I have bought only one new car in my whole life. The only reason I had to sell it was that it was a stick and my MS wrecked the fun of that.

I had never, nor will ever, pay for a brand new car. I only wanted to do it once and I did it.

I've always just put feelers out for the car I want with the bells & whistles I want and wait for the right one at the right price. I also know my dealership people, speak to them all when I'm there and make certain that we have a relationship. They don't care whether the car came from their lot.

Mine has $15 oil changes done according to specs. They have a nice place for me to wait, clean and accessible restrooms, coffee, juice, popcorn, comfy chairs and Wi-Fi.

Their prices are fair, service is top-notch and they use only genuine parts. Those are worth what is really only a minor premium to me. I don't like the idea of wondering whether they actually do know what they're doing.

That said, tires, wiper blades and such things are definitely cheaper from other outfits. But if someone's going to be dinking around in my engine, it's going to be someone who knows what they're looking at and has the proper tools & the back-up of the corporation.