Jun 27, 2008

I missed posting on Transportation Thursday because I was busy with the usual suspects playing golf , going out to lunch and a bunch of other stuff. I could have used a bit of transportation at the golf course in the form of a golf cart yesterday. We are at the beginning of our rainy season and it was hot and muggy. The Seafood King and I walked the course which struck me as idiotic. He insists on walking and following him around the course in a cart is reminiscent of the famous O.J. Simpson low-speed chase.  So I walked.
Our fourth player yesterday was an 88-year-old guy named Nick.  He was a character.  I hope I'm still playing at eighty-eight.  Hell, I hope I'm still here at eighty-eight.
Transportation Thursday reminds me of when my old dad bought the Honda Civic that I now enjoy.  Dad grew too old to drive and sold it to Son Sneed.  When Son Sneed's medical issues rendered him unable to legally drive, I bought the car.
I took my dad to the local Honda dealer to make the big purchase.  My dad was not what you would call a savvy shopper.  Mostly he paid full sticker for everything.  He didn't want to insult the salesman and dealer by trying to lowball them.  As if they can be insulted.
Dad picked out the Civic, we test drove it and the negotiations were on.  I told him that the first rule of these negotiations was that he was to keep his big trap shut.
The dealer wanted $15,200 for the car.  I countered with an offer of $12,900 (the invoice price was $12,700).  The salesman went away and returned with a counter-offer of $14,200.  Before I could say a word,  old /dad blurted out, "Sold!".  If looks could kill.
My dad loved the car, thought he had hit the jackpot on the price and had several years of happy motoring.  A good deal no matter the few bucks I might have still wrangled out of the dealer.
Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes just full of it, but always judgmental and cranky

6 comments:

dennis said...

Dennis thinks you could have gotten the car for thirteen nine. Dennis thinks Merle was a good son.

Kurt said...

My 1989 Civic was about $8000 out the door. I of course bought it used from the original owner, but the invoice was in the papers.

Cars cost like $15 to make. Car dealerships are the most secretive cult in America, except maybe for orthodontists.

Squirrel said...

Hmmm you were without transportation on the golf course in this heat? Well You'd better hydrate.

Coffee Messiah said...

You're a tough man Mr Sneed, not only to golf, but to do so in weather like that and still keep a sense of humor!

Great story about the car too! ; )

bitchlet said...

I love bargaining.

Steve Reed said...

Impressive bargaining skills, Merle!