I have yet to find any dealership where the EV specialist knows anything about EVs and isn’t an asshole. I’ve been browsing cars for over a month now, and 99% of car dealers have one of two things:
- A guy that knows nothing about EVs, but thinks he does.
- A guy that knows things about EVs, but will outright lie to you.
Sometimes this applies to the car itself - sure, it’s got the preheat. Oh you want it in writing? Okay it doesn’t have the preheat, I admit it.
More often this applies to the tax rebates. Hyundai dealers in Connecticut were illegally applying the state and federal EV credit to cars above 50k MSRP, and when called out on it are just like “c’mon, you’ll get it.” Like dude, you’re ASKING me to defraud the IRS?
Today, I dealt with these assclowns: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select (autohausinc.com)
“Qualifies for up to $7500 in tax credits.”
No, it doesn’t. The used EV credit is for 25k and below. This is 27.5. It will not get a dollar. I talked to them about this… and got willful denial every step of the way, to the point that I showed them the IRS policy, pointed out the exact wording, and told them no one on earth would be eligible for it, to which they kept telling me “not all buyers are qualified.” I’m like, no one can get a dollar back from the government for that car. Take that off your website.
The response? " Without an application we cannot answer if you will personally qualify, but we know for a fact there are credits available for our car. I apologize if you feel mislead."
I’m just so frustrated. It shouldn’t be this hard to find a worthwhile used EV under 25k or a new EV under 50k, but everywhere in Connecticut it seems the dealerships play it up and mark the new MSRPs over 50k and the used EVs around 28-33k, and almost all of them then still act like you’d still get the rebates. I’m happy to be smarter than that, but I feel sorry for all the people in Connecticut who will fall prey to the assholes at Hyundai dealerships and used car dealerships in this state.
I’ve been on all sides of this coin. But think about it: we don’t need salespeople. Consumers will drive across town to save $100 on a $50,000 car. “We” as a market do not reward great salespeople. The ones that know everything and are genuinely your advocate simply get undercut by the dumbass pushy salesperson with sale skills (not automotive knowledge or empathy or compassion) at the next dealership.
They don’t need to know cars, because people aren’t coming to them to learn about cars. They’re coming to them for the best price.
The really good human beings in auto sales quickly see that consumers won’t buy cars from them if they’re friendly and knowledgeable. Consumers buy cars from them if they have the best price, and/or smooth talk them into buying on the spot. The end.
So they learn to do what gets them results. Not learn about the products. The guy at the last store educated them. Now they just need to be $100 less and say “if I could, would you?” and apply some pressure and sell a car.
We simply don’t reward salespeople for doing a good job. We don’t need automotive salespeople. You get what you reward.
I bought the car I’m driving now in 2008. I was a graduate student then,and had plenty of time; I was haggling with the guy at the Toyota dealership who was getting antsy because it was past closing time and he wanted to go home and have dinner.
He mentioned something about this, and I said “we can both go home right now if you’ll tell me how much this car actually costs.”