On our last trip to Kia, we drove two electric vehicles: the EV 6, and the Niro. Both were decent.

I am pro-environment. I philosophically appreciate the move to electric vehicles. I also like driving a silent car. And I love not having to get gas.

So, on the strength of some other reviews, this time we went to Huundai. They had both the top rated electric compact SUV, and top rated electric car overall:

And, as observed by a friend, and confirmed by some research the government is providing major incentives that make the lease deals particularly attractive.

So we went to a local dealership that shall remain nameless.

The cars were great.

The ride was smooth. The layout was intuitive. The bells and whistles were ringing and whistling.

I was, at this point, all but sold

And then we sat down with the salesman and asked him to give us the numbers.

And he comes back, excited, and said, I got you a great deal.

And it is literally 3 times the listed rate.

And I said this price is not viable. This is not what was advertised. He said let me put you on with my boss. The manager of the place, the guy whose name and face are on the website, gets on the phone. And I said something is confusing to me. This price is nothing like the ad that brought us in here.

And he said, you know, taxes, and title raise the monthly rate.

And I said you’re telling me taxes TRIPLE the cost?

The thing is this. I’m may lack certain experience. I may be learning how to deal with certain spirits. But I can add and multiply. And I know when somebody changes all the numbers, and then smiles in my face.

He proceeds to explain that this is a higher trim model.

And I said, first, we came in with an ad for the other model. And you haven’t said a word about it not being available.

And he said oh the advertised price is a national deal. Its for the Front wheel drive models. They are big in Florida, and California. But you won’t find it anywhere within 300 miles of here.

And I’m thinking then perhaps you shouldn’t advertise it within 300 miles of here.

And I bypassed all the things I _wanted_ to say to him, said this is not the right fit, thank you for your time.

I shook his hand and left. And mentally added him to the list of people who will not get my money.

Here’s the thing:

If I can’t afford your car, that’s fine.

If I don’t want to pay what you’re charging, it’s ok.

If today is not the day, we’re good.

Another car, another time.

But tell me the truth.

This is my beef with the way too many people operate, in business, and in life.

There are things I want. Sometimes they are in reach. Sometimes they aren’t. That’s fine. I only have the money I have.

There are people who seek my help. Sometimes I can do something for them. Sometimes I can’t. That’s fine. I only have 24 hours in a day.

There are people we want to get involved with, and people we don’t. That’s fine. That’s our right. We don’t owe anybody our attention, or affection, or time.

Our only obligation is to the truth.

Don’t invite me to your dealership with a fake price.

Don’t promise me a job opportunity you know doesn’t exist.

Don’t act like you are interested in a relationship so I can be your back up plan, or just so you can get some free food.

Luring someone in, or keeping them around, under false pretenses is wrong

Promising something I know I can’t deliver, while stalling for a better option is wrong.

We have all kinds of ways of describing this: bait and switch, false advertising, leading someone on, etc.

But at it’s heart, it’s all just lying. It’s me assessing your desires, and then then selfishly promising you something I know I won’t deliver, for the sake of manipulating you into something else that serves me and not you. It’s selfish. It’s dishonest. It’s garbage.

And I understand that much of automotive culture is built around lies. Dealers, and mechanics rip you off because they can.

Not all do, and those are the ones who deserve our business.

As a car-savvy friend said to me of mechanics years ago, “with the mechanic you pay for what you don’t know,” and to that I would add, “what you can’t prove.”

If I need you to do something for my car, and can’t prove that you also just did something _to_ my car, I will not only overpay today. I will have to bring it back tomorrow.

If I don’t know what you did, and don’t know how to measure what you did, you can charge me anything.

I also recognize that these automotive exchanges rely on the consumer’s shame, on any part of me that is willing to say “I should be wealthy enough that your overcharging doesn’t bother me. And if I’m not, that’s on me.

The truth is, I don’t owe you anything. And I’ve got all the time in the world.

My car still runs. My legs still work. The bus and train and Uber and Lyft will still get me where I want to go.

I am not in a rush to seal a bad deal.

And shame on anyone taking advantage of people who are.

Buyer beware. Cuz sellers be trippin.’

We will get our next car shortly.

In the meantime, however, I am embracing the process.

It is not just showing me what I value in cars.

It’s reminding me what I value in people.

I pray you drive where you want to go.

I pray you honor your values along the way.

I pray you only ride with people who are genuinely riding with you.

And, where necessary, I pray that you let them off at the next stop.

Stay safe.

(Photo Credit: Markus Winkler)