Acura ILX Test Drive Gone Wrong
- Thread starter adolan21
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If you walked out of the dealership without spending money, your visit did NOT go wrong Still, one can't judge a book by the cover. I did a fair bit of looking a year ago when getting my car, and quickly crossed off dealers who didn't want to let me test-drive or played other games. I ended up buying the car over the phone with a dealer who wanted my business. The local dealer who refused to deal ended up fixing some warranty issues (defective switch) on my then-new car.
There are more than enough other dealers out there with ILX's in stock. One of them ought to let you test-drive it.
If you need to make a day out of it, be prepared to buy that day. Get financing arranged ahead of time, eat before heading into the dealer (negotiation on an empty stomach is a poor idea), and be ready to walk out if they don't budge.
There are more than enough other dealers out there with ILX's in stock. One of them ought to let you test-drive it.
If you need to make a day out of it, be prepared to buy that day. Get financing arranged ahead of time, eat before heading into the dealer (negotiation on an empty stomach is a poor idea), and be ready to walk out if they don't budge.
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I'd call the Dealer owner and tell him about your experience.
No owner wants this kind of nonsense going on.
This!! And almost nothing has given me greater satisfaction than driving my new auto back to a rude3 dealer, or a dealership that didnt want to deal and making sure they see and know they messed up and lost a sale.. but making sure the Gen manager knows is key.. he will be after some butts !!
I'd call the Dealer owner and tell him about your experience.
No owner wants this kind of nonsense going on.
This!! And almost nothing has given me greater satisfaction than driving my new auto back to a rude3 dealer, or a dealership that didnt want to deal and making sure they see and know they messed up and lost a sale.. but making sure the Gen manager knows is key.. he will be after some butts !!
Hot chicks always play hard to get. Now you want to buy one even more.
If this makes you feel better: this Indian gentleman was ousted from a Rolls Royce showroom in London, for the full story Google: Bhupinder Singh.
In 1930, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh felt slighted at the British Rolls Royce company’s refusal to accept an order from him for a new Rolls Royce car. Reacting to the refusal, the Maharaja ordered new Rolls Royce cars and put them to hauling garbage, dung and filth in Patiala city to the chagrin of the all-powerful Rolls Royce-loving Viceroy and the British ruling establishment who quickly prevailed upon the Rolls Royce Company to comply with the Maharaja’s wishes.
In 1930, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh felt slighted at the British Rolls Royce company’s refusal to accept an order from him for a new Rolls Royce car. Reacting to the refusal, the Maharaja ordered new Rolls Royce cars and put them to hauling garbage, dung and filth in Patiala city to the chagrin of the all-powerful Rolls Royce-loving Viceroy and the British ruling establishment who quickly prevailed upon the Rolls Royce Company to comply with the Maharaja’s wishes.
My suggestion would be to contact another salesperson via the dealer's website. I'm sure they have dedicated internet salespeople. You might be able to contact a specific person you feel you could connect with; someone closer to your age who would want to provide good service to you.
If this dealer is the only one around, you probably need to suck up your ego and find another way to work with them. It's easy for me to say, but try not to let one bad encounter ruin your future purchase decisions. Sure, if you lived in an area where Acura dealers are common, you could blow off this one. But you don't so you can't. If you're really serious about an ILX, this is going to be the dealer you will buy it from.
Sometimes you gotta do what needs to be done. Forget about the other salesperson and move on to the next one.
If this dealer is the only one around, you probably need to suck up your ego and find another way to work with them. It's easy for me to say, but try not to let one bad encounter ruin your future purchase decisions. Sure, if you lived in an area where Acura dealers are common, you could blow off this one. But you don't so you can't. If you're really serious about an ILX, this is going to be the dealer you will buy it from.
Sometimes you gotta do what needs to be done. Forget about the other salesperson and move on to the next one.
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Get a new Dart and pocket the money difference!
I was going to suggest Verano Turbo. Problem with the Verano is that it won't handle anywhere near as well as the Civic Si, er, ILX.
