Car Salesmen's Worst Nightmare: A Woman Who Can Add

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Earlier this week I wrote a discussion about "creative math" when it comes to dealing with car salesmen. Sure enough, I destroyed three hours of my life that I can never recover today, only to be duped by bad math. WORSE, I called these bozos yesterday and told them up front that I had a lease on my car that is way over mileage. "No problem," they said. If you can't add, that is. Here's the thing: their web site advertises the car that I wanted could be leased for no money down and $259 a month. My car has a "negative equity" of $3,551. So, kiddies, how much is $3,600 divided by 36 months? Anyone can do that math without a calculator: $100 a month. And what is $259 plus $100? Again, no calculator needed: it's $359. So why did they want me to pay $400 a month? When the sales manager told me I emphatically said, "No." I then proceeded to explain the above-referenced math. "My payment should be no more than $359 a month," I said after voicing the simple division and addition. Crickets. He said nothing. And I left. Without a new car. I'll try to find a way to fix the seat so it doesn't hurt my back. I'm sure I can find something to spend the $400 a month on. And who knows, maybe I can get a job teaching remedial math to car salesmen. There's only one song for the car salesmen....(and watch Danny Kortchmar's facial expressions over Linda's shoulder...I'm pretty sure I was mimicking those when they were trying to tell me $259 + $100 equalled $400!)