need car buying stories

[writerben]

Hello,

I'm writing an article for Budget Living magazine on how to buy a car. I'd love to include some funny/scary/enlightening/weird car buying stories, particularly from women (BL's readership is primarily female). Anyone care to share?

Thanks, Ben

[BLU CIVIC]

HERE'S A GGOD ONE....WAS IN THE SUMMER OF 97

I JUST TURNED 18 AND GOT A GOOD JOB OUT OF H.S. BUT WAS STILL CATCHING THE BUS. ONE DAY I WAS WALKING HOME AND SAY THIS BLUE CAR ON A LOT. WAS A BLUE SPORTY S-DOOR CAR. AT THE TIME WASN'T SURE WHAT KIND IT WAS. EVERYDAY AFTER THAT, I WALKED BY AND CHECKED IT OUT, EVEN GOT IN IT AND FOUND OUT IT HAD T-TOPS. FILLED OUT AN APP. FOR THE CAR EVEN THOUGH I KNEW I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. TIME WENT BUY AND THE GUY SAID THAT I NEED A $500 DOWN PAYMENT, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CREDIT FOR HIM TO WORK WITH. I WAS LIKE OK AND JUST DROPPED THE WHOLE THING. I'M AT WORK AND RECEIVE A CALL THAT ASKED IF I WAS STILL INTRESTED... I WAS KINDA IFFY B/C I COULDN'T AFFORD THE DOWNPAYMENT AND I HAD NO CREDIT. WE THE GUY TOLD ME THAT I COULD MAKE PAYMENTS FOR THE DOWNPAYMENT AND THAT HE'D PICK ME UP FROM WORK TO SIGN THE PAPERS AND GO TO THE LOAN OFFICE.....I WAS LIKE OK. DRIVE ME OUT THERE TO SIGN THE LOAN PAPERS AND I GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FINAILZATION. SEEMED LIKE I NEEDED INSURANCE FOR THE CAR IN ORDER TO TAKE IT HOME. THEY LET ME DRIVE THE CAR, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A 1994 NISSAN NX2000 WITH ALLOYS AND T-TOPS, TO THE INSURANCE OFFICE. BY THIS TIME IT IN THE EVENING AND THE INSURANCE OFFICE WAS CLOSED. I WAS DISAPPOINTED B/C I WANTED TO DRIVE THE CAR THAT NIGHT. I GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TELL THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THE SALESMAN SAYS I HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE TILL I GET INSURANCE. SO HE GOES AND TELL THE MANAGER THE DEAL AND HE TELL S THE SALESMAN TO GO AHEAD AND LET MEN TAKE THE CAR HOME.....AGAIN I WAS LIKE OK. SO I ENDED UP GETTING A 1994 NISSAN NX2000 WITH 74K MILES WITH NO DOWN PAYMENT, NO CO-SIGNER, AND NO INSURANCE 2 MONTHS AFTER I TURNED 18.....WAS THE COOLEST DAY EVER