Sorry if this is a useless topic, but I have the urge to rant and rave...

I've been seriously looking at getting an XR6T to replace my old Subaru Liberty RS. I've been thinking about this for quite some time, but I was a bit gunshy about the matter and decided to sit on it and see how things are panning out. Seems like all the major problems with the XR6T have been resolved, or at least are known (no "never seen that before, mate" problems), so I'm thinking now is about the time to consider buying. I think an XR6T with the luxury pack sounds like a winner.

However, whenever I walk into a car dealership, Ford dealers totally ignore me. It seems that the sales people would rather stand outside and smoke a cigarette than speak to me. If I grab someone and ask about an XR6T, they'll point me to a car outside. If I open the door of one in the showroom, they ask me not to touch the car. I've just about given up with Ford, I get a totally different level of sales service from Expensive Daewoo or Mitsubishi, who are eager to hand me the keys to a Late model camira SS or a Magna VR-X.

A couple of times I've actually had a salesperson speak to me, but they always cut me short. "Are you going to buy now?", they ask. My reply is that I don't want to buy until I sell my existing car, and I don't want to sell it until I'm sure the XR6T is a good enough replacement for it - thus, can I get a test drive first? "Sorry mate, none available now."

So what do I do? Is there something wrong with my jeans and windcheater appearance? Is a 30-something year old person not the kind of person Ford want to deal with? Do I look too poor to afford a new car? I just don't get it!

Gday Mr Bunny,

Which dealers have you tried? There are many of us here who have been through what you state. But with the help of the members we all found the right dealer to talk business with.

The guys @ Coutney & Paterson in Heidleberg and Ethridge in Vermont were great and can't say anything bad about them.

There are always good n bad dlrs, even with the other manufacturers.

Good luck !

Punch Bunny, first of all, welcome to the Forums.

In regards to your above comment, I found it hard to test drive a Turbo myself also mainly because no dealer kept them....any turbo that came in was pretty my sold already. I picked up the phone book and called all the dealers that where within my reach and asked if they had a T that I could test drive.....all but one dealer had nothing for me. This would be a good start dude, call them all and see what you come up with.

Age should not be an issue to a true sales person, when I bought my car last year I was 23 years old.....the first dealer ship I went to didnt give me the price I wanted, the second one helped me straight away. From personal experiance though, your best off talking to them when your ready to buy.......when I walked into the second dealer, I told the sales person that I didnt want to waste his or my time, that I wanted to buy a car today if the price is right......we sat down, talked, he gave me the price I wanted, I signed the papers, and in 30 mins, I bought myself a new T (and what a GREAT choice it was I must add)

Good luck and stay persistant, its WELL worth it

Had similar experience - NO HELP when I wanted a test drive (I know I don't have a T still the same however). I changed tacks - went straight into the show room and said that I wanted to buy the car - did not need a test drive as I had already driven one - I was ready to buy if the price was right. I talked mainly about non car details finance/service/delivery/stock items etc. While the salesman went to the manager I always asked if I could take one for a ten minute ride - NO PROBLEM!

Good Luck don'd get too

Like most people, I also went through the same thing.

On one ocassion, on a Saturday when the showroom was full, I walked in wearing a HSV Shirt, jacket and cap. I was served pretty quick!

The salesguy actually said...."you come into a Ford dealership, dressed like that?"

I replied..yeah this is what the Expensive Daewoo dealer gave me after I test drove the SS!

Another mastercard moment................priceless.

I'm in sales and I must say.......car salesmen have earned their reputation. I am sure I could make huge money opening a dealership, just be interested and helpful, something the current offerings can't manage.

And I wonder why most car salesmen have been married more than once?

Mate I hear ya! I was a poofteenth away from buying an SS because my local ford dealer are sh*t, actually they still are, I went there for a looksie again on saturady and asked how much drive away for a black T with the luxo pack, he says he dont know and he will have to go and add it up?? How can you sell a car if you dont know how much the thing costs??

Anyway, I vented my frustations here AND on the ls1 forums and was grabbed by RATT who whooped me on down to his dealer and I havent looked back.

If your in sydney pm me and ill point you in the right direction dealer wise.

Cheers

Jim

Edited 07/06/04 02:32 AM07/06/04 02:32 AM by ozzyjim

Mate I hear ya! I was a poofteenth away from buying an SS because my local ford dealer are sh*t, actually they still are, I went there for a looksie again on saturady and asked how much drive away for a black T with the luxo pack, he says he dont know and he will have to go and add it up?? How can you sell a car if you dont know how much the thing costs??

Anyway, I vented my frustations here AND on the ls1 forums and was grabbed by RATT who whooped me on down to his dealer and I havent looked back.

If your in sydney pm me and ill point you in the right direction dealer wise.

Cheers

Jim

Yeah, RATT and the rest of the team he works with are awsome. I bought my car from them also, no bullsh*t, straight to the chase......the blokes are on the ball and willing to compromise as far as price is concerned.

Top Job fellas

Do what I ended up doing and , shout out "Does anyone want to sell Me a Car"

That seems to get them to stop talking to the slutty looking girl that tries to flogg you all the aftermarket crap!

That or just walk up to the receptionist and ask for the manager, and tell him you want to by a car, test drive it and be served! Then tell him you want him to do it and not one of his salesman who will not be with the company next week.

There is a small number of Ford Dealers not owned by the parent company, I am sure their is at least one in Melbourne somewhere (not sure which one) ... I am sure somebody knows on this forum and can point you in this dealers direction as they often offer superior pre-sales service ... RATT mentioned is from such a dealer here in Sydney and offers great service

I have a long standing relationship with my dealer (my T ordered is my fourth car from the dealer) and my current salesman is excellent !!!

That should help a little but sometimes it pays to be persistent ... Test drives can be hard since nearly every T made is sold ... and I have been waiting for mine for more than 6 weeks so far ... Good Luck!

I went shopping for my car in Jun 03 when Ts were few and far between. Because I wanted to test drive a manual, I had to drive to Woolongong (from Sydney) as that was the only manual in the southern NSW area. And as the Citric Acid was new, I wanted to see that on a car I had to drive to Mittagong for that (a round trip of about 200 km). I have sympathy with your plight to find a car to test drive.

Generally I found that the sales service was good right up to the point that I signed the contract and it was all downhill from there!

The best advice I can give is to got to any convenient dealer, pester the hell out of them until they show you all the bits you want to see etc and then when it comes to making a decision on who to buy from, ring around each dealer and get them to give you a price. It does vary considerably between dealer, particularly if you are entitled to get a fleet discount. If you find a good helpful dealer, stick with them, they are bound to match another dealer's price.

As JB said, if you get no satisfaction with the salesmen, go ask for the manager. I had to resort to that when I failed to have phone calls returned from the salesmen.

The other option for you punch bunny is to grow some really large bre@sts and wear a low cut dress. Are you a bloke?