Cars and others...

So I'm driving in to work this morning and I was inundated with drivers who "forgot" which lane they wanted to be in and decided to "dive" into my lane at the last moment to hit an exit. This highway branches off into 4 different roads at the same time, so you need to be in the correct lane otherwise you are stuck on the wrong road. It is pretty simple, though. Just get into your correct lane and then drive, drink your coffee, listen to music, chill out, live the good life.

Of course, the main "exit" is in the center and that is the exit that most people take. Since most people have to take that exit, the lane gets crowded, backed up, and moves slowly. So, many of my fellow drivers use the faster lanes and the "dart" into the main lane at the last minute. It really drives me nuts, but then again, who cares?

Ok, so while I'm watching the cars dart in and out of lanes like hummingbirds I noticed how many cars have the name of the dealership emblazoned on the back of the car. Some had the license-plate cover, others had stickers. I wonder, what gives the dealership the gumption to think they can use our cars as advertisements for their crappy car dealership?? I'll be honest, I hate ( hate ) car salesmen, dealership general managers, the car dealership accountants, the finance guys, I even hate the people who just empty the trash cans at car dealerships. They are the lowest form of life. They will screw you at all costs. But, in addition to just being lousy people, why do they think they can CONTINUE to screw you by making you drive around with the dealership's name on your car?? When I go to Macy's for a shirt and a pair of pants I don't get a MACY's nametag that I have to wear. My Red Sox hat doesn't say "Bob's Stores" on the back of it. I don't get it. I'm thinking of printing up bumper stickers that say "I was ripped off buying this car at _________________" and then the buyer could write in the name of the dealership with a Sharpie.

Have any of you had terrible experiences buying cars? If so, send me an email at thedalilima@gmail.com. I'll post some of the funniest.

While we are on the subject of cars... what's the deal with gas prices (to rip off Seinfeld)?? How do we go from $3.90 in the summer to $1.65?? Talk about getting ripped off... I don't get it... I know it is a traded commodity so the price fluctuates, but that is crazy. Also, who could have foreseen the "big 3" auto manufacturers going under? I mean, Ford currently sells 6 different SUV models. Why wouldn't that business model work? General Motors sells the same cars under 3 different brands... of course that would be successful. Chrysler has 10 cars that feature the gas-guzzling "HEMI" motor and they proudly use that in their marketing. I know the foreign manufacturers have some advantage when it comes to the costs of labor and materials, but if you ask me Honda is the best of the best. They sell 10 cars TOTAL. Ford sells 6 SUVs!!! Get your niche and do it well. Unbelievable. Plus, what they heck does Ford need to also have the EXACT same cars being sold as MERCURY? What sense does that make? The entire auto industry is whacked, from the production of the vehicles, to the dealers, to the crazy gas prices. Just whacked.

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