
UPDATE:
4/10/08
Finally - It’s A Done Deal - It Took a Team

2008 Cadillac STS V8 - Black Raven Color

Angela Made The Sale

Marques Handled the Details

Danny Took the Money - $68,000 Paid in Full - No Payments!
This was easily the most difficult car purchase I have ever made, and I have made a lot of them. If you are interested in WHY I would want to trade in my fabulous Cadillac XLR for the all new STS, have a few minutes, and want to see what made it so difficult, just read the story below. In the end it was EASY; write the check!
I can now go off on my mainland tour and have my new car “pimped” and ready for me when I return.
Out with the old and in with the new!
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Update:
3/25-08
I know that I am holding you all in suspense with this decision, but the reality is I could wait until September if I had to, or I could buy it today.
I got a call from the Jaguar dealer yesterday inviting me to come down and take a test ride in the new XF model that I have been awaiting to arrive. Upon sitting in the car I found it a bit small, and at that time learned that what I really want is the XJ. I thought the XF was going to be the biggest and best; NOT! Anyway, I agreed to take the XJ out for a ride, and while it was nice, it didn’t knock my socks off.
With the ride of the Jaguar fresh in mind I went to the Cadillac dealer for an STS demo to see the difference. I sat in it, and liked it more than I did the Jaguar, but the ride may be different. No one seemed to be interested in me out on the sales floor, so I went into the GM’s office. He wasn’t in, so I asked the young woman at the desk next to his if I could leave my card for him. That’s when I met Angie, by far the best Cadillac salesperson I have ever encountered in 28 years of buying Cadillac’s in Hawaii. She asked me what brought me in and I asked her if she is in sales. Her answer was, “Why yes, we are all in sales”. I was sold right there. I asked her if she had an STS V8 that I could drive. She said, “Yes, we have three of them, do you have a particular color in mind?” I said, “No, I just want to see how it handles Honolulu potholes, I am used to big Cadillac’s and the XLR is just too uncomfortable.” She offered to get me a cup of coffee while I waited for the demo to be brought up.
While waiting I brought her to this Blog so she could be up to speed on my purchase progress. That’s when she got the call that the three demos were all V6’s. DRATS! I was ready to buy today; from her! She tried her best to get me to drive a V6, but I told her that her GM had strongly suggested that I NOT drive the V6, because I wouldn’t like the lack of power.
I left and asked her to have Tony call me. I have no doubt that if they had that car for me to drive today, she would have closed me, and I would have been picking out the color and placing the order.
So, it’s still an open door for someone to waltz me through. I really do not want to break my Cadillac tradition and the promise I made to Marvin K Brown in 1964, but…
Nice Ride, But!
UPDATE 2/11/08
Many people have been asking me if I have ordered a new car yet, and if so, who won; Cadillac or Jaguar. Scroll to the end for the latest news:
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Those of you familiar with my first book SUCCESS MADE EASY may recall the reason I get a new Cadillac every two or three years, and have since 1962. My latest ride was this super cool XLR Hardtop Convertible. I have really enjoyed my XLR, but have been considering a change. The only problem with the XLR is the closeness to the road that I am unaccustomed to. This car feels every little bump, and Honolulu has more potholes per mile that anywhere in the country.

