My wife and I went to a Toyota dealership today. I am still looking for a car for her. We decided to test drive the Toyota Echo. The salesman who was about 6 foot 2, and was about 240 pounds, and spoke 1000 words per minute, readily grabbed a plate, put the plate on and jumped in the back seat. As I started to drive out of the lot (which was totally empty) at about 7 miles per hour, he started jabbering non stop, as to how to look out for customers, children, other salesman, and other cars etc. There was something very condescending in his voice. I assured him that I am a very careful driver, and promised him I wouldn't hit any old ladies, or salesman (although a salesperson might be fun). He still continued to rattle on about all the possible ways we could get into trouble on the car lot. Then he got quiet for about 2 seconds as he sat forward, sitting at the edge of his seat hanging over the middle of the front seat, breathing down my neck, like an "Orangutan". So I told him to sit back, and that I wouldn't drive any further until put his seat belt on. Now guys, wait till you hear this! He said he always sits this way, just in case he has to grab the steering wheel and pull the keys out to stop the car, if anyone should go over 50 mph. I told him that if he pulled that on me, he would find himself dead in the road. Well guys, you know that I usually try to be a gentleman, BUT, I had just about had it. I stopped the car short, pulled the keys out, told my wife to get out, threw the keys out the window, and told him to go find the keys and drive the ======car back himself. I got out and slammed the door so hard that it activated the side air bag. WOW! All we could see as we walked away, was this big baboon fighting with the air bag. I surprised myself! My wife and I couldn't stop laughing all the way back to the dealer. Needless to say we got there way before him. It must have taken him a while to find the keys, eh! Oh well. It's more fun test driving a Z06, at least the salesman can't come along, if you take your wife. :rolleyes:

 

Pull the keys if you go over 50 in a Toyota Echo ? Was he afraid the car would start blowing aprart or what ? :lol: :lol:

 

HAHAHA :lol: :lol:
thats a good story. just one question. why were you looking at the echo? There are much better cars out there for the money. Not flaming you if you like it but just think of what you said. you slammed the door and the airbag opened.

 

Oh my word. That is hilarious! You are definitely my hero... I think throwing the keys out the window adds that extra special touch.

After having had to deal with car salesmen, it is nice to hear that one of them in some small part got what he deserved.

I remember in 1990 when I got an invitation sent to me from GM to come drive a new Corvette. I was a 21 year old college student. So, I showed up at Landmark Chevrolet in Houston with my invite, and ohhhhh boy the stares. Landmark and Bill Heard are two of the worst dealerships in the Houston area. But they sell alot of cars, and they always have Corvettes. I definitely didn't look like I could ever afford a car, let alone the corvette. But they invited me, so I thought it would be rude, not to accept their kind offer.

They hemmed and hawwed around, and told me the demo car was broke, needed an oil change, you name it. I smiled and told them I didn't mind waiting until they could get a car out. After an hour or so, they relented, and I told them I was interested in a 6speed car. They got out a white coupe with a tan interior, with a 6 speed.

Lets just say the salesman was not very happy with me after i threw the car under the first underpass and began to flog the car as hard a I could get away with. I think after it was over he and the dealership were just happy that I was gone, and hoping no one else with an invite showed up.... :)

 

Father Larry,

I've been reading your posts about the viscious car dealers/salesman/leasing companies, etc.

When you are looking for a car, network your way to a good salesperson/dealership through channels you trust. Talk to friends, credit unions, colleagues or even other sales professionals (like the guy/gal you bought your Vette from if you were happy). Good sales professionals often befriend other good sales professionals so they can continue to develop/cultivate a strong client base.

You will continue to be frustrated with any buying experience if you continue to try to wade through the myriad of incompetent wannabe sales-people.

Also, I continually tire of people whining about paying profit on a car. No one seems to complain about laying down 350% profit at Ethan Allen. No one complains about paying their dentist $1200 for a crown when his lab cost is $275. Anyone want to bring up the new home sales business? How about jewelry?

I did find your story amusing, but I would have been frustrated about wasting my time with such a worthless salesman.

 

Larry,

Great story! Thanks for the visual! :)

 

Gee, I don't think "slamming the door so hard that the side airbag inflates" is really that funny. I'd call that a lack of respect for someone else's property. Tell me, do you flog on the engine of a new car when you test drive it? Until you pay for the car, it's not yours. Treat it accordingly.

Here's a suggestion for you: If you were unhappy with the salesman's behavior, you could have merely parked the car back on the lot and walked away, being thankful that you did not waste too much of your time dealing with him.

I'd call your behavior just as obnoxious as the salesman's. At least his idiocy is motiviated by trying to make a buck. What motivates you? :U

 

Keystone,

Who pissed in your wheaties? Larry did good. This guy was being obnoxious and Larry gave him fair warning! He got what he had coming.

Once again, great story!

 

Well, I'm entitled to my opinion. If the vehicle in question had been a Corvette, and the door had been slammed hard enough to simulate a side impact collision and deploy the airbag (assuming the 'Vette had a side air bag), would you want to be the ultimate owner of that Corvette? I wouldn't.