Get a new Dart and pocket the money difference!
I was going to suggest Verano Turbo. Problem with the Verano is that it won't handle anywhere near as well as the Civic Si, er, ILX.
In addition to talking to the dealer principal, also call Acura and let them know how this dealer treated you.
But I agree, buy the GTI (Or GLI or Golf R).
But I agree, buy the GTI (Or GLI or Golf R).
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Not sure how old you are but I'm 29 and the salesmen scattered at a couple dealers I went to. I'm almost always dressed neatly if I am anywhere but Home Depot in the middle of a project.
It is surprising because in my area plenty of younger adults make good money or have wealthy parents underwriting a purchase. My wife and I could have paid cash for those cars in cash and have excellent credit.
Strangely enough, the place that treated us the best by far was Lexus. We were test driving before they even asked our name. No license copying nonsense or demanding all my contact info before making me take the salesmen on the drive (I can understand if I am going solo). Meanwhile Honda and Toyota were full of hassle even before driving anything.
And a GTI would be ideal for me, but I'm afraid of owning a VW out of warranty.
It is surprising because in my area plenty of younger adults make good money or have wealthy parents underwriting a purchase. My wife and I could have paid cash for those cars in cash and have excellent credit.
Strangely enough, the place that treated us the best by far was Lexus. We were test driving before they even asked our name. No license copying nonsense or demanding all my contact info before making me take the salesmen on the drive (I can understand if I am going solo). Meanwhile Honda and Toyota were full of hassle even before driving anything.
And a GTI would be ideal for me, but I'm afraid of owning a VW out of warranty.
Originally Posted By: VicVinegar
Not sure how old you are but I'm 29 and the salesmen scattered at a couple dealers I went to. I'm almost always dressed neatly if I am anywhere but Home Depot in the middle of a project.
It is surprising because in my area plenty of younger adults make good money or have wealthy parents underwriting a purchase. My wife and I could have paid cash for those cars in cash and have excellent credit.
Strangely enough, the place that treated us the best by far was Lexus. We were test driving before they even asked our name. No license copying nonsense or demanding all my contact info before making me take the salesmen on the drive (I can understand if I am going solo). Meanwhile Honda and Toyota were full of hassle even before driving anything.
And a GTI would be ideal for me, but I'm afraid of owning a VW out of warranty.
Some dealers only want to deal with the "older folks" since they KNOW those folks have money. Too bad, since the demographics are looking awful for those dealers who turn away the younger folks who want to part with their hard-earned money on a new car.
Other dealers play the "long game" and know that if they treat younger folks the same as older folks, those younger folks will be back to buy more expensive cars there. Or, we might be bringing back aging parents looking for something easier to enter/exit. Yeah, we might be driving off in a cheap car now. More than likely, though, we'll be back looking at pricier cars for the next purchase. We also might have referred the dealer to our friends/family who want to buy a car from a dealer who has treated folks fairly.
Not sure how old you are but I'm 29 and the salesmen scattered at a couple dealers I went to. I'm almost always dressed neatly if I am anywhere but Home Depot in the middle of a project.
It is surprising because in my area plenty of younger adults make good money or have wealthy parents underwriting a purchase. My wife and I could have paid cash for those cars in cash and have excellent credit.
Strangely enough, the place that treated us the best by far was Lexus. We were test driving before they even asked our name. No license copying nonsense or demanding all my contact info before making me take the salesmen on the drive (I can understand if I am going solo). Meanwhile Honda and Toyota were full of hassle even before driving anything.
And a GTI would be ideal for me, but I'm afraid of owning a VW out of warranty.
Some dealers only want to deal with the "older folks" since they KNOW those folks have money. Too bad, since the demographics are looking awful for those dealers who turn away the younger folks who want to part with their hard-earned money on a new car.
