Mike is all about helping you find the car you need and will encourage you to go elsewhere if you find a better deal than he can give.
However, if someone else wants the same car, it's not always the person who shows the money first who gets it. On Saturday Mike took a portion of a down payment to hold a car that we knew someone else had looked at but had not yet put any money on (""This isn't Walmart"" was his exact quote about the situation). We test drove, put cash down and left feeling great, just waiting for the actual cosigners to come in Monday or Tuesday to sign so that a first time car buyer with no credit could get a car of her own.
Monday morning there was a phone call that the other potential buyer was upset (mind you, it wasn't important enough to put money down the day they test drove, or before 2-3pm the next day) and suddenly ""the car might be a little more than she could afford"" or ""perhaps if she put more down she could finance it.""
Whatever was said to the person who had put money down first, it was enough to intimidate her out of purchasing the car. She said the car ""just wasn't worth the drama.""
If he had a brand new car that I was dying to own for one penny I wouldn't ever give him my business.
Pros: Makes you feel comfortable in the beginning
Cons: Just like every other used car dealer.
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