|
08-30-2013, 06:23 PM | #1 |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
Caddy Rudeness
So I have the day off work. I go down to Charlottesville, VA for the day (the wife was getting her hair done...). So after driving a 2012 F30 335i for the past week as a loaner car (and hated it), I decide I need to drive the ATS to see how it compares while the F30 is fresh in my ass-o-meter.
I go in to the C-ville Caddy dealer, I tell the salesman I want to drive both the 2.0L Turbo with the manual trans, and the 3.6L (auto only) with the magnetic-shock suspension. So the Sales guy says, "well we might not have the 2.0L manual, we don't stock those because not everyone wants one and when we get one it sits on the lot too long." Same shit I hear 10 years ago when Lincoln sold the LS... He says he'll check anyway. He comes back, nope they don't keep them in stock. We have a 2.0 L with the automatic right over here, you can shift it manually." I said "no, I want an actual manual transmission.: He says "sorry, but let me see if we have the 3.6..." So I say, "why does Cadillac even bother?" He says what do you mean? I say "Well, why does Cadillac build a sports sedan with a manual transmission" when the dealers don't stock them?" I heard the same crap from Lincoln 10 years..." He says "Well we can order it for you." I said, "So why would I go order a car that I can't test drive first? Don't you understand that people like to test drive a car to see if they like it before they buy it." He said, getting pissed, "Why are you hating on me?" (I think lovely some pussy I got here). "It's not good business practice to keep a car on the lot so long." I said "well it's not good practice to not have a vehicle configuration the manufacturer has made to meet a demographic of drivers who want a manual transmission." So they guy is totally pissed now. So I say "Nice way to treat a potential customer... see ya". I then went to the local BMW dealer. Test drove the F30 320i with a sport package and a manual transmission. It rode a lot better than the 335i (without a sport package), but the steering is just does not have the BMW DNA. Nor do the brakes. And whew, man was it slow... |
08-30-2013, 07:42 PM | #3 | |
I am Gundam
191
Rep 1,211
Posts |
Quote:
Anyway, I don't think the guy was being rude. I actually thought you were quite rude. The salesman doesn't control dealer inventory so to go off on him like that was wrong. But, it does highlight the problem with Cadillac dealers. They are still on the mind of selling the deal and not the car. I went with my dad to our local Cadillac dealer back in July to drive the 2.0T and 3.6 AWD models because he is interested in replacing the E90 335xi with it. Anyway we drive both models and we liked the 3.6 better. We go back in the showroom and they don't have an ATS the way we want it in stock( fairly fully loaded, black diamond, morello red interior) and my dad prefers to wait for the 2014 models. But the salesman kept on pushing how much money we could save on a 2013. My dad kept telling him that he wants the car the way he wants it and prefers to wait for the 2014. The guy kept on pushing how great of a deal we could get with the 2013 despite them not having a 2013 the way my dad wants it in stock..... And that they don't stock models that will attract the demographic of people who look like the 3 series, G37/Q50, etc. They are stocking ATS's for the older demographic. With the good products Cadillac's are producing today, the dealers are going to hurt them because they don't know how to sell the new product. They are still on the old Cadillac mode of sell to old farts. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 08:59 PM | #5 | |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 09:10 PM | #6 | |
I am Gundam
191
Rep 1,211
Posts |
Quote:
Anyway, I understand dealers try to sell the product they have in stock, but the ones they had in stock were not even close to how my dad wanted it. My dad made that very clear, but he still pushed. The one in the showroom had everything, but it was red( which I and my dad probably could compromise on since the red looked good too with the morello red interior) and not AWD. That was the closest one they had. As much as I would love a RWD to get the MRC suspension, my dad wants AWD for the snow. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 09:34 PM | #7 |
Banned
17
Rep 493
Posts |
You're actually the one that seemed rude, not the sales guy. At the point where you say, 'why bother?' is where it sounds like you came into the dealership with a stick up your ass.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 09:44 PM | #8 |
Major
344
Rep 1,326
Posts |
In my 10+ years on BMW forums all I hear is how hard it is to find a manual BMW in-stock at a dealer. How is this any different?
