"So, What Can I Do to Help You Buy My Car?"

I now know why we have a "sleazy used car salesman" stereotype - and the truth isn't very pretty. My search for a decent Jeep Liberty has taken me over seventy miles from my home - and still, the search has proven fruitless. I did find a lovely little charcoal model that seemed to be the perfect vehicle . . . but then I put it in four-wheel drive, it made a hideous grinding noise, and thereafter would not come out of four-wheel drive and would not turn properly. (I must thank S. for her excellent advice - and I owe her a dinner for showing me the tips and tricks that helped me catch that lemon.)

I will give points to the salesman for a quick recovery. After we limped the charcoal Liberty back to the dealership, I told him to have his mechanic check out what was wrong - and since the vehicle was still under full factory warranty, if it was fixable, I might still be interested. He went inside to ask about possible mechanical issues with the charcoal. When he came back out, he would only say that the charcoal needed "warranty work," and, with one hand resting on the charcoal's fender, he calmly asked, "So what can I do to convince you to buy the blue?"

"The blue's engine was a little rough," I said cautiously.

"You liked it well enough before you drove the charcoal." (Don't ask me why he thought this argument would be effective - especially considering the charcoal BROKE DOWN during the test drive.) The rest of the conversation quickly devolved as he entered "salesman overdrive" and offers of assistance quickly turned into ill-clothed desperate pleas. My favorite comment was:

"I don't know why people get so stressed about buying a car. It's not an investment. It's just a car. It's not like they hold their value."

Uh huh.

So the one dealer, salesman, etc. that I found that has decent jeeps and good customer service also wants roughly $17,000 for a used 2003 jeep with no warranty.

AAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH.

I really don't think I'm asking overly much. I want a decent vehicle, in good running condition for roughly $14,0000.

As it stands, my self esteem has taken quite a battering. I wonder if anyone has ever done a psychology test that measures self-esteem before and after shopping for a car. Every dealership I depart has left me feeling like I'm a miserable human being for having wasted the salesman's time without purchasing a vehicle (whether or not the vehicle was in working order).

So I'm throwing in the towel for a month or two and taking some time to research other small SUV's. If nothing else, I've collected some rather amusing stories, so I suppose it is not a total wash. Still, I have no idea why people voluntarily go through the process of purchasing a vehicle. I better like what I get . . . because I refuse to go car shopping again until the vehicle falls apart beneath me. And who says duct tape doesn't add to the length of the average vehicles life span? It's worth a try!