Helped the General

[BryceStrong]

Originally Posted by throwback

Because he was honest with me he got a sale

That should be a prerequisite.

[Vinsetta]

Originally Posted by unkillsam

Well as some of you may know I was considering purchasing a leftover HHR with 0% financing to replace my Cobalt SS/SC that I purchased two years ago.

I pulled the trigger, but the dealership experience made me sick.

I have always bought either certified Chevrolets or new Chevrolets. New Chevrolets always from the same hometown dealer and certified Chevrolets from whatever dealer has the best internet pricing.

For the first time ever, I went to a dealership I was unfamiliar with because they had the almost exact kind of HHR I was looking for. Stupid me actually believed GM would pull back the incentives after Monday. And I did not make up my mind to buy untill Monday. So, it seemed to me a dealer trade with my local dealer was cutting it close and went to the new dealer. But the difference between my experience and yours is that I've leased every vehicle I've had since 1992 with the exception of my current car which I had to buy b/c of my work commute going from 24 miles round trip to 72 b/c the company relocated us. So, I know I will try to sell this car myself before I make my next purchase.

Let's just say, after lowballing my trade by $2,000 over every other dealers offer (I got them to match the other dealers) and by tacking on a hidden $400 dollar etching fee without full disclosure, I am not too happy with them.

I discovered the fee just by doing math in my head. I guess the finance manager doesn't remember that it is so easy to calculate a monthly payment in your head when you are not paying interest.

Anyway's, I figure that this dealer group (my girlfriend recieved the same crappy treatment from their Nissan dealership) has to be costing GM a lot of sales in the Philly metro area and I strongly advise people to stay away.

It is the Chapman Auto Group and they replaced the Meissner Chevy-Olds Megacenter (out of business) on dealer row in South Philly with Chapman Chevrolet.

If you can help it, go to the suburbs. All the dealers out there are 100% better I promise.

Too bad about the dealer experience....alot still have unethical processes going on. I've been lucky for the most part. I bought my first new car in college, a 92 Pontiac Sunbird 3.1L (man gas was about a buck or so then.) Anyhow I was just not paying attention to detail (I got it financed w/o a co-signer so did it by myself at 18) and ended up getting the GM Gold Protection plan which I absolutely didn't need. I then went and ordered a new 95 Z28 from a local Chevy dealer in my town, and was happy with that experience. The salesperson actually talked me out of ordering a new 93 while I was in college. I totally respected that and went back to him when the time was right financially. Took my order for the car, ordered it exactly as I wanted it, and no b.s. whatsoever. I cannot believe I was paying $246 a month for that car back then. But I've always been a Pontiac guy and went back to the Pontiac dealer where I got the Sunbird and picked out a new red with chrome rims 96 Trans Am. But this time I went to another salesperson based on a friend's recommendation. Completely different experience. He knows I know exactly what I want coming in, either gets it off his lot or makes a dealer swap to get the exact vehicle I want. Past couple of times I've just found the vehicle I wanted off GM Buy Power and told him what dealer had it, and he did the dealer swap. By the way I do discuss payments before I just dive in on this. But anyhow he gets the car, has it prepped, has the financing paperwork typed up and all I do is come in sign a few times and leave. No credit life crap, etc (he won't even bother with the extras.) It's a half hour at the dealer. I picked up a new 02 Envoy at lunch once and was back to my office in 45 min. Been with him since 96 and pray he doesn't retire or move on. It's more than the salesman though...it's the total dealer experience one has to be satisfied. I like sticking to one dealer (he can get all makes except Saab or Saturn for me) so I get to know the service and body shop people (should I need them.....I did on a 8 day old 2000 SSEi where a semi clipped the left side of me.) But yeah I really am down with my salesperson. I just completely trust the guy, and I've gone over the numbers and he's always spot on. So when he writes down that monthly payment I'm good with it. He even took a 04 G/P GTP I was getting to his house (lives 3 miles from me) and I did the paperwork in his kitchen and left the Envoy with him at his home. He's a huge Michigan fan but I figure I can deal with that to have a salesperson who doesn't f-me in the wallet.

[Joe in T.O.]

Congratulations on the new HHR, both of you!