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What is this discussion about? Pontiac GTO, Coupe

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#103 of 317 Bad Dealer Experience by rob999 Mar 31, 2005 (12:03 pm)
Grrrrr.   I'm considering trading my current car, and I've been interested in the GTO for a while, so today I decided to go to a dealer (on Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL) during my lunch hour for a test drive. (I'm a middle-aged guy, dressed conservatively / business casual, and driving a late model car.) I parked right next to the front door and was looking at a GTO parked just outside the entrance. A sales guy popped out about 5 seconds later and asked if I wanted anything. Told him I was interested in test-driving a 6-speed GTO. Immediately he started coming up with excuses like: "this is a PERFORMANCE car - we normally don't do test drives" and "well, are you going to buy TODAY" ? He wouldn't even let me drive one of the left-over 2004 cars.   What a bunch of crap! Before I bought our Saab the sales guy gave me the keys and let me have the car for the afternoon. I probably could've gone into any import showroom where cars are 2-3 times as expensive as the GTO and would have been allowed a test drive in a heartbeat.   I might've expected this attitude when the GTO first came out last year and dealers were tacking on $3,000 to MSRP, but now we're talking about 2004-model cars with significant incentives.   Have any of you others experienced a similar attitude lately? Replies to this message: midwesttrader (Mar 31, 2005 12:37 pm) gunit (Mar 31, 2005 4:48 pm) kirstie_h (Mar 31, 2005 4:52 pm) gunit (Mar 31, 2005 4:46 pm) rob999 (Apr 01, 2005 5:31 am) jontyrees (Mar 31, 2005 1:09 am) jpstax1 (May 03, 2005 8:34 pm) sputterguy (Apr 02, 2005 4:03 pm)
#104 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [rob999] by midwesttrader Mar 31, 2005 (12:37 pm)
Replying to: rob999 (Mar 31, 2005 12:03 pm) You've hit on two of the issues that have plagued this car from day one. Dealer price gouging and having to beg for test drives. I ran into this last summer and it sounds like it's still a problem with too many dealers today. Pontiac dealers seem to just suck.   You can either go back to the same store and ask for the new car sales manager, ream him about the salesman, and see how he reacts or find another store. Unfortunately my bad experience was at the dealer closest to my house.   I'm considering pulling the trigger on an '05 in the fall but gas prices have me wondering. I don't think we'll see it under $2/gal ever again and $4 or $5 is not unthinkable down the road.   Another thing, make sure you're comfortable with the trunk, it's TINY! Replies to this message: gunit (Mar 31, 2005 4:48 pm) kirstie_h (Mar 31, 2005 4:52 pm)
#105 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [rob999] by gunit Mar 31, 2005 (4:46 pm)
Replying to: rob999 (Mar 31, 2005 12:03 pm) Rob999,   I just bought a new 2005 Impluse blue metallic GTO and took it home today. The dealer was very nice to me. Had no problem offering me a test drive and were very friendly. I am in my early 30's and was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, LOL! No attitude whatsover and no pressure to buy. I bought anyway, LOL! I even had my 2 yr old son with me, LOL! They offered to watch him while I test drove the car, VERY NICE of them. Probably just a bad dealer or salesman you ran into.
#106 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [midwesttrader] by gunit Mar 31, 2005 (4:48 pm)
Replying to: midwesttrader (Mar 31, 2005 12:37 pm) midwesttrader,   Yes the trunk is TINY, but still fits my son's McLaren stroller and some bags, good enough for us. His car seat fits MUCH BETTER in the GTO then it does in the Mustang. Gto has roomier backseat then Mustang. that was a must for me. By the same token the trunk is bigger on the mustang. I need the room in the backseat. Very nice car.... Very awesome exhaust V8 sound.. almost sounds like they have glasspack mufflers on there. Replies to this message: kirstie_h (Mar 31, 2005 4:52 pm)
#107 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [gunit] by kirstie_h HOST Mar 31, 2005 (4:52 pm)
Replying to: gunit (Mar 31, 2005 4:48 pm) Make sure you visit our regular Pontiac GTO discussion to talk about the vehicle's features and ownership experiences.   kirstie_h Roving Host Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
#108 of 317 SAME FOR ME....MPARIS1 by mparis1 Mar 31, 2005 (7:01 pm)
yes some dealers in new york the same crap........"no test drive because it had "performance tires"..... no test drive...."dead batteries"............please stop the crap.............finally bougt one in brooklyn,ny he ad to get it from new jersey............knew nothing about the cat...had to teach him to get a grille inserts..............afterwards he admitted too much bother with such a machine and will not orde anmymore...wow.....no wonder the GTO IS DEAD. DROVE IT 2 DAYS NOW.....................WHAT A MACHINE.EVEN HOLE -SHOTTED A NEW DODGE VIPER....just keep the tractiopn control off,,,,,,,,,,,theguy wanted to know what car it was ...said it is a GTO...HE NEVER SAW ONE..............PONTIAC CERTAINLY BLEW IT.....
