Was I Taken For A Ride?

[Tim d]

2026 RAM warlock with hemi 53k. The OP had a V6. I personally wouldn't own a RAM. Too much bad Stellantis, FCA, etc. issues on other models.

I bought a hemi ram new in 2010, almost 16 years old and super reliable.hoping to get at least 5 more years out of it. I use it to tow our camper and bought our maverick to tow the boat also. Hope the maverick is as reliable!

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[Tim d]

Post 15 he said 6 cylinder.

Ah,I missed that,ty.it still should have been worth more than the maverick he traded it in on.

 

[Tim d]

I have known people who love their Rams, or Dodge Rams. In 2014 they were in the running before I bought my F150. But as I was shopping and comparing my late wife had 3 of the 4 windows in her Jeep fail at the same time. The gear on the motor sheared off on all 3. This was a 2005 with less than 30k on it. This after the fuel filler tube separating from the tank a year earlier. Just decided not to buy from Chrysler. I liked the Ram on test drives. Glad you have a good one. I know someone with a 2021 and he has gone through 3 batteries. But I think that might be HIS issue not the truck .

Well our boat is 3100 pounds and the mav tows it like a champ!

 

[ClemsonU88]

I am beginning to think I didn't get a bad deal nor a good deal. Just an "ok" deal. Should I have not hoped for my friend doing the best deal for me in the first place?

I think he employed general sales tactics more than being your friend. Over promise, and then back pedal (aka lie your way out of it). He should have found out what your truck was and whether the discounts on the Maverick really were before "promising" anything.

We shouldn't speak hastily (James 1:19) and we shouldn't say we'll do this/that and then not do it (Matthew 5:37). The salesman broke both of those rules. Intentionally? Yes.

You might think I'm assuming the worst about the salesman (and I am), but ask yourself this, "Why do salesmen never say, 'I'm sorry. We can actually give you more for your trade-in, and the car you want is actually cheaper than expected.'?" Your cost always goes up from the initial "quote", because they over promise & then back pedal.

Did you get a decent deal? Probably, but when I talk to my friends about getting a new vehicle, I try to give them an accurate assessment the first time, and that's what I want my friends to do for me. This guy might be your friend, but in this instance he was a salesman first.

Here's the references in case you don't want to look them up. I know not everyone accepts the Bible as truth, but most at least acknowledge there's a lot of wisdom in it. I'm not trying to start a religious conversation (though I am happy to have one off line if anyone wants), just giving my supporting references.
James 1:19: "My dear brothers take note of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (in other words, find out what kind of truck you have and what the current discounts are before saying he can give this or that)

Matthew 5:37: "Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes', and your 'no' be 'no'. Anything beyond this is from the evil one." (in other words, don't say you can do this or that unless you're sure you can)

 

[Tim d]

I think he employed general sales tactics more than being your friend. Over promise, and then back pedal (aka lie your way out of it). He should have found out what your truck was and whether the discounts on the Maverick really were before "promising" anything.

We shouldn't speak hastily (James 1:19) and we shouldn't say we'll do this/that and then not do it (Matthew 5:37). The salesman broke both of those rules. Intentionally? Yes.

You might think I'm assuming the worst about the salesman (and I am), but ask yourself this, "Why do salesmen never say, 'I'm sorry. We can actually give you more for your trade-in, and the car you want is actually cheaper than expected.'?" Your cost always goes up from the initial "quote", because they over promise & then back pedal.

Did you get a decent deal? Probably, but when I talk to my friends about getting a new vehicle, I try to give them an accurate assessment the first time, and that's what I want my friends to do for me. This guy might be your friend, but in this instance he was a salesman first.

Here's the references in case you don't want to look them up. I know not everyone accepts the Bible as truth, but most at least acknowledge there's a lot of wisdom in it. I'm not trying to start a religious conversation (though I am happy to have one off line if anyone wants), just giving my supporting references.
James 1:19: "My dear brothers take note of this, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (in other words, find out what kind of truck you have and what the current discounts are before saying he can give this or that)

Matthew 5:37: "Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes', and your 'no' be 'no'. Anything beyond this is from the evil one." (in other words, don't say you can do this or that unless you're sure you can)

Hey, it's what you want. I had a dirtbike that I really liked, my new wife had a roadbike. I traded the newer dirtbike in on an older dualsport roadbike So I could ride with her, knowing the bike I traded in was worth more that the one I " bought" . It was worth it to me.

