Car Salesmen and Solstice Re: <VV> Corsa 3-speeds

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Bill,
    That wouldn't surprise me in the least!  When I bought the 95 TransSport 
about 11 years ago, I visited SIX local Chevy, Pontiac and Olds dealers.  Of 
those SIX, I found only TWO with competent salespeople.  I didn't expect that 
they would know all the details about the various car models they were selling, 
but that they could FIND OUT answers to questions that I asked.  The good 
ones went through the complete option list of ALL the items available for that 
particular vehicle so I could determine if I wanted them or not and also gave me 
an itemized price listing of those options I chose.  The FOUR who failed my 
standard would only scrawl some total price on the back of an old envelope and 
claim that it included everything I requested.
    That's how I found out that most (maybe all) GM cars could be ordered 
from the factory with a block heater installed in the engine for only $18 (that 
was 1995 pricing).  Also that even though the Pontiac version had a higher BASE 
price, by the time I added in the OPTIONS that I wanted, OVERALL the Pontiac 
was cheaper than the Chevy.  The Pontiac had more option packages with each 
one containing fewer options than the Chevy, so the Pontiac required buying 
FEWER unwanted options to get the ones I DID want.
    Nowadays, it would be far better to investigate all these options and 
pricing on the Internet BEFORE even stepping into the dealership since I expect 
the salespeople are STILL mostly clueless.  Jim and I recently visited a 
Pontiac dealership to view the new Solstice and the saleslady had no response as to 
why only 3 gauges (speedo, tach and fuel level) showed on the dash despite the 
brochure claiming that it had an analog temp. gauge as well.  (My "soccer 
mom" TransSport has SIX analog gauges).  I am a little less than 6 ft. tall and 
weigh about 200 lbs. and the Solstice was a close fit for me.  Lotsa luck if 
you're much over 6 ft or 200 lbs.  Makes the LM Corvair coupe seem positively 
roomy by comparison.  Maybe if I lose some weight and shrink some more height?
    Frank Burkhard
      
In a message dated 12/30/05 4:19:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Wrsssatty at aol.com writes:
Speculation has always been that Corsas equipped with 3-speeds were 
mistakes--that the dealer neglected to order the 4-speed when placing the 
order!

~Bill Stanley