Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Please note that gratuitous links to your site are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments.
Saleen makes new value-oriented Racecraft brand official
Officially Official: 2009 BMW 7 Series
Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS
I want my FPV: Super sedans hit the desert in new TV spot
Happy Independence Day from Autoblog
Track Test: 2008 Roush 427R Trak Pak Mustang
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Cayman S
First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Retractable Hard Top
In The Autoblog Garage: BMW 128i Convertible
Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadLast Mercury stand-alone dealership closes
(Page 1 of 1)
Steelers Fan @ Dec 18th 2007 10:58AM
My Father bought a new car almost every two years at Community Motors from 1959 until he passed away in '92. This is officially the end of the era of the small Mom & Pop car dealer that sold himself more than the brand! Ironically this dealership survived long after the Mercury brand began to erode. This small(even by the standards of the 50's a small lot with a three car showroom )dealership south of Pittsburgh since the early 70's had stiff competition from a full line, modern Lincoln-Mercury Dealership and a Ford dealership about 7 miles away with really easy access from the highway. This is a real testament to the kind of businessman that Joe Mastrangioli is. I remember as a small kid when we were going to see Joe I knew that we were getting a new car. As I remember Joe was the only salesman back then as well. Too bad this kind of dealership experience is going the way of other cherished bits of Americana. I remember a few times that my father stopped at the big dealership on the way to see Joe and the deal would never come close to the deal that Joe would give my Dad. The mega dealer has ruined this experience where you know the car guy and the car guy knows you and your family. Car buying was really an enjoyable experience where true customer service was as valued as the vehicle and Joe is the end of this era. Unfortunately we only have car dealers that make you think that they care about you! Good luck to Joe, truly a great car dealer and an even better person.
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2007 11:08AM
I'd agree and somewhat disagree. Megadealers have ruined the experience in a way. Now you have dealers that have 20+ salespeople with a lot of turnover its hard to find someone that is Nice and gets to know you and will always be out there. But there's always a select few at every dealer. You just need to find that salesperson. That's where networking comes into play. "You should check out this salesperson, he's been great to me over the years...not like those other guys"
Jim in Tampa @ Dec 18th 2007 11:17AM
Thanks for the story, Steelers Fan. I grew up in a small town and I remember the neighbors and friends who owned or worked at the Ford and Chevy dealerships. Buying a new car often started with a conversation at church about what was in stock. And then the next day, the salesman would show up at the house with a car to show Mom and Dad. A we usually kept the car overnight to try it out.
And if a friend who worked at the competing dealership found out we bought a car from the other one, we'd usually get the call saying "Why didn't you didn't call me?"
How did I buy my most recent car? Through the internet with a salesperson at a mega-dealer that I didn't meet until the deal was done.
John Jenny @ Dec 23rd 2007 1:15AM
Thanks "Steelers Fan" for a cogent comment which included lots of feeling which many folks understand and can relate to. The worst part of the common experience at the large dealerships is the incredible ignorance of the sales personnel concerning the product they are trying to sell. Its amazing how many times I have shown interest in a product and visited a dealership to clear up incidental concerns or confusion only to find the sales person far less knowledgeable than myself about his product! And, to add insult when I arrive at the dealership, the sales people are lounging around outside or reading a newspaper. Then my presumably simple question - is the spare full size or compact, or how do you fold the rear seat - is met with confusion and fumbling. One guy actually explained to me that the "FWD" on the sticker meant the car was four wheel drive. When I asked then what does "AWD" mean he stated it meant always wheel drive. Discouraging.