The "The Art Of Car Seduction" Story

The Mazda CX-5

It was an ordinary day.  Watching TV with my wife when an ad for the Mazda CX-5 appeared.  Bright red car that was featured in the advertisement.  After watching it for a short time, Carol asked me, "Why didn't we buy that car?  That's really neat!"  "Don't you remember that you told me after we got home from test driving it that there was no way we were buying a car from that guy?" I asked her.  "That was the guy that loaded us in the car and drove down the road to the building where we would have to take the car for service and repairs.  Made us get out of the car, walk into the waiting area and meet the service manager."  I could see her getting upset when she said, "Yeah, there was no way I wanted to buy that car after the salesman made us get out to walk around that building.  Dumbest thing I ever had to do.  The car was really neat, but he ruined it for me.  

The Ford Escape

Then remember when we went to the Ford dealer across the street from the Mazda place to look at the Escape?"  "I remember that the salesman knew less about the car than I did.  Remember he told us that the color of the car was called Titanium and I said I thought that was model name.  He told us it said right on the sticker that the color was Titanium."  "He was the creep that kept touching my arm and called me honey, wasn't he? she said to me.  Well, another car dealer was eliminated within a half hour.  

The Toyoto Rav-4

Then we drove 100 yards and pulled into the Toyoto dealer to look at the Rav-4.  Really pushy salesman that was convinced we just had to buy his bright red Rav-4.  Told us that he'd throw in the contoured rubber floormat in the rear and add the pin striping for no charge.  We thought and thought and then he stood and told us he'd be right back.  Came back and told us someone had just stopped outside and asked about our Mountaineer that we wanted to trade in.  Told us he could up our trade-in price by $1,000.  We thought and thought and he left again.  Came back and told us someone else had asked about our car and offered another $1,000.  I looked at Carol and said quietly, "This guy is full of it."  We left with a promise from him to call when he got a better deal for us.  Took 24 hours when he called with another $1,000 for our car.  We wrote him off!  

Our Honda CR-V

Day or two after we visited the Honda dealership to look at the CR-V.  Salesman showed us the car and even had the manager give us a quote for our trade-in.  We looked at the colors and extras that we could add and thanked him.  Told him we would think about it.  Nicest guy who didn't even ask for our names or phone number.  We talked about all the cars and decided we liked the fellow at the Honda place so that's where we bought the car.  Moral of this story is ... the pushy, obnoxious and uninformed never will make a sale ... at least with LDub and Carol.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.