And why didn't you look on their website or call to see what was in stock? Last edited by CirrusSR22; 08-30-2013 at 10:04 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 11:22 PM | #9 |
NOOB
1604
Rep 1,356
Posts |
__________________
@BMWclassicdivision
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 11:47 PM | #10 | |
Banned
20
Rep 688
Posts |
Quote:
OP...you are a douche bag. The salesman appreciated you wasting both his time and his up. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 01:30 AM | #11 | |
Smiling Politely
1524
Rep 29,119
Posts |
Op. You sounded like a tool.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 03:35 AM | #12 |
New Member
0
Rep 11
Posts |
This is so funny how the OP's story totally backfired, and now everyone is letting you know you're in the wrong. Were you looking for sympathy points? I bet you regret posting this now don't you, douche bag.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 05:35 AM | #13 | |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
Quote:
Had the salesman's response been something like "You know, it's nice to see real car enthusiast guys like you come in because they have interest in the ATS. Unfortunately, we are out of the manual transmission right now, we sold the last one a few weeks ago and GM hasn't had any available to restock. How about as soon as we get our next allotment of turbos in with the manual, I'll call you and we can arrange a test drive. But in the meantime, how about we find a 3.6 with the suspension you are looking for and take it out. It's a great handling car and I think you'll enjoy driving it. When we get to take out the manual transmission version, it will probably be even more enjoyable for you." - That would have been a proper response to win over a customer and get him interested in dealing with the dealership. Telling me "Well we don't stock the manual because so few people buy them and it's a bad business decision." tells me the dealer and Cadillac really aren't interested in changing their customer demographic. I know this is not true in the case of Cadillac because most corporations don't spend billions of dollars to develop a car and change its image to move its customer demographic. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 06:00 AM | #15 |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
That's not totally accurate. But the point is if Cadillac is trying to change it's customer demographic and gain sales from BMW, Lexus, Infinity, and Acura, the dealers need to be educated and follow suit. The dealer is the customer arm of the corporation regardless of its independence from GM.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 06:44 AM | #16 | |
NOOB
1604
Rep 1,356
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
@BMWclassicdivision
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 07:19 AM | #18 |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 07:20 AM | #19 |
Lieutenant General
10304
Rep 14,438
Posts |
^
4 posts up would have eased the first post a bit. I see both sides of the story. To actually help educate Cadillac, you could email or call the stores GM as well as the region manager. You never know what trying to help a big company may get you. They "could" make a manual car appear for a test drive. It is how you deliver your thoughts that counts. fyi No manual turbos show as available in DFW . Nearest car is in Austin. That might tell you something. |
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 09:44 AM | #20 | |
General
18706
Rep 19,443
Posts |
Quote:
I've been waiting a long time for an American car company to even seriously approach taking on the Germans in the sport sedan class (Lincoln LS aside), and my real first experience is what I got yesterday (same as I got from Lincoln 10 years ago). I'm the ATS' target audience. I fondly remember Cadillacs of the '60s and '70s, despite being luxury barges, taken in context of the times, they were quite excellent, high-quality automobiles. I have no prejudice against the American car manufacturers (I've owned quite a few good ones). |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 09:54 AM | #21 | |||
Lieutenant General
1204
Rep 12,446
Posts |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
What's the point of getting pissed off at the salesman that probably has zero control over the dealer allotment. If you're gonna be an entitled dick, might as well complain to someone that has some control over the matter.
__________________
Past: '08 E92 335i|ZPP|ZSP|6AT
Past: '15 Mustang GT|401A|PP|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350|6MT |
|||
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 10:33 AM | #22 |
Major
24
Rep 1,033
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|