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mad_machine wrote:[sarcasim]now why would you want a manual? Don;t you know that NOBODY drives manual transmission cars anymore?[/sarcasm]
Except the entire rest of the world 
I guess the world doesn't exist to car salesman.
It's one more reason I don't buy new cars. It's just as hard to find what you want new than searching through the classifieds and craigslist for a slightly-used example.
pinchvalve wrote:Other dealers show base models on their lots, but when I offer to come in and drive away in one, they all give me some crazy story and pitch line. Look, I have $13,000 cash. You want it or not? It should not be that hard!
But they're not going to make money off you if you don't let them screw you on the finance! Think of the salesperson's fifteen hungry children!
ok seriously a hyundai or kia sales person only makes 100 to 300 off a car deal. i used to be one!!!! and offering cash will never get you as low of a price. better off financing and paying off after 3 months youll pay less.
My dad just picked up a base soul, tons of $ off of MSRP, a hoot to drive with the manual (the whole driving a slow car fast deal), and it fits a 8' kayak inside if you fold down the front seat...
I got curious, and checked my local(ish) dealer. He's got two base models, 1.6 with manual on the lot.
I work for a dealer (in Canada but same thing). No, the dealer can't special order a car...not really anyway.
I've worked for Hyundai for 6.5 years. I would say, statistically, 19/20 manuals we've sold have been huge money losers, in two stages: one, the sit on the lot and we give them away for below cost, and two (more significantly by far) they come back with done clutches and busted up syncros within a year and owners are hysterical and we end up forced into cutting them a deal on repairs. Let me be clear: there is nothingwrong with the gearboxes. I'm a little less confident of the clutch materials, but they aren't worse than competitors. Every brand has found the exact same thing and everyones avoiding selling manuals.
Manuals are done. Give up. ODDII signalled the first blow- it's too hard to avoid false triggers with rough/sloppy shiftering drivers. Rough/sloppy shifters are the majority and the warranties that are in place mean we (new car dealers) absolutely cannot afford to sell manuals...at least to low end, bottom feeder, first car type customers (and Tiburon customers whatever they are, stereotype wise).
Sorry guys, I live this reality every day...and I hate autos, but...No brand can afford to sell low/mid price manuals. We would just be putting a huge target on our backs with each and every manual we sell.
Now that you mention that, most people who ride with me are amazed by how smoothly I shift. I don't see myself as anything spectacular, so everyone else must be pretty bad.
Update: The Soul seems to be a very solid, reasonable car. The dealers seem to be a bunch of whack-jobs.
First, isn't there a law against bait-and-switch advertising? I left a lot (not naming names, but it rhymes with #1 Cock Ring) where I know for a fact that they have only 2, top-spec Souls listing for over $20K. That evening, I see an ad from the same dealer for the Soul at $12,900. Impossible. The other big dealer is advertising a similar price, but when you call they conveniently "just sold" all of the base models they had. Maybe, but not bloody likely.
Every other dealer is insisting that I come in and take a test drive, even though they do not have a base model and cannot get one. Why should I come in when I know you don't have the car I want? Idiots.
The good news is that I don't need a car this minute, so I can take my time and get a deal somewhere. I just need to find an honest new-car salesman somewhere...
I think I may have found a straight-shooting Kia Dealer, we will see tomorrow when I visit the lot and see what happens. After this experience, I think I am going to buy a ratty Miata for cash just to wash the new-car-dealer stench from me.
