Where Knowledge Rules

Autos:

Buying Cars

Get a Widget for this title

Car buying: 'Running the numbers' and other funny experiences with car salesmen


What kind of vehicle do you drive, and what does it say about you? Do you drive around town trying to look cool in a Pacer? Maybe you're a petite young girl boldly taking up two parking spaces at the mall with a Hummer. What ever you drive, you can bet that your vehicle is saying something about you. It's for this reason that I'm offering the following advice: When choosing a vehicle to buy, think about its name and what it' might be saying, then choose carefully.

This process is never easy, however. Since there are many different makes and models on the road to choose from, finding one that's right for you can be quite baffling. So, prior to my own car shopping, I wrote down the names of vehicles (past and present) and separated them into categories that made it easier for me to choose. Since I was successful at getting a vehicle with a name I am sure I wanted, I felt inclined to share my thinking with you. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be better able to pick out an appropriately named vehicle that makes you feel good about your self.

The first few cars I came across fell into the named-after-high-class-places category. I thought, if I drove one, it would mean that I would become high class. Well, I test drove a Monte Carlo, a Malibu, and even a Park Avenue, but guess what? I'm still a redneck! I even considered buying a vehicle named after the breakfasts served at Motels all across the country, but, because I didn't want people to look at my car and get hungry, I turned down the offer for the Continental.

The next vehicles I looked at fell into another more interesting category. I looked at a Chevy Blazer, which looked nice enough, and a Chevy Nova, which even though it was a little older, it looked good also. After I considered them for a while, I thought, "Doesn't a blazer burn?" Then, I thought, isn't a nova an exploding star? I concluded these vehicles fell into the you-had-better-keep-your-dista nce category.

In addition to not wanting to own a car I had to wear fire retardant clothing in, I wanted a vehicle that would make people turn their heads and say, "Now there goes a real man!" If I couldn't imagine Sylvester Stallone admitting to driving it, then I told the dealer to keep it. Can you imagine Stallone saying, "I drive a Yugo?" Me neither. There were many manly named cars I looked at while shopping for my vehicle. There was that Trans Am, a Grand Am, Grand Prix, and even a Camero, and as I sat in each of them I looked at my reflection in


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Car buying: 'Running the numbers' and other funny experiences with car salesmen

  • 1 of 8

    by SaurKraut

    "This, my friends," announced the used car salesman, "is a real creampuff. I am telling you, it's an EXCELLENT car for your

    read more

  • 2 of 8

    by Douglas Samuelson

    I have been involved in the car business for 50 years. I began my career as a mechanic and at the age of 32, I purchased

    read more

  • 3 of 8

    by Chris Rieman

    Perhaps the greatest phrase ever turned inside an automotive showroom is the infamous (or perhaps notorious) "Let me run

    read more

  • 4 of 8

    by Doug Gardner

    For more than 30 years as a sales professional in the printing and publishing business, I drove nearly 45,000 miles a year.

    read more

  • 5 of 8

    by Daniel Taverne


    What kind of vehicle do you drive, and what does it say about you? Do you drive around town trying to look cool in a Pacer?

    read more

View All Articles on:
Car buying: 'Running the numbers' and other funny experiences with car salesmen

Add your voice

Know something about Car buying: 'Running the numbers' and other funny experiences with car salesmen?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

133415

Featured Partner

Enclave

Enclave is a church in Turlock, California that is exploring what it means to follow Jesus in a rapidly changing cult...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA