OT but my wife and I have been through a crazy week this past week while car shopping.

First we went to a large local dealership that advertises regularly on TV mainly because we both really like the car brand (Honda). We looked at some cars and found a few we were happy with. We told the salesperson the MAXIMUM monthly payment we could afford and the down payment we were willing to put up. We also told him that in lieu of a Honda, there were only a select few other makes of vehicles we were willing to consider.

The next day after running credit and all that fun stuff we find out that we won’t be able to afford a Honda. The salesperson then shows us a Ford Expedition. Ford wasn’t on our list of makes. The vehicle was ok but I refused to get it on account of the terrible gas mileage it has (15 MPG).

Then they showed us a Chevy Malibu we both liked and led us to believe that, more than likely, we could probably get that car.

The day after we went in after they called and told us they had a “Deal that would work”. But when we got there, instead of saying a peep about the Malibu, the salesperson starts showing us other vehicle options. He would not give us any specifics about what kind of financing we were eligible for, only cryptically that the “bank would only approve certain vehicles at certain mileages”. He proceeded to show us a Chevy HHR, A Dodge Durango and then he tried to show us a Ford Focus, which we refused to see.

Also of note: Neither Dodge or Ford were on our list of desired makes. Chevy was but only for cars.

Already frustrated, I told the salesperson we wanted the Malibu. Before he went to get us the information on that he told us to be “Flexible on our monthly payment” even though we’d already given him our max.

Then when he came back he dropped the bomb on us. We could get the Malibu but the monthly payment would be TWICE AS MUCH as we could afford! (“Deal that would work” my butt).

When I frustratingly told him there’s no way that could work he said “Well I can get you that HHR for $100 a month less”.

GRRRRRR….

Look you moron. I TOLD YOU what we could afford to pay and I TOLD YOU we didn’t want the HHR so why won’t you LISTEN??

He refused to tell me what lenders were offering us financing or even what amount they were willing to give and continually kept trying to shovel cars at us that we DIDN’T WANT.

After taking a few days to detox from that experience, we ended up going to a smaller local car lot run by the brother of a woman we go to church with. A guy we know from that same church happens to work there and set us up with a good deal.

We got a vehicle that matched every item on our wish list, at a price we could afford with no hassle or BS or nonsense whatsoever. They even let my wife and I drive the car off the lot to have lunch while we contemplated buying it. The whole process went smoothly and we drove it off the lot within 3 hours.

I will be referring people to this car lot and telling them to stay far away from the big name dealer.