When Life Hands You Lemons...Grab A Fire Extinguisher!

United States
March 2, 2009 3:22pm CST
I have decided that on the list of things that I hate is Shopping for a new car. The list of things I hate is long, but car buying has wormed its way into the top 10. [b] Do any of you have car buying experiences you would like to share? Do you hate salesmen who act like their children are going to starve to death because you want the sticker price discounted a measley $500? How about finance companies? What do you think about the lending process now that the economy is in the toilet?[/b] If you haven't guessed by now, I am looking to replace my 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. I went and looked at a Suzuki XL-7. Great SUV, if you want everyone but the driver to be miserable. Seriously, there is ZERO cargo space unless you collapse the 3rd row seats in on the children sitting in them. And the salesman was a total jerk. So then I went to a different car dealer who had a variety of minivans and SUVs on their lot. I told the salesman what I was looking for and he produced the keys to a 2005 fully loaded Town and Country, pointed to where it was on the lot and said he would see me when I got back. I was shocked. He didn't take my name or anything and just handed me the keys and sent me on my way... alone. So I drove about 3 miles away up the steepest hill I could find and pulled over on the side of the road to check out the bells and whistles. Stow and go third row seats - Awesome. Heated leather front seats - Amazing! Lots of storage, leg room, reclining seats, DVD player, 6 disc CD changer...and only 31,000 miles on a 2005! I was in love! Until I went to start it back up to go back to the dealership. It WOULD NOT START!. I drove the dang thing 3 miles, fell in love, and it WOULD NOT START! So I had to call the dealership and have them come up to me and jump the van. Then I drove it back to the dealership but had to stop a little faster than I should have because I couldn't make the turn like I thought I could. After I made the turn I drove it another 500 feet maybe before I started smelling smoke. I put it in park, jumped out and saw actual FLAMES shooting out of the drivers side wheel well. It seems that when I slammed on the brake the caliper stuck and caught the brake line on FIRE! They made some guy who looked like he was in his late 70's haul a fire extinguisher up a muddy gravel covered hill to put the fire out and then the salesman has the nerve to say to me, "So aside from it breaking down and catching on fire, how did you like it?" My glare and eye roll must have gave him the answer because then he gave me the keys to a 2005 Toyota Highlander, and asked if I wanted to take the fire extinguisher with me. I was not amused. It drove okay but after the experience with the Town and Country I opted to take my business some place else and I am now the proud owner of a 2007 Kia Sedona. It's pretty. I love it! So have any of you ever had a "mishap" while test driving a car? Was it as good as mine? I doubt it. Please share.
4 people like this
3 responses
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
3 Mar 09
I really have to say after hearing it and then reading it I'm still shaking my head at the luck you have.. But it seems like the third time must be a charm with you..
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Mar 09
The only top story I have is from my road test. The driving instructor came to get us at our houses. She got me first, & then we went to the other student to get her for her road test. She had me take us there, & it turned out that because her house was up on a hill from the street, her driveway curved upwards (It was a female student.) I overdid it a bit & nearly went through the garage door after rolling back down a few times. The instructor did say I had good reflexes that saved the garage door. When it came to the road test itself, I let her go first, & she looked disappointed when she was done. During my road test, we suddenly stopped short, because the inspector accidentally stepped on the passenger side brake, & her reaction was a nice, loud, "WOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!" We both passed the road test, but in my case, that was the only time that the passenger brake was ever used, & it was by accident.
• Canada
4 Mar 09
i don't know a damn thing about buying a car, but my husband does. I'll send this to him. I do remember going with my mother to buy a new car, and the stupid dealer suggesting she bring her husband by. Excuse me? Why does a woman need a husband to buy a car? That double standard really stunk!!! Stupid dealer. We really gave him a piece of our minds.