The BIG EASY
My Sedan Deville’s seemed to “float” down the road. My car was known as the “Big Easy” whereas the XLR was the “Hot Easy”. As much as I enjoy the fun of driving and the attention I get in the XLR, I have missed that float. So I stopped by at our local (one and only) Cadillac dealer today to check out the 2008 Sedan Deville’s. I quickly discovered (on my own) that there is no Sedan DeVille any longer. All I saw was a CTS and DTS, whatever that means. As I climbed in and out of these two models I saw things that I liked and more importantly disliked about each of them, besides the color, which I knew could be ordered.
A salesman approached me and asked if he could help me (mistake number 1). I teach to NEVER ask a question that MIGHT get you an answer you don’t want too hear. In this case he got away with it. I told him why I wanted to change cars, as well as what I liked and disliked about each of the two models on the showroom floor. He urged me to take the CTS for a test ride (mistake number 2). He was assuming that the ride would overshadow the things I told him that I didn’t like about the car. While out on the road he said, “Isn’t this fun to drive?” (mistake three). I said, “No, after driving the XLR this is a lousy ride”. This was not something he wanted to hear. I told him that the test drive had convinced me not to get the car. He then suggested I drive the DTS (mistake four). I had already told him that I did not like the looks of that car.
We arrived back at the showroom, and as went back inside, he stayed outside with the car to figure out why some interior light wouldn’t go off while we were driving (mistake 5).
The General Sales Manager saw me and came over to say, “Aloha”. (Right move number one). He then asked me what brought me in today (Right move two) I told him my dilemma, and that I was going to go down to the Jaguar dealer to see what their new cars looked like. He asked me to be specific about what I didn’t like about the CTS and DTS. (Right move 3). He listened carefully (Right move 4) and then asked, “Did the salesman show you the STS?” (Right move 5). I said, “No, what’s that?” He said that it is in between the two I looked at, bigger than the CTS, but with the look and style of the XLR I loved. (Right move 6). The salesman appeared at this time and the GM told him to show me the STS.
The salesperson asked me if I wanted to go up on the roof to see it (Mistake 6) I reluctantly agreed to climb the stairs to the roof only to find it was not there. (Mistake 7) He then asked me if I wanted to go over to their warehouse to see it. (Mistake 8) I said, “No, I’m off to the Jaguar dealer. He said, “Okay, let me know when you are ready to see the car.” (Mistake 9)
The GM intercepted me on the way out, told the salesperson to go get a catalog on the STS, and then went through it with me. (Right move 7). As we went through it I realized that it overcame all of my objections. It had everything I liked about the other two cars and none of the things I didn’t like. (Right move 8). I told the GM to do the arithmetic and send me e-mail as to when the car would be in and what he needed from me to pick it up. I went home and looked at the color chips and called him back to tell him what I like.
The bottom line here was; know your inventory and listen to the customer! It’s Easy!
The ONLY mistake the GM made was not asking me for the order at that time. I am ready to buy that car, but I am still going to go look at the Jaguar. That one last little mistake could undo all of the good moves he made. Stay Tuned!
Here’s the latest:
While in Denver last month I got a call from the Cadillac salesperson saying that his General Manager wanted my e-mail address. I gave it to him. That was about a month ago and I have not heard a word.

JAGUAR XF
Today I returned to the Jaguar dealer to see if they had a new XF in stock. As I roamed through the showroom I saw three salespeople talking to each other in one office, two in another and one who was alone in a third office.
I spent a good 10 minutes checking out the cars. The one I like was not on the floor. The salespeople looked up at me occasionally, but continued their chat with one another. Finally the one who was alone ventured out onto the floor and said, “Did you need some help?” I replied (smiling), “Do I look needy?” He said, “Well I am helpless myself”. I bit my tongue and said, “I was in here six months ago looking for that car there in the photo.” He said, “We won’t have that model until March, it’s a 2009″. I said, “When I was here before I was told it was a 2008, and would be here in a few months”. He said, “I don’t know who would have told you that”. (Are you counting the mistakes here?) I said, “It was the manager.” He said, “No way”. I said, “Yep, he walked me out to my car, commented on what good shape it was in, got my card and said that he would send me the numbers”. He just shook his head and said, “Nope, that’s a 2009 and won’t be here until March.” I said, “Okay, I guess that Cadillac wins. That’s all I have driven since 1962″. He replied, “You are just like my mother. I’ll give you a catalog”.
About this time the manager came out of his office and said, “Hey, good to see you”. I said, “Do you remember me?” He said that he did and I asked, “What do you remember about me?” He looked a little confused and finally said, “Oh yeah, your that sales guy”. I reminded him that I have been waiting for his e-mail for six months now and he said, “Well you are here now”. I said, “Yeah, but I am leaving, I need to go see if they have that Cadillac SLS in yet”. I gave him another one of my cards and left.
Are you shaking your head in disbelief?
Stay Tuned!