Other dealers play the "long game" and know that if they treat younger folks the same as older folks, those younger folks will be back to buy more expensive cars there. Or, we might be bringing back aging parents looking for something easier to enter/exit. Yeah, we might be driving off in a cheap car now. More than likely, though, we'll be back looking at pricier cars for the next purchase. We also might have referred the dealer to our friends/family who want to buy a car from a dealer who has treated folks fairly.
An unfortunate possibility to consider is you buy from a dealer with a decent sales team but an awful service team. This has been my experience with Hyundai here in Lexington.
I even wrote a nice (no sarcasm) letter to them for service, they didn't care. And Hyundai USA never said a peep.
I even wrote a nice (no sarcasm) letter to them for service, they didn't care. And Hyundai USA never said a peep.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: sciphi
To blazes with that dealer. They clearly don't want your business, so I wouldn't give it to them.
I would counter that argument by saying that in sales, judging your prospects (to an extent) is also important. They only have a limited number of salesmen, and it would be prudent to assign them to the highest potential buyers of that night. And clearly, the OP was interested, but was not ready/likely to buy immediately.
What's a good day for a car salesman, selling one car? They should be able to take ten minutes and feel out a customer a little.
What you should really do is bring $2k in 100 dollar bills for flash cash and whip it out when they do you wrong and say you're going elsewhere. Or even a single 100 wrapped around 50 singles.
Originally Posted By: sciphi
To blazes with that dealer. They clearly don't want your business, so I wouldn't give it to them.
I would counter that argument by saying that in sales, judging your prospects (to an extent) is also important. They only have a limited number of salesmen, and it would be prudent to assign them to the highest potential buyers of that night. And clearly, the OP was interested, but was not ready/likely to buy immediately.
What's a good day for a car salesman, selling one car? They should be able to take ten minutes and feel out a customer a little.
What you should really do is bring $2k in 100 dollar bills for flash cash and whip it out when they do you wrong and say you're going elsewhere. Or even a single 100 wrapped around 50 singles.
Call and ask to speak to the sales manager, or the owner, and relate your experience to them.
Salespersons are a waste of time anyway, around here, they can't make a deal on a car - only the sales manager can do that, so might as well talk to him / her in the first place.
85 degrees is not hot.
Salespersons are a waste of time anyway, around here, they can't make a deal on a car - only the sales manager can do that, so might as well talk to him / her in the first place.
85 degrees is not hot.
Originally Posted By: adolan21
he told me "the keys are so small I'm going to have to a problem finding them for the right car."
Say what?
he told me "the keys are so small I'm going to have to a problem finding them for the right car."
Say what?
Originally Posted By: Vikas
I sat in the ILX. Inside it looked nice. It has 150hp engine. For that size of car, it should be adequate.
The ILX has three powertrains availble. The 150 hp 2.0L "R20" engine comes with the 5-speed automatic only...no manual option for this engine I don't think. The 201 hp 2.4L "K24" engine comes with the 6-speed manual only...no automatic option for this engine. The hybrid has a 111 hp powertrain with a CVT. This car has a little something for everybody...a smaller engine with an automatic, a lustier engine with a 6-speed manual, and a hybrid if that's what you like. It looks like a real good product to me.
Now...will it sell?
I sat in the ILX. Inside it looked nice. It has 150hp engine. For that size of car, it should be adequate.
The ILX has three powertrains availble. The 150 hp 2.0L "R20" engine comes with the 5-speed automatic only...no manual option for this engine I don't think. The 201 hp 2.4L "K24" engine comes with the 6-speed manual only...no automatic option for this engine. The hybrid has a 111 hp powertrain with a CVT. This car has a little something for everybody...a smaller engine with an automatic, a lustier engine with a 6-speed manual, and a hybrid if that's what you like. It looks like a real good product to me.
Now...will it sell?
I've had this experience at dealerships before too, although I've never been given an excuse so bogus as "The keys are so small I can't find them!" No easier way for the sales guys to turn someone against a dealership as to say "I don't believe you can buy this car" in so many words. Really annoying.
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