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Search for Mom’s Next Car Stymied
Aug 27 2009 by Sara Lacey
My Nissan Murano’s lease is ending soon. During my arduous search for its replacement I’ve been thinking I’d get a new car. Then my desires got the better of me, and I realized just how much more car I could get by going with a used car — make that a certified pre-owned car.
Why go with a certified pre-owned car as opposed to any used car? Because I’ve owned a lemon, folks, and it wasn’t pretty. With certified pre-owned, I get a little more peace of mind and a little more reassurance that the car will be everything I hope it to be. Most CPOs are lease returns to a dealership, so they typically have low miles and are in good shape. To be certified, vehicle car undergoes an inspection at the dealership (around 150 items are checked, depending on the brand). The certification process makes me feel better about my purchase.
Now all I have to do is find my match or vehicular soulmate. As I scan the list of possible choices my eye lingers on my fantasy pick. If you’ve read my reviews, you might know that I love the Mercedes-Benz ML550 and ML320. It turns out there are some great M-Class options here in Colorado.
However, there’s a hitch. This is an incredibly slow used-car market because the Cash for Clunkers program scrapped cars that would’ve ended up in used-car lots. Also, not a lot of people are buying new cars outside of the Clunkers program, so they’re not trading in their old ones. People are buying out their leases instead of getting new ones. While I loved leasing my car (it allowed me to save money and meditate on my new car, which I plan to keep forever), I’m ready for a change, but the slow used-car market could lead to problems.
I started my search at dealership No. 1. I drove two different M-Class at the first dealership; they weren’t the right color, so I politely declined. I gave the dealer my criteria, and he said he’d call if something came along. There was no call. At first I was happy that I wasn’t being harassed, but there was never any follow-up call from Numero Uno. I felt neglected.
Dealership No. 2’s website said they have “premium customer service,” and that they’d even bring a car to me at my house to test drive. When I called to ask if they’d do that for me (or if that’s just for current Mercedes owners), they told me they were too short on manpower to provide the test-drive service. We trekked up to the dealership instead. When I asked them about checking my leased vehicle to get an estimate for its buyout value, they again said they were short on manpower; this was before the Cash for Clunkers program started, and we were the only people at the dealership. Did I not dress well enough to be shopping at a luxury-brand car dealership? Do they not want a bum like me driving around in a Mercedes?
Maybe my budgeted price is too low, but I’ve seen certified pre-owned M-Class offered for around the price I’m shopping for. None of the salespeople said I was crazy, but they inferred it with their silence and lack of follow-up. Doesn’t anyone want my money?
A week passed and still nothing. Then I got a call from a saleswoman at dealership No. 2. She seems a little more interested in selling me a car than the salesman I spoke with earlier. We talk, and I ask lots of questions (and try to refrain from asking “Don’t you like me?”). She answers all my questions and is patient with me. She has a car close to what I want, but it’s not in the exact color and trim level. Poor woman; she’s the victim of a picky buyer and a slow used-car market.
Now I’m stressed. I have until Sept. 8 to return my leased car, but all of the certified pre-owned M-Class SUVs are starting to disappear from dealer lots. The prices are going up because of the used-car drought. I fail to be dissuaded, though. However, I have started to wonder if, in addition to my budget restraints, I smell funny or have a poor sense of humor.
If I’m spending a lot of money on a car I want to be as close to perfect as I can get. Through my research on Cars.com I know that my dream vehicle is out there. It’s in North Carolina. I’m even considering going through a broker. Stay tuned.
User Comments
Emily, I’m sorry this experience repeated itself with you. I too have gone through a broker in the past (several times). And I always wind up going back!
Dealership 2 saleswoman did wind up calling me to tell me she thought they had something for me though, so she’s been more on the ball.
You go girl! My husband thought I was crazy when (during one of his extended business trips) I found online and then flew to CA from Phoenix in 2007 to get a 2005 Pacifica (limited lifetime Powertrain warranty stopped w/2006 model) fully loaded in my color scheme (Black w/lt beige interior.) Even though I did the research to find it, this dealer/broker was super easy to work with - and like you, I knew what I wanted and had researched it for a while. It had everything I wanted on it, was a lease return in pristine conditio, 18K miles, heated first and second row, 6-disc cd, in-dash nav., DVD, power liftgate, etc., etc. AND, perhaps most importantly - it’s $20K price tag fit w/our university salaries.
My family and friends truly thought it was ludicrous to hold out for year, mileage, color, amenities at the price I wanted and spend $150 on a flight plus the gas back to AZ plus go to a broker/dealer I’d never been too, by myself!!! Only in America! But he was honest, the car’s been fantastic and although not nec. my “dream” car - there’s some German in it (built on the R-class chassis and some Daimler-like accents.) Hope all has worked out well for you w/your new vehicle - wherever you ended up purchasing it!
I want a wagon. But no search engine will sort by “wagon”. Any recommendations for a modestly priced suitable for a large dog. Low to the ground but not too low.
Hi Susan,
We asked our friends at Ask.Cars.com to look into your wagon question. Here’s what they found:
http://ask.cars.com/2009/10/which-modestly-priced-wagons-would-be-suited-for-carrying-a-dog.html
OH!!!! How I have felt that pain too - over and over! I just figure they may never take me seriously. Maybe I have a complex about being 5’0” and looking like a kid. But I tell them I own a company, am forty “something” and have a love for fine German engineering. But “they” don’t care. I don’t think I fit their specs of a dream customer. I always thought a dream customer was someone who was pleasant and had the cash or credit to purchase. I guess not.
My life changed when I went through a car broker. Seems I shouldn’t have to do that…but he found me a dream CPO for a steal and was incredibly easy to work with. No more car dealer nightmares.