#109 of 317 Dealers by hammen2 Mar 31, 2005 (8:33 pm)
I can attest to the fact that the batteries on the GTO are weak. Mine on my replacement car was dead when I went to pick the car up. It also seemd to be weeping... took it out when I stored my car. Less than a month later, it was leaking on my workbench. Just picked up an Optima Red Top 134R battery (friend of a friend drives a battery truck all day, got a great price) which I'll be putting in my GTO tomorrow.   Regarding the lack of test drives, I would have immediately asked to speak to the General Manager. That attitude is ridiculous, especially on the '04s. A couple of possible reasons why they may not have wanted to do the test-drive:   1) Today was the 31st. They wanted to do any deals ASAP so they could book them this month. Thought you might be a window-shopper and not a serious buyer, so they didn't want to take the time/blew you off. 2) There are very few 6-speed '04's left on dealer lots. A4 cars are not a problem...   Of course, you can just go to another dealership. I wouldn't let this one bad experience turn you away from considering this car. Don't know if calling Pontiac and complaining would, but nothing beats buying the car elsewhere, and stopping by to show the new car to the salesman who blew you off   --Robert Replies to this message: jak7 (May 09, 2005 7:45 pm)
#110 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [rob999] by rob999 Apr 01, 2005 (5:31 am)
Replying to: rob999 (Mar 31, 2005 12:03 pm) I've not written off the GTO by any means. There are plenty of Pontiac dealers in the suburban Chicago area - I just won't go to back to Napleton / Schaumburg. I've never experienced anything like yesterday at any other dealer, period, especially the "are you going to buy TODAY" crap. He offered to let me actually "SIT" in the showroom car (wow!), but I was so pissed at the time I just turned and walked. Replies to this message: jontyrees (Mar 31, 2005 1:09 am) jpstax1 (May 03, 2005 8:34 pm)
#111 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [rob999] by jontyrees Mar 31, 2005 (1:09 am)
Replying to: rob999 (Apr 01, 2005 5:31 am) Completely different story for me in Austin TX at Champion. Went in on Friday around 5.30pm, had a nice chat with their Internet sales guy, then went for a test drive, during which he told me that on that particular stretch of road, his buddy took it up to xxxmph on another test drive - "I knew he would". I told him I was definitely interested, but that my wife would have to come by for a drive and to see if the car fit her, (she's 5'2", and it's a manual). "No problem - want to take it home? You can keep it overnight if you like"   They were great - we liked it and had them bring in one in our color preference at the same price. Just a good allaround buying experience. Plus they didn't give me a hard time about the crease my wife put in the rim of the test car on a bank drive through curb - doh!
#112 of 317 Re: Bad Dealer Experience [rob999] by sputterguy Apr 02, 2005 (4:03 pm)
Replying to: rob999 (Mar 31, 2005 12:03 pm) That's why there are lots of '04's left on the lots. That attitude. I guess some Dealers just don't learn. Here in San Jose I never took a test drive because they wouldn't come off their Dealer Markup. But they did offer to let me test drive one. Heck, they practically begged me to drive one. Of course I did pull into the Dealer in my pristine '98 GTP with 45K miles on it. They were practically falling over themselves offering me stuff. Everything but moving off the Dealer Markup. I finally found a Dealer in Colma that was selling for $500 over invoice. I must have driven 5 or 6 different GTOs before I decided on a Silver 6-speed. That was when the leases first came out. So I went for the lease. And before the deal was complete, the first $2K incentive came out. So I have a 4 year lease at $402 per month and I put $800 down.   Sorry I ended up talking about my buying experience. My advice to you is to find another dealer. And be patient. They will be coming out with incentives at some point.

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