{"id":1170,"date":"2021-10-18T13:09:03","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T17:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2023-03-21T12:47:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T16:47:39","slug":"an-etched-lesson-in-car-buying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/an-etched-lesson-in-car-buying\/","title":{"rendered":"An Etched Lesson in Car Buying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By Crystal Baldwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I searched&nbsp;to purchase my first used car as a freshly licensed teenager in the late \u201890\u2019s, I was fortunate to have an experienced mechanic and negotiator with me.\u202f Our first stop was a used car dealership that was holding a huge blowout event complete with flag garland and free large-print calculators and five&nbsp;salespeople&nbsp;per customer. \u202f I can remember the swarm of eager dealers approaching to this day. We showed up in our ten-year-old Ford LTD.\u202f One salesman approached so daringly that he might have opened the door for me had I not&nbsp;willingly&nbsp;exited the vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;My dad held up the flyer he received at home as he promptly asked about&nbsp;the promised&nbsp;freebie.\u202f The dealer took the flyer from his hand and then pointed to a long line.&nbsp; He&nbsp;advised us to look at cars while we waited.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/files\/2021\/10\/CarBuyingBlog.png\" alt=\"An etched lesson in car buying at blog.uvm.edu\/cap\" class=\"wp-image-1171\" width=\"352\" height=\"301\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>I wanted something simple.\u202f The criteria I stated was, \u201cFour doors and not a hatchback.\u201d\u202f It went without saying that I wanted a reliable car to get me around town to my job and all my activities.\u202f We were led to a seven-year-old white Ford Tempo&nbsp;marked&nbsp;$2,000. For all appearance purposes, it&nbsp;seemed&nbsp;perfect.\u202f I could see myself driving that kind of car.\u202f While the dealer encouraged us to buy it based on price alone, my dad pushed back as if speaking straight from a consumer protection advice manual, \u201cWe aren\u2019t putting any money down without thoroughly looking it over and having a test drive.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s when he crouched down in the crowded dealer lot, nearly pushing his entire body under the car.\u202f From what he could see externally, it looked good enough for a drive, but confirmed that we wouldn\u2019t have a clear sense of the car until it was put up on a lift.\u202f Then, I drove it.\u202f It handled okay in the lot and on the main road.\u202f But, when the dealer called from the back seat for me to take a right turn on another&nbsp;neighborhood&nbsp;road, my dad advised me to take a left onto the thruway.\u202f The car could not reach highway speed and sounded as though it might combust at any moment.\u202f \u201cHow does it feel?\u201d my dad asked.<br \/><br \/>I called back in my loudest octave, \u201cLike it doesn\u2019t want to go anywhere.\u201d\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He followed, \u201cDo you want this car?\u201d\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d I said&nbsp;flatly.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He turned to the dealer, \u201cWe won\u2019t be buying this car.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we got back to the dealership, we quickly got out and were ready to leave, but my dad still wanted his calculator. The salesman said he would go get it.\u202f When he came back, he did not bring the calculator.\u202f Instead, he brought three more salesmen&nbsp;that encircled us with&nbsp;shaming jabs&nbsp;aimed at my father that he was letting me down.&nbsp;&nbsp;While my heart raced with anxiety and anger, my dad remained calm.&nbsp; At one point, I heard my dad reply, \u201cI can\u2019t believe you are selling this&nbsp;car.\u202f It sounds like it could break at any minute.&nbsp; I am not letting my daughter in that thing again.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;By the end of&nbsp;their banter, we walked away with three things:\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>My dad was offered a job at the dealership\u2014he did so well&nbsp;saying&nbsp;\u201cNo\u201d they wanted him to work for them.\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A large-print calculator&nbsp;(My dad did not stop asking for it).\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An etched lesson:&nbsp;<strong>Purchasing a quality used car is best done with backup and calm shrewdness.\u202f<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Car buying is something most of us will do only a handful of times in our lives.\u202f How can we properly prepare for the moment we come face to face with a car seller?\u202f While you may not have the benefit of having my father present, there are some things consumers can do to&nbsp;prepare for the big purchase.\u202f The Consumer Assistance Program\u2019s Assistant Director Lisa Jensen recently appeared on Across the Fence to share car buying tips.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10\/15\/21 Car Buying Tips from the Vermont Attorney General\u2019s Consumer Assistance Program at UVM\" width=\"584\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZKCpsPupejU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Across the Fence 10\/15\/2021 &#8211; Car Buying Tips from the Vermont Attorney General&#8217;s Office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some of the used&nbsp;car&nbsp;purchasing tips highlighted in the show:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Secure financing <\/strong>ahead of time.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do <strong>thorough research<\/strong> on the make\/model of the&nbsp;car;&nbsp;search reliability and ratings.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look up the<strong> Kelly Blue Book and NADA<\/strong> and online marketplace values&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out similar vehicles at<strong> multiple dealerships<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scrutinize the&nbsp;car<\/strong>:&nbsp;Test drive,&nbsp;get an independent&nbsp;pre-purchase mechanical&nbsp;inspection&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for the <strong>Buyer\u2019s Guide<\/strong> and decipher&nbsp;warranty information; there may be none.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Buying a car can be complex, time consuming,&nbsp;costly,&nbsp;and emotionally taxing.\u202f Because buying a car is not something we do frequently, having a supportive person present who understands your financial picture and supports your interests can be&nbsp;beneficial.\u202f If you are in the market for a car, consider bringing a trusted companion with you to the sale, such as a friend\/family member, who understands your financial picture and supports your interests.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Consumer Assistance Program&nbsp;(CAP)&nbsp;is another resource that you can call for tips before car buying.\u202f If you do experience a problem with the purchase of a dealer purchased vehicle, new or used,\u202fCAP provides a letter mediation service for Vermonters and works in partnership with the Vermont Auto Dealers Association\u2019s mediation\/arbitration program.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Did I ever get my first car?<\/strong>\u202f Why, yes.\u202f Yes, I did.\u202f It took another week or two, but in time, we found the perfect car for me for half the price.&nbsp; A&nbsp;metallic blue Mercury Topaz\u2014the off-brand twin of the Ford Tempo.\u202f A test drive and thorough check-up proved the car to be a worthy fit for me.\u202f After many reliable miles, the car was repurposed for parts in the early 2000\u2019s.\u202f\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/files\/2021\/10\/IMAG3073-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Best friend riding in style in my Mercury.\" class=\"wp-image-1173\" width=\"242\" height=\"335\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My best friend riding in style in my Mercury. Circa 1998.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Car buying is something most of us will do only a handful of times in our lives.\u202f How can we properly prepare for the moment we come face to face with a car seller?\u202f There are some things consumers can do to\u00a0prepare for the big purchase.\u202f  <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/an-etched-lesson-in-car-buying\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4480,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[15828,485938,639441,639451,639448,402199,639439,481474,494301,639440,138970,639443,639449,639445,639450,639442,639444,639446,639447,639452],"class_list":["post-1170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-across-the-fence","tag-auto","tag-blowout-sale","tag-buyers-guide","tag-buying-a-car","tag-cap","tag-car-buying","tag-consumer","tag-consumer-assistance-program","tag-dealer","tag-financing","tag-freebie","tag-kelly-blue-book","tag-mechanical-inspection","tag-nada","tag-promotional-flyer","tag-test-drive","tag-thorough-inspection","tag-used-car-sales","tag-warranty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4480"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1170"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1595,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170\/revisions\/1595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}