An adult acting like a five-year-old is not justified, especially when you damage someone else's property. That car belongs to the dealer, not the salesman
and not to Father Larry. Park the car and walk away. Taking out your frustations on a car is childish. Father Larry's behavior is no different than some douchebag keying a Corvette because he has some grudge against the owner. Bragging about it is even more ridiculous.

 

Eyes teeth and noses for fingers are bunk.He was motivated by a qualified buyer after maybe 10+ strikes writting a deal and bad credit 2 hour time vampires who could have wasted his day and perhaps he got over excited but it doesnt give us the green light to rage at each other and not repect the stores property.
Think about it if you like the car ask for a mgr. report the bad experience and use it as a bargaining chip to get a deeper discount. David S.

 

Were you wearing your collar ? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

You sound like a typical salesman yourself, always putting the customer on the defense. A smart salesman should evaluate who he is dealing with, and won't treat two adults like children. I initially told the salesman to please put his seat belt on, because it is a state law. I also assured him that I have been driving for 37 years, and my aim is to get us back and forth safely and not hurt anyone. The way I look at it, he was not only condescending to my wife and I, he was acting downright dangerous. His position of sitting on the edge of his seat and dangling over the back of mine, restricted my vision to see out the back, and his constant dictating could have caused an accident. By refusing to put his seat belt on, and threatening to pull the keys out if I went over 50 mph posed a threat to my wife and I, and as any MAN would do, my reflex was to protect us from this individual who may have the stupidity to actually struggle with me to pull the keys out of the ignition. Did you think I was going to take a chance driving back to the dealership with this emotionally unstable person and risk our lives. You've got to be kidding! I don't think you have ever been in a situation like that. Thank God I didn't have my grandchildren with me. I complained to the owner of the establishment and he was appalled by the whole incident, and gave me another salesman that took me out with no problem. The owner of the dealership was at least smart enough to see the potential problem that his salesman could have caused. I doubt very much that anyone taking out a Toyota Echo is planning to road race with the car. I am glad I followed my instincts on this as any smart person would do in a threatening situation. AS far as the airbag is concerned, it should have never activated because I slammed the door hard. It has a sensor unit on it, so when the door has an impact on it the sensors pick it up. This was obviously a faulty sensor.

YOU SEEM TO BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF THE DEALERSHIP, THAN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, AND YOU SEEM TO EXCUSE THE SALESMAN BECAUSE HE IS (WHAT!) MOTIVATED BY MONEY. I GUESS THAT MAKES IT ALL OK

If we had been killed because of this individual being "motivated by the buck", I believe that is how you put it (which doesn't really excuse his behavior), or if he flew through the front windshield, because he refused to wear his seat belt, I think we would have all been in a lot bigger trouble than having an airbag activate.

The ride with the other sales person was comfortable and pleasurable.

Remember, when you go into a place of business, and you treat the sales people with respect, then you should expect to be treated in the same way.

End of this story. If you respond to this post and expect me to waste my time again with you, forget it! :seeya

 

Larry,
Wow, now this story has turned into a life-threatening struggle between good and evil. Strange that your intial post title was "Funny". Perhaps "Close Call" or "Near Miss" would have been more edifying. Thanks for painting me as a former salesman being on the side of evil, putting pious people such as yourself on the defensive. :lol: It's amazing how you have turned yourself from an overreacting customer into a victim of a life-threatening lunatic car salesman.

Obviously, you threw the keys out the window and laughed all the way back to the dealership because you were frightened for your life. I said the first time, I didn't find the story funny at all. Based on your last post, you didn't find it funny either. My goodness, you were on the edge of death and could have been killed. Thank goodness no children were involved. It was ridiculous of me to question your reaction. Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.:reddevil

Your first post said "I got out and slammed the door so hard that it activated the side air bag. WOW!" Now in this latest post, it was not such a manly feat of strength, rather a faulty sensor, and you were blameless. Phew, that makes me feel better. Thanks for clearing that up.

I'm not sure why you were out on the public roadways without the salesman already having his seat belt on. :nono: A good rule to follow is not to move the car at all until everyone is safely belted in. Adherence to that rule could have prevented this whole tragic incident. It's something for you to think about for next time.:yesnod:

I said the salesman was an idiot, motivated by his desire for money or lack of brains. I was not excusing his behavior in any way. I've read some of your posts, and you often seem to portray car buying as a hostile experience, fraught with perils. It seems that not only is a man's wallet at risk on the showroom floor, but rather his very life and the life of his loved ones. This is WAR! :eek:

I apologize, Father Larry. You acted as any self-righteous man would have done. I could have never stayed as cool as you did, laughing about the incident, just moments after almost meeting death!. I probably would have snapped, pulled out my 9mm carry pistol and drilled that bastard car salesman in self-defense.:smash:

I wish Troy had given you a FRC forum of your own. Then your "funny" posts could have been posted over there instead of cluttering up the Z06 forum.

Since you'll skip my posts in the future, I'll skip your posts too. They are too depressing. :( Peace.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Way to go Larry!

:cheers: