Weird trade-in experience

[pppbigppp]

My dad is looking for a new car. So we went to a Toyota dealership today. Couldn't agree on the trade-in value for his 02 Protege. So we went home.

As soon as we got home, I noticed that his Protege was making a lot of noise when the gears is at park. It's a constant stream of high-pitch clicking sound that just won't goes away. We ended up spending half an hour looking under the hood and couldn't really tell what's going on.

I don't think the sound was there before we went to the dealership. During the trade-in process, the manager did inspect the car and test drive it a bit (we are at the sales desk at the time, I did sort of watch the manager through the windows, though my view is limited). The manager popped the hood for a good minute or so.

My dad called the sales person, just asked him to listen to the sound over the phone for a couple seconds. The sales guy immediately told my dad his manager did mentioned weird noise coming from the third belt that attaches to the fans. How come this guy seems to know more about the noise than we do?  Didn't get much out of them after that, except they would take a look at it tomorrow.

Anyways, I'm not accusing anyone anything yet, until there is more evidence. I hope nothing shady went on.

Thoughts? When people in dealership inspect your car (and test drive it), do you always try to be right there with them?

[inco]

I'll take a wild stab here and guess that the manager reved the engine and pulled a belt. Rare, but an old belt that all of a sudden has a lot of strain put on it might just give in.

Regardless your point is valid. It's your car, not theirs and I'm always going to be there if someone wants to try it out. They have nothing vested in it.

[airbalancer]

I really do not think a sale manger would do anything to the car
People alway think their used car is the best, and they are usually in correct about the condition of the car
Belts have break at some point, get it fix,
Happy driving

[pppbigppp]

I'll take a wild stab here and guess that the manager reved the engine and pulled a belt. Rare, but an old belt that all of a sudden has a lot of strain put on it might just give in.

Regardless your point is valid. It's your car, not theirs and I'm always going to be there if someone wants to try it out. They have nothing vested in it.

Yeah, from now on, I will definitely be there when they inspect the car. Not sure if I would actually get onboard when they test drive though. Is it even normal to do so?

[jamie1]

What 3rd belt attaching to what fans :think:The cooling fans on a Protege what be electric. But I would highly doubt the sales manager would do anything to the car.

[ovr50]

I really do not think a sale manger would do anything to the car
People alway think their used car is the best, and they are usually in correct about the condition of the car
Belts have break at some point, get it fix,
Happy driving

+1 to that. Paranoia.

[articsteve]

I think your dad should have taken the Toyota offer whatever it was. 

[pppbigppp]

I think your dad should have taken the Toyota offer whatever it was. 

Why? 

Anyways, just accepted a deal from another dealership for a new car. Whatever it was, it's someone else's problem now.

I'm curious to know if there is any chance for us to talk them into letting us buying accessories at manufacture cost, or maybe at 10% markup, instead of the crazy 50% markup.

[articsteve]

I'm curious to know if there is any chance for us to talk them into letting us buying accessories at manufacture cost, or maybe at 10% markup, instead of the crazy 50% markup.

That would be something one would do BEFORE accepting a deal from another dealership for a new car 

[pppbigppp]

I'm curious to know if there is any chance for us to talk them into letting us buying accessories at manufacture cost, or maybe at 10% markup, instead of the crazy 50% markup.

That would be something one would do BEFORE accepting a deal from another dealership for a new car 

Maybe. Although I'm not entirely convinced the dealership don't want a 10% markup. Just like I wasn't convinced that I should "taken the Toyota offer whatever it was."

[articsteve]

Go for a set of these.  One size fits all.

[TopGun]

I think your dad should have taken the Toyota offer whatever it was. 

Why? 

Because it's a Toyota dealership...AS would have wanted you to pay them to take your car...it's not a Toyota after all...the nerve!

[Julie]

I'm curious to know if there is any chance for us to talk them into letting us buying accessories at manufacture cost, or maybe at 10% markup, instead of the crazy 50% markup.

Now that you've signed the deal, they have no motivation to give you a discount on the accessories, but they might give you some... so that you feel better and buy the accessory (and they get a profit)

It's really supply and demand...  Do they need to get rid of those accessories before a set time, like they sometimes want to get rid of certain cars on a lot?  Usually not, right?