l008com

So my RX-8 lease is up soon, and I have a list I shortened down to 4 cars:
Another RX-8
Nissan Z
Pontiac GTO
Chevy Trailblazer SS

So first I went to the nissan dealer. We looked at one inside, but I couldn't drive one because they were covered in snow. The sales guy said he would call me in a few days when they were unburied. That was weeks ago, all the snow has completely melted, re-snowed, and re-melted since then. So yesterday I went to a pontiac dealership to check out the GTO. He was going to bring one up for me to look at. I told him it has to be a stick I don't want to drive an automatic (as it would be a waste of time since I still would want to drive a stick before I bought it). So he comes back with "we only have an automatic". So we walk down and take a look. I couldn't start it cause it was dead. The guy seemed to have no intention of going and getting a jumper pack. And parked right next to the automatic was a stick. ******* *****. The guy also had zero product knowledge. He didn't know what anything was, didn't know the wheel sizes, nothing.

I'm 25 years old and I don't look particularly young for my age. This guy seemed shocked that my car was in my own name. Then the next pontiac dealer we went to had one sold one in stock, and suggested i go to another dealer, no interest in getting me the car i wanted etc. We called the 3rd dealership first and they supposably had no sticks.

I'd hate to count the car out before actually taking one for a spin (the GTO that is, I'm kind of all set with the Z).

And I haven't even bothered looking at the trailblazers yet, I've been so discouraged. A lot of good having friends at a dealership has done me :-(

I plan on driving an 06 RX-8 too just to see. I was told that they are more powerfull? I know the automatics have more power officially, but I was told that the sticks are still more powerful than they originally were?

RevTo9K

I had a similar experience with a Pontiac dealer back in 1997. Wanted to drive a V8 Firebird. Sales guy looked at me like I had three heads - apparently I was supposed to order a car sight-unseen and pay a ridiculous markup, no questions asked, because... well... it was a V8 Firebird.

Then I went to the Acura dealer to check out the only 1997 Type R still unsold in the area. I was treated like a customer, I was allowed to actually physically see the car, it was understood that there was to be some negotiating, we worked out a deal, and I drove it home that day. I was 26 at the time.

Good luck with finding a dealer that understands that the deal is about YOU. They are out there, and they understand that business must be earned; they are not simply entitled to it.

The 06 RX-8 auto has more power. Manual power is unchanged.

l008com

Are the friggin heated seats any hotter in the 06???!!!!

went_postal

I was actually looking at the Dodge Charger R/T HEMI.

Every GM dealership I have ever gone to treats you like crap. They act like you should thank them for being there to rip you off. Well.. not EVERY GM dealership... Saturn is actually pretty good but who wants to drive a Saturn. =)

Two best vehicle buying experiences I have ever had:

1) Mazda
2) Harley

when I bought my Ford truck they dealer was a complete @ss. I wanted a F150 4x4 Extended cab with a manual transmission and bench seat. You would have sworn I asked them to let me have my way with their teenage daughter. The Sales Mgr actually called me stupid (to my FACE!) because I wanted the 5-Speed. Oh... hell no... I walked straight into the owner's office and gave him a piece of my mind. Several things happened: 1) I got the truck I wanted $31k value that I paid $25k for... 2) the Sales Mgr was fired on the spot 3) The dealership sends me cookies at Christmas every year. =) Oh... and I was 25 at the time as well...

One of the other "good" experiences I have had shopping for cars was at the Dodge dealership. The only downside to that trip was that it was for a mini-van. (ick)

Go48

Took a neighbor to a grand opening event at my local Mazda dealer and following that he wanted to check out the new Mustang GT's. So we went down the road to the Ford dealer, walked into the showroom and were totally ignored by the sales force. They were too busy with paperwork and such. Now we both have gray hair, so it wasn't a "ignore the young kid with no money" thing. My neighbor eventually bought a new, leftover '04 RX-8 at a ridiculously low price and he hasn't looked back. And Ford wonders why they are "forced" to close plants and let people go.

acc3d

A good friend of mine at work purchased a Charger R/T HEMI, and let me tell you that's an underwhelming car. You'd think 340hp / 390 ft-lb would really put you back in your seat, but with a car that heavy you'd be wrong. Also it only comes in an automatic. I will say that the interior and fit & finish seemed nicer than expected.

He thought he was getting a nasty sounding, visceral V8 but the engine has no character at all. It's just quiet and smooth when you rev it. He added a Borla exhaust to liven it up, but it still doesn't sound as good as the new Mustang GT. I'd check out the mustang if I were you...