Car Shopping (Updated)

After much research, we set out for a (somewhat) nearby car dealer. Our research indicated that the car that best met our priorities was the Scion xD. In addition, Scion advertises itself as “no haggle,” offering what it calls “Pure Price,” eliminating one of the things that MrG hates most about car shopping.

Pure Price does not eliminate the haggling over the trade in.

We arrived at the dealership and were accosted greeted by a salesman. He connected us with a Scion Specialist, who took our basic info, then pressed us to commit to completing a sale today.

I assured him that if we could make all of the numbers work, we would be buying.

We tuned over the keys to our SUV for an appraisal, and the Scion specialist took us to the lot to look over their inventory and choose one for a test drive. As it turned out it wasn’t too difficult to make a selection.

They had only one xD on the lot.

It was silver with automatic transmission (perfect), with black cloth interior (acceptable), and the single optional add-on of traction control (might be useful).

We went for a drive. The car handled well and rode okay, although it was a bit rougher than I expected. Road noise was a bit more than I expected too. But it’s a small car, and the reviews rate it good in its class.

So when we returned to the dealer, we were eager to hear what the appraiser had to say about our trade.

1/3 of what I expected.

It seemed clear that we were not going to reach a deal.

Was it extreme negotiating? Incompetence on the part of the appraiser? An attempt to take advantage of someone who might not know what his car is worth? A get lost?

I don’t know and honestly I don’t care. It was clear that we weren’t going to reach an agreement. I asked for the keys back three or four times before they were handed over so that we could leave.

We went to another, truly no haggle (but used only) dealership, who presented us with a written offer—good for seven days—for about half of what I originally expected. It’s possible that my research is suspect, but more likely that there simply isn’t much of a market for used SUVs, at least in the city of $3.20 gas.

So we’re rethinking our priorities and our options.

I’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE: the Scion Specialist called back and offered 80% of what I expected to receive on the trade. However, the offer was via a “friend at a competing dealership.” I’m not sure what’s going on, and it doesn’t mater. We’re not in a position where we must change vehicles, so I’m not inclined to accept this offer.