 

[Darthie]

After the deal is done and you own the car forget about it. Th=ake what you learned along with these questions and use it to your atvantage next time. Don't cry over spilled milk.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Total MSRP: $29,780 (indicates special order below)
Invoice/sales receipt says this:
Cash Price of vehicle: $29,803 ($23 more than sticker? Ok, I'll go along...)
Pre-owned allowance (my truck trade in I guess) $23,980.94
Net difference: $5,822.06
Admin fee: $399
Electronic registration filing fee: $249
Lead acid battery fee: $1.50
Florida new tire fee: $5.00
Subtotal: $6,476.56
Sales tax: $438.59
Florida title/registration/tag fees: $84.85
Subtotal: $7,000 (again, why are they subtotaling this?)
Rebate: $1,000
Balance due on delivery: $6,000 (this was the cash I put down)

And that is all that's printed on the invoice. No grand total.

So, I guess I did kinda get a minor deal here. If I understand this correctly...

Car costs $29,803.00
Gave me $23,980.94 for my trade in.
Balance, $7,000 (with all the fees).
They gave me a $1,000 rebate.
Balance: $6,000.
Paid $6,000 and drove off the lot. So, kinda good? Unless I have this all wrong?

My truck as a trade in plus $6,000 and drove off the lot. So the maverick did cost $23.00 over sticker? I'm not a math whiz so if I am off...

I think you did alright with getting your Maverick. From what I read on line, the Ram trucks have costly problems, so trading it in is a plus for you. Everyone on this forum is happy with there deals when they purchased there trucks, even though we all paid different amounts for the exact same truck depending on trade in, taxes, dealer add on's etc. At the end, we all got what we wanted, a vehicle to opt out to our likes. You can't do that with a car!

 

[ClemsonU88]

Or better yet don't ask friends to give you a business deal. would you ask a friend who is a doctor for a deal on surgery?
"Judge not, lest ye be judged" Matthew 7:1

Don't forget the next sentence in that passage. "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

I'm quite alright with being judged on how I treat my friends, because I treat them the way I'd want to be treated (aka The Golden Rule, aka Matthew 7:12). I don't intentionally say something misleading and then retract it once I've got them doing what I want.

I wouldn't expect a friend to give me a "deal" that he can't give everyone else, but I would expect him not to lie to me, just as I would expect a doctor not to lie to me. Is that asking too much? Yet his friend DID lie to him. That's what I think is unacceptable...don't you?

 

[Red Eyes - Wide Shut]

Don't forget the next sentence in that passage. "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

I'm quite alright with being judged on how I treat my friends, because I treat them the way I'd want to be treated (aka The Golden Rule, aka Matthew 7:12). I don't intentionally say something misleading and then retract it once I've got them doing what I want.

I wouldn't expect a friend to give me a "deal" that he can't give everyone else, but I would expect him not to lie to me, just as I would expect a doctor not to lie to me. Is that asking too much? Yet his friend DID lie to him. That's what I think is unacceptable...don't you?

The problem with the golden rule is interpretation. Like all the other rules used to an advantage.

 

[ABTremor]

7 pages of back and forth conversation about this is entertaining, but, IMHO the OP made an impulse purchase.
A quick look at Ford's website to check MSRP on the Maverick, prior to visiting the dealership, would have exposed the "friends" price as wishful thinking. Then another quick internet search would reveal an approximate value of the vehicle being traded - both trade in value and average retail value.

The issue here for me is this: The time to gather information and become informed is BEFORE making a purchase NOT AFTER.

 

[ClemsonU88]

What I think is unacceptable is you judging the friend based on 1 side of the story. We weren't there so we don't know what the friend said. All we have is the OP's side. You do not know if the friend lied yet judged him. I stand by my earlier quote of the Bible!

