Okay, wow.  What a day. There's way too much to cover but I would love to hear feedback about one part of the deal-- "The main source of support is the Warranty Commitment Program, which has been designed by the Treasury Department to ensure that customers buying a new vehicle will still have a warranty even if GM or Chrysler slides into bankruptcy and is forced to restructure -- or, even worse, liquidate its assets."  
I thought this sounded like one of the best things to come out of everything (as a consumer and an industry worker-- and maybe should have come sooner), but I'm watching the news and seeing that this has come up against a lot of flack.  What are your thoughts about it?  I want to hear. ...

I am exhausted and my feet are killing me, but I wouldn’t have missed NADA for anything.  I joined the industry just over three years ago, coming from a corporate background, and I am so glad I did.  The industry gets a bad rap, and dealers in particular I know, but I have rarely ever been around so many nice, smart, motivated, friendly, fun people.  I feel honored and excited to be a part of it.  Sharing knowledge and having fun together is a great combination and will certainly help lead to success.  Getting to meet and spend time with Jared in person was also a real thrill.  He’s doing great work with making this online knowledge exchange community happen. 
Thanks to everyone I had the pleasure of meeting and I hope to see you again soon!     
 ...

Summary
I recently wrote about my new car purchase this summer. I've thought about it some more and decided to break it down into key points, again all very simple ideas, but not always practiced. Just want to get another consumer perspective out there!
 
 
 
I really think the salesperson was the key, although all the elements contributed.
 

He was friendly, neatly dressed and well spoken.
 

He knew the product and answered all of our questions.
 

He applied no pressure to us at any time.
 

He just talked to us like intelligent human beings.
 

He made some personal small talk and jokes without being invasive or crude.
 

He also didn't treat me differently because I am female.
 

He followed up with requested information when and how he said he would.
 

He introduced us to other staff and management members who were also very friendly and professional.
 

In s...

Despite the grim sales numbers we all see these days, I recently bought a new car. And… it was a good experience overall, quick and pleasant. (I wish I didn't have the bank note, but other than that!) As a consumer who also works with the automotive industry, I've been thinking about what made this a good experience to share a recent customer perspective with dealers. I think what made it positive was all relatively simple and what we read about every day. But I also know that most people I know don’t consider buying a car a pleasant experience, so I'll share my story just to get the message out there again.

To begin with, I (like the vast majority of automotive consumers) did a few weeks of online research through Edmonds and other sites, so I knew the make and model I wanted: a 2008 Mazda Speed 3 (zoom, zoom!).

What Made My Car Buying Experience Positive
1. The dealership was easy to find online. When I searched for "Mazda" "My Town,&...