Are you going to have any time to see people, Kat?

I'm a freak, I love buying cars.

I also tend to research the crap out of them and walk in knowing more about the car and the pricing that most of the sales managers.

The work truck that I leased least year was a bunch of research and then a ton of online work and when I contacted the dealership via email I gave them the price I wanted and even their inventory code for the precise truck I wanted.

It ended with about 15 minutes on the phone setting the deal and then drove down tot he dealership and signed the papers.

Which is probably a huge difference in walking into a dealership as a man and a woman. I've walked out of a lot of dealerships. Actually bought my car from a non-preferred dealership because the preferred place salesperson was a jerk and wouldn't consider my offer saying they didn't have that car. And then I drove over and watched my car get loaded and moved to the dealership that did listen to me. I jusy followed the car for 15 miles and bought it there.

I hate buying a car. I like planning but wrangling with dealerships bites with breasts. People ae rude and dismissive.

In other news, FUCK. We have fleas. How do we have fleas? Our cats are both strictly indoor-only. Guess I know what we're doing this weekend. Except that I also have a big freelance project to finish this weekend, that is already going to take up most of my time. Argh.

Borax. 20 Mule Team Borax on all floors. And most surfaces.

It is much worse being a woman buying a car, I've seen that too many times.

I've also had dealerships just be jerks and crazy. I have no patience for it and will do one of two things. Usually I just walk out.

However, if I have nothing better to do that day, I'll see how much time I can waste. I'll let the deal get all the way to contract, then "change" my mind and walk out of the finance office. If a dealership is going to jerk me around, then I can certainly pay that back by wasting their time. The worst thing I did was with a particularly bad dealership that was trying to pull a bait and switch on me. I went back about a week later to "buy" the car. I made sure i walked in about 1 hour before closing, let the deal go far enough along that they were keeping finance open late to get the contract put together, then I excused myself to use the bathroom, and walked out of the dealership.

Yes, I know. I'm a bit of an ass.

I hate shopping in general. I don't want to waste MY time and I have no patience for games. I can, will and have walked out within 5 minutes because of a hard sell.

Now, I'm particularly not looking forward to it because I don't have all the cards. I don't fucking know what I want. I want no car payment. I want a car I can trust. I don't want to deal with any of this shit. I actually don't give a shit about cars, I just don't want to have to think about them. That's about it, and that leaves me flailing.

The only car I've ever bought was a Scion, and I walked in knowing what car I wanted, and they have fixed prices. I've gone along with my parents when they bought cars at regular dealerships, though, and it looks like such a pain.

Ford lost my business when I went to a dealer and could not get anyone to sell me a car. I was about 22, female (of course), and there in my nice new office worker suit. They did not seem to be particularily busy. People would catch my eye and then go back to their conversations or papers. I've never felt so invisible in my life. This was in the early 90s. When I heard later that they were having some difficulty moving stock my lack of surprise could have been seen from space.

I went three miles up the road and bought a Grand Am. Got a lousy deal on it, in retrospect, but at least they were willing to sell it to me. And day-um, that car was fun to drive.

32328 points. Everything less than 1 km. I may have cheated a little.

Whoa, Tom. bows down

Well done, Tom! Your cheating is most impressive.

I took DH with me to buy a car when we were first dating because of the female issue. No doubt I won his heart that day when I ripped the salesman up one side and down the other when he tried to change the deal we had already agreed to. He just stood aside eyes wide watching me. And then followed me as I walked out. Now that I think about it I pretty much have taken the lead on all the vehicles I have purchased over the last couple decades. For me, he has done his own thing on his.

I hate shopping or haggling. If I tell you I am willing to buy at this price it is not an opening salvo.