True, I am basing my assessment on one side of the story. If you doubt the accuracy of his account, let's pretend his question is a hypothetical. My assessment is 100% correct based on the OP's hypothetical situation.

Do you think it's ok to lie to and manipulate a friend? I don't. Is it really that hard to believe the salesman "friend" did what the OP said? Quoting the best possible trade-in and the best possible discount only to back pedal to the tune of thousands of dollars? If that's hard for you to believe, you haven't dealt with many salesmen.

Matthew 7:1-12 (gotta read the whole passage, not just one verse) was never intended to get us not to exercise good judgement. It's intended to ensure we're not hypocrites. We absolutely should discern whether we think someone is being honest or not by what he says & does. If he's misleading in this situation, will he be honest in other situations? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

 

[ClemsonU88]

7 pages of back and forth conversation about this is entertaining, but, IMHO the OP made an impulse purchase.
A quick look at Ford's website to check MSRP on the Maverick, prior to visiting the dealership, would have exposed the "friends" price as wishful thinking. Then another quick internet search would reveal an approximate value of the vehicle being traded - both trade in value and average retail value.

The issue here for me is this: The time to gather information and become informed is BEFORE making a purchase NOT AFTER.

I agree with you completely. But I still think the "friends" actions are unacceptable for a friend or a salesman. Salesmen understand people get hooked, and once they're hooked, they usually get reeled in.

 

[ClemsonU88]

Is it too hard to believe the friend was spouting what he thought they would do and his boss said NO? I have been buying brand new cars since 1978. It is ALWAYS on me to do my homework and know if the deal is good or not. What a friend says at a cookout or gathering is NOT an official deal. BTW YOU are why I do not attend church! A true christian would not be on here talking BAD about anyone they do not know and about information they do not have first hand information on.

I agree with you 100% that buyers should do their homework. But I also understand how car salesmen work. They promise big and then pull back, because they know that once someone gets "the bug", they're probably going to buy. Do you disagree?

You realize the OP asked our opinion, right? It's not like I stumbled on this conversation and just offered my opinion unsolicited. The Bible gives us directions for how we should live and who are friends should be. I was sharing that info.

Are hypocrites really the reason you don't go to church? Pick the 3 or 4 non-living things you love the most in this world. Maybe it's food, nature, trucks, movies, and/or football. Are those things inundated with hypocrites? Yes, yet you love them anyway. If something being loved by hypocrites keeps you from partaking of it, what could you love?

Answering a question that was asked based on the information at hand isn't hypocrisy. It's wise, and then if you find out the info is inaccurate, you adjust your analysis. That's life!

I'll let you have the final word (but if you ask a question, I'll answer it. I don't want to be rude ).

 

[dochawk]

He KNEW I wasn't going for it so he read through the documents like he was holding in a four day piss!

My father, knowing that those spiels were coming ("I am required to read this to you"), brought a book in with him.

At that point, he pulled it out, and asked, "let me know when you're done."

The exasperated employee caved and shut up.


A year or two later, I came to terms on my new Miata (good heavens, that couldn't really be 20 years ago!) on Saturday, and told them I'd be back on Monday with the financing from my credit union.

That initiated a panicked reaction!

They plead for a chance to match it. I shrugged; why not?

They actually beat it by a 10th of a per cent (they had a printed rate sheet for everyone in town), and I was willing to take it.

But then they pulled out the "gotcha sheet" on the price per mile and day if the loan was turned down, and I told them no. They could either write the paper (having seen my 800+ credit score), or I'd deal with financing myself. They hemmed, hawed, and caved.

I have often found that the "walk away" method works quite well.

Simply stating up can be worth four figures!
(I learned this by standing up when offered a ridiculous price!)

Or better yet don't ask friends to give you a business deal. would you ask a friend who is a doctor for a deal on surgery?

Over the years, several people tried to haggle with me on my price as an attorney. I simply asked if they wanted an attorney that caved that easily--and they all replied, "no."

I don't, though, do work for friends if I'm going to charge.

 

[ClemsonU88]

I will DM you to spare the thread of the theology BS.

Excellent idea!

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