He asked me.. "How
do you do that, I am almost embarrassed to tell him what I would
pay." I said to him,
" Bob, your wife tells you no all the time, and you live thorugh that.
Just ask, all he can say is no"
John in WI
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 12:30
AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] what's your
bottom dollar?
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