The Car Buying Experience Today

People still say they’d rather have their teeth pulled than buy a car.

But is that really true anymore?

We live in a click-first world. Almost everything can be done online including buying a vehicle.
And while that option exists, I’m not convinced it actually makes the experience better.
Because buying a vehicle isn’t just a transaction.

It’s a major financial decision that can impact someone for years.
I’ve spent nearly 35 years in the automotive industry.
22 of those years were inside dealerships.
The last 13 have been outside the walls watching the market change.

When I was selling vehicles full-time, I took pride in the experience. I worked hard to make it:

• Simple
• Honest
• Transparent
• Inclusive

Helping someone with a new or used vehicle wasn’t just a job  it was something I genuinely enjoyed.
For a long time, the market supported that experience. Trade values were strong. Customers often had positive equity. Payments stayed manageable. People felt good about their decisions.

Then everything changed.

COVID brought inventory shortages, no discounts, and forced purchases. Dealers adapted quickly lower inventory, fewer carrying costs, higher margins.
Then interest rates rose. Used values corrected. Positive equity disappeared. Payments doubled. Options narrowed.

Today, many customers are:

• Buying out leases they didn’t plan to keep
• Financing vehicles long-term and out of warranty
• Leasing again without fully understanding kilometer limits, wear charges, or end-of-term inspections

Modern vehicles are incredible  but when something breaks, repairs aren’t small. They’re expensive.
This is where confusion, frustration, and regret creep in.

Here’s what I believe:

• The problem isn’t the dealership.
• The problem isn’t online buying.
• The problem is lack of guidance.
• People don’t need pressure they need clarity.

 
They need someone to explain:

• How negative equity actually works
• What happens when you roll it into the next vehicle
• Why the term you choose today affects the next purchase, not just this one

I’ve seen this cycle before. These are the moments when people need help the most.
Customer service used to be the differentiator. Somewhere along the way, it got lost.

I’m exploring ways to bring it back, to help people navigate the car buying process with confidence, honesty, and a long-term view.
If you’ve bought or leased a vehicle recently good experience or bad I’d genuinely love to hear about it.

And if you have questions, maybe I can help make the process a little clearer before it becomes costly.