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11 votes
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The issue of curiosity
5 votes -
Why Nancy is scrapping its magically bonkers monorail-bus-trams
10 votes -
Bergen is gearing up to open the world's longest purpose-built pedestrian and bicycle tunnel – 2.9km tunnel takes 30-45 minutes to walk through
8 votes -
I'm buying my first ever new car tomorrow
EDIT: See final update here ...and I'm a little worried the dealership might try to screw me over. Some backstory: In 2021, Chevrolet announced the Bolt EUV -- a slightly larger version of their...
EDIT: See final update here
...and I'm a little worried the dealership might try to screw me over.
Some backstory:
In 2021, Chevrolet announced the Bolt EUV -- a slightly larger version of their Bolt EV.
Right after it got introduced, all Bolt EVs and EUVs underwent a battery recall. Dealers were unable to sell these until their batteries were replaced, despite the high demand for the vehicle.
In June 2022, Chevrolet announced a $6,300 price drop for the EV/EUV.
My current car was due for replacement (it's a 2003, lol); I wanted my next car to be an EV; the price drop made this something I could really afford; and it turns out that the EUV is literally the only electric vehicle at that price point that I can actually fit in (my head hits the ceiling in a Kona, for example).
In June 2022, I attempted to buy an EUV, only to find out that there were waitlists everywhere because the price drop increased demand, while the recall decreased supply. As such, I put in an order for a 2023 EUV with a deposit.
2023s went into production in July, but it turns out they're not made in order (which makes sense: the factory makes batches of similar types) and it also turns out that different dealerships have different "allocations" which means that they only get so many of a certain type of car -- even if it's been directly ordered by a customer.
I didn't know this at the time of ordering, but, the dealership I went with had a very low allocation for EUVs.
I have waited this entire time (which is not uncommon), and my car has finally arrived at the dealership. I'm slated to pick it up tomorrow and finish the purchase.
My concerns:
The dealership knows right now that they have me over a barrel. I've waited eight months for this thing. There is no other available inventory anywhere, as the EUVs sell immediately or, in most cases, are already spoken for before they arrive due to waitlists. People trying to get them complain about huge markups because of this.
I have a "motor vehicle purchase agreement" from the dealership from when I ordered the vehicle and made my initial deposit. That paper shows that I'll be paying MSRP for the vehicle, which I'm happy to do.
My question is: is the dealership going to try and make me pay something different, knowing that I'm not going to walk away from this? I feel somewhat comfortable that I have an agreement for the MSRP in black and white, but is that enough?
My other question is: is there some other way they're going to try to get one over on me? Something more subtle or that I don't expect? The last time I bought a car was ~15 years ago, and I pretty much stood there while my dad did the talking (also the car was used and super cheap).
I will be financing a loan through the dealership to pay for the car.
Basically, what can I do to make sure tomorrow goes as smoothly as possible? I'm hoping that it's easy, cut and dry, and there's no funny business, but I've also heard some horror stories -- especially from people trying to buy the particular car I'm getting.
17 votes -
Tesla's squandered lead
10 votes -
Car safety and fuel efficiency improvements aren't driving up the cost of cars
4 votes -
Are we destroying our railroads for bikes?
2 votes -
Tesla recalls 362,758 vehicles in the US, says Full Self-Driving Beta software may cause crashes
14 votes -
There were more toxic chemicals on train that derailed in Ohio than originally reported, data shows
18 votes -
Someone stole a Wienermobile's catalytic converter
7 votes -
The most complex system in modern cars
3 votes -
State Farm declares 105 Kia, Hyundai models ‘ineligible’ for new insurance in Georgia, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania
19 votes -
Our new off road Kid Rig - from 'Not a Wheelchair'
4 votes -
Toroidal propellers: A noise-killing game changer in air and water
8 votes -
Pickup trucks: From workhorse to joyride
6 votes -
US airline accidentally exposes ‘No Fly List’ on unsecured server
17 votes -
Tesla video promoting self-driving was staged, engineer testifies
9 votes -
eBikes face safety hurdles
7 votes -
Right-to-repair advocates question John Deere’s new promises
9 votes -
The American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere have signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' allowing US customers to fix their own equipment
27 votes -
Why Amtrak isn’t building high speed rail (and that’s okay for now)
3 votes -
Every flight across US grounded due to computer system glitch
11 votes -
Would you fall for it? General Motors' propaganda video from the 1950s.
8 votes -
How to cross water on your motorcycle
5 votes -
As demand for electric vehicles soars, Stora Enso in Finland has hired engineers to look into the possibility of using lignin, a polymer found in trees, to make batteries
6 votes -
Here’s the electric car that Sony is going to build with Honda
6 votes -
Four of out every five cars registered in Norway last year was an electric car, according to data released by the Norwegian Road Federation
9 votes -
As e-bike fires rise, calls grow for education and regulation
10 votes -
Tesla: Our ‘failure’ to make actual self-driving cars ‘is not fraud’
9 votes -
Child workers found throughout Hyundai-Kia supply chain in Alabama
8 votes -
The maddening mess of airport codes
9 votes -
You can now book a reindeer sleigh ride on Uber – the ride-hailing app's new venture is absolutely free, but you'll have to be quick…
4 votes -
What went wrong with the London Tube map? | Unfinished London
9 votes -
Swedish truck manufacturer Scania the first in Europe to pilot autonomous vehicles while delivering commercial goods – pilot project covering a stretch of some 300km
4 votes -
How does the Finnish railway system differ from others?
3 votes -
In 2017, I made an unofficial transit diagram covering the Oslo region in Norway – now, five years later, it's time for a revisit
4 votes -
The factory that only builds white Toyota Land Cruisers
8 votes -
Can you live with a Citroën Ami? We put the dinky EV to the test.
5 votes -
With bi-directional charging, the Volvo EX90 basically works as a power bank, allowing the battery to store electricity that can later be transferred back into an owner's home
4 votes -
Before his battery behemoths, Rivian’s billionaire founder made an eco sports car
4 votes -
Mercedes makes better performance, increasing horsepower and torque while dropping 0-60 times, a $1,200 subscription in its EVs
5 votes -
Why you wouldn’t want to fly the first Soviet jetliner
3 votes -
All-terrain wheelchairs arrive at US parks: ‘This is life-changing’
11 votes -
The REAL reason ships go missing in the Bermuda Triangle!!!
9 votes -
Two aircraft collide during Veterans Day air show in Dallas
9 votes -
The Udbyhøj Cable Ferry across Randers Fjord in Denmark is electric-powered – but rather than batteries, it's plugged into mains electricity
8 votes -
Oslo Metro | Transit Explained
4 votes -
In the 1980s an unlikely collaboration between environmental activists and the pop group A-ha inspired Norway's electric car revolution
5 votes -
US Justice Department announces takedown of nationwide catalytic converter theft ring
12 votes