Having purchased a new vehicle, I am at a loss as to whether I am a shrewd businessman or an idiot.
I recently went car shopping, which can be a lot of fun and a panic attack-inducing nightmare all at once. No one likes having to buy something that expensive, especially when you’re never sure if you’re getting a good deal or being completely ripped off.
Fortunately, we had a great experience with the staff at the dealership we settled on and they were very honest and transparent about this large purchase. (Full disclosure, it was DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota where I had also purchased another vehicle 11 years ago.)
We settled on a nice vehicle and price and they also quoted me exactly what I expected for my trade-in. But now, as I wait for the pickup date, I’m starting to wonder if I’m some kind of idiot.
Knowing that I’m going to trade in my old car, I’ve been postponing the introduction of gas. Yesterday, the low fuel light came on and I realized I only had about 15 miles left in the tank. Since I’ll probably be changing the car in the next few days, instead of filling it up I’ll just put another gallon in it. If everything works out in time, I’ll probably put the car back on fumes only.
For some reason, the idea of giving away $40 in gas has me obsessed with keeping the tank nearly empty, but it really doesn’t make much sense. With the amount of money I’m paying for the car, $40 is really paltry. Also, my new car will most likely come with a full tank of gas, so am I an idiot for this?
I’ve talked to several people who recently traded in cars and they all have different opinions on how much gas to leave in the tank. A co-worker said that not only did he leave the tank dry, but he also kept the extra key, manual, floor mats and anything else that wasn’t bolted to the car. Another friend of mine, however, said that leaving anything less than half a tank is pretty insulting. Forcing the dealership to fill up just to drive the car around the lot is pretty rude.
Since I’d rather throw away a few bucks than have people think I’m a jerk, I’ll most likely end up stopping at the gas station before changing my car. But is this really the right thing or am I a fool? Let me know what you think by leaving a message in our app or commenting on our Facebook page.
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