the flying squirrel

On a whim, I stopped by the Mazda dealership down the road after work today. I've been thinking of late that the Protegé5 is a pretty nifty car. So's the Protegé, and it's been on my short-list, even though I didn't stop by the Mazda dealership in Belleville when I was doing my test drives back on Canada Day weekend. I've been thinking about hatchbacks, though, being as they are marginally more useful than sedans. Anyway, I had it in my head that I wanted to take one for a test drive. Just to be fair to myself. No biggie.

Actually, I was thinking the dealership would closed. But that way I didn't have to be hassled by anyone. But I was wrong, for open it was.

I wistfully strolled through the lot, and had a look in the Protegé5s to make sure they weren't all standards. It didn't take long, though, before a dealer sauntered out to greet me. We had a little chat, and he asked me what I was looking for in a car. (um, a car, I was thinking, you know, it goes...). He seemed a little incredulous that I'd walk there. This was my first reason to not like him. But okay. He also asked how I get to work ("I walk"), and where I work. He then offered me a test drive.

The was the first time I'd been on a test drive where the dealer actually came along. And he didn't shut up. In fact, he was making me edgy. He was doing all the sorts of things they warn you about. "How much would you think you want to put down for a down payment?" "What kind of monthly payment are you looking at?" "What would you name it?" (!) He didn't strike me as overly slimy or downright dishonest, but I didn't much like the pressure.

See, here's the deal, right? (I know you've heard this before). I've been living in this town for seven years now with no access to a vehicle whatsoever. And... I can. I don't need a car. I certainly don't need one today. Now, I'm not saying it's always easy, and I'm not saying I don't miss out on stuff because it's too hard to get there, but there is no urgency here. My only deadline is to get something while I can still get a graduate discount. Even with Mazda, I've still got a year before I have to worry about that.

My point is the "you have to buy a car from me right now" thing is a little bit off-putting for me.

The car was quite nice. No complaints. The Protegé5 is about $4-$5000 more than anything I've been seriously looking at, though. I haven't done much research in this price range. Affording it isn't a problem. It's a question of opportunity costs. I can do a lot with $5000. Is having more cargo space and "sporty" really worth that much more to me?

We got back to the dealership and sat down at his desk to have a little chat. I wanted a brochure, if nothing else. Some numbers would have been good, too.

He starts filling in a contract pad. Like an idiot, I gave him address and contact info. What can I say? I'm an agreeable kind of guy. But I did get my numbers, which are about what I expected. (Except that they've got a ~$300 registration or whatever charge I haven't seen anywhere else). He was trying to get me to answer the "what can I do to sell you a car today" question and I was basically being unresponsive. My only problem with the car, I told him, was that it was a bit over my original budgeted price. Which is true. This isn't, strictly speaking, the reason why I wasn't buying a car today. I wasn't buying a car today because I wasn't buying a car today. I had a hard time getting this through to him. (It doesn't help that I'm a sad-o who doesn't want to hurt a car dealer's feelings). He says he's going to go off to get his manager because he wasn't sure about the graduate program. Neither was I, so I said sure (like an idiot).

I heard a woman's voice coming around the corner saying "He doesn't like it?" I mentally slap my forehead. I realized I had to get out of there ASAP. I had an easier time being direct with her, though. She went over all the same stuff he did and I reiterated that my only problem with the car was the price. She seemed to think this meant I was haggling. ( Was I? Damn, I'm good). So she told me that, this car being "hot" and all, I wasn't going to get a discount or anything. Finally she asked me what they can do to help me out today. To which I replied, "You've already done lots, thanks." So we all say our good-byes. The dealer offers to phone me later this week (Ack!) and I say sure (like an idiot... not wanting to hurt his feelings). But I'm free!

I didn't get my brochure, either.