I was repeatly told how lucky I was buying a 2004 S2K because it was going to be the final production year! However, once we pulled into the gas station during our test drive and he couldn't find the gas door release or the owners manual...I questioned his knowledge of the S2000

 

Some of these need to go into that "dealers say the funniest things" thread. That one was pretty good. It's amazing how clueless some salespeople are. Especially with our car sometimes.

 

I would have bitch slapped him in front of a showroom full of customers

 

Salesmen will say just about anything to make a sale. It is easy to tell if he was trying to sell a Pontiac, was his mouth moving?

 

Did you also have to bend down low to hear him? You know, since he's talking out his ass?

 

The salesman at the Ira Porsche dealer was pretty cool. In my first time there I had no intention of buying. The sales and I stood there at the lot just chatting away about the BS, S2000 and cars in general for half an hour. The sales was not pushing to sell at all - just a friendly conversation between 2 car guys. He also didn't (nor did he had to) make any BS>S2000 statements. Gave me his card afterward and then I left.

Couple days later I called him up for a test drive. The sales mgr and I could not come to term that night and it appeared the deal was dead. It was already passed their closing time. Nonetheless the sales gave me a friendly, smiling wave as I was leaving in my car. That made me feel I am welcome back if I choose to.

Fews days later, the sales mgr and I restructured the deal and came to term over the phone. The sales evertually "made" the sale and I was happy to give him my business.

Good salesmanship really does go a long way

 

I must know a different class of salesmen. When I traded my first s2k in for the STI (you notice i'm back in an s2k ) all the sales guys cleared out and took my s2k for a drive while they preped the STI. Its funny watching 5 or 6 guys taking turns, and they all commented on how great a car it was. I should have taken the hint and kept that one, but oh well.

 

I would have politely reminded him that, shortly, he might not have ANY Pontiacs to sell if they keep shutting plants down.

Then I would take him for a test drive in our POS car to show him:
- that the car would run circles around a Solstice
- that there is about 4 times more "useable" storage space in trunk.
- that the interior doesnt look like it was molded out of plastic in 1982.
- that the top goes down with....a BUTTON!!!!!
- that the car isnt set up to understeer
- that the convertable top doesn't look like a 5th grader put it together
- and lastly, that he is a total moron

 

Funny about the Solstice...

In Autoweek, they said that GM used the S2000 as the benchmark in handling aspirations for the Solstice.

I also read in a review that on windy roads, the Solstice is on par to S2000 in handling, but doesn't have as nice a ride just cruising around.

It certainly doesn't have the build quality, engine, or quality materials as the S2000 either.

With all the information on the internet about reviews and pricing, salesmen are more order takers, and having an affable personality is what sells cars. We want to buy cars from people we like, and the successful car salesmen know this; you can't coerce someone to buy a car.

 

Not to mention RESALE VALUE !