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| - About a month ago, I started the process of pricing and shopping for my heart's desire: a Mustang. The last time I purchased a new car (a Saturn) was in 2005, and even in that short time the Internet and e-mail have really changed the car-buying process. I submitted a request for a quote from Sanderson Ford in the West Valley (near where I live). The number "Brian" came back with was, well, meh. On President's Day, I headed over to Earnhardt's, way on the other side of town. "Jerry" gave me a much more palatable quote, even if it was padded with ridiculous upcharges ($699 for window tint? $799 for an alarm system? Ha!). After the test drive, I spent the next week e-mailing back and forth with both Brian and Jerry. Brian at Sanderson wouldn't budge on his quote and, to make matters worse, insisted that I probably had misunderstood Jerry's quote. ("He's probably showing you a manual," he told me, as though I didn't make sure that, duh, the quote I'd received was for the car I want.) Long story short, I decided that convenience aside, there was no way I was buying a car from Sanderson--they simply didn't seem to want the sale that much! I made an appointment with Jerry at Earnhardt's and went back the next Sunday to make my purchase. The only wrinkle was that Jerry was "off" that day, so a guy named Joe took care of me (and honored Jerry's quote). I did NOT pay $700 for tint or $800 for an alarm, but I got both--and within 90 minutes I walked away with exactly the Mustang I wanted for well below sticker and dealer invoice. In short, my experience at Earnhardt was generally positive. The only fast-talker was the finance guy, and as long as you can keep your wits about you when he starts reeling nonsense about the necessity of the extended warranty ("it's from a whole nother part of the book if you know what i mean we're talking miles and hours hours and days days and months and you wouldn't want to find yourself up a boat without a paddle at that whole other side of the book because it's prorated on a per diem basis if you know what I mean"), you'll be good. Of course, they did call me two days later to tell me they forgot to install the alarm system I paid for, but, well, they took care of it. At least they called. I'd go back.
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