LONG STORY:
I just took a major financial hit due to nasty mechanical failure. My 07 Avalanche died on Wednesday. I'm pretty sure it's the motor at 258k miles. This rig is my most important tool for work, and very difficult to replace (my custom 2-story ladder rack system is super legit). I'm looking at a $9k motor replacement so that I can get it running and sell it, hopefully for $15k+ (new trans, diff, tires, brakes, alternator, starter, battery, driver seat leather, dashboard, seatbelt, arm rest - all in the last year or so). I love this truck and it's a damn shame to see it go, but it's time. I guess I should have sold it a month or two ago, but some poor schlub would be beating down my door today over a blown motor if I had sold it privately. Dealer offered me $1k as-is for trade on a Silverado that I didn't want. So I went shopping...
After several dead-ends, I wound up at Covert on Jollyville to see a Silverado SRT that seamed close enough to what I wanted in this low-inventory market. I set an appointment with the sales dude, and his manager even called to confirm. I headed there ready to pay asking price for a vehicle that I confirmed was on the lot and for sale.
I arrive with my excited son, and wait an hour for the sales guy (scheduled appointment). He directs me toward the trucks, and as we walk, he tells me that the truck was sold yesterday, but he has other trucks on the lot. I halted and called him a liar. I knew immediately that I could not trust another word from him, and the sale with him and that dealership was spoiled...even if he had a truck that I wanted. I didn't curse him, but I called him a liar again as I fumed out.
I decided to google Henna Chevrolet's address just to see what's on the lot. I found the used lot on 35 near Runburg, and it's pretty ghetto. The lot is thin and ugly, the customers look unhappy, and I don't expect to see much of interest. As we turn to exit on the frontage road, I spot a gray truck with gray wheels. Hmmm, let's have a look son. It didn't take long to realize I found a truck worth buying.
I go talk to the first sales guy I see and ask about the truck. He thinks that I am a customer that they are expecting that set an appointment to look at that truck. I tell him no, I'm just a walk-up. He sees that I pulled up in my Porsche, so he says "first come, first served" and gets me in a test drive as soon as possible. 45 minutes later I'm back and signing the paper work. The guy that had an appointment was pissed! He told the sales guys to call him if my deal fell through. The sales guys just said "you win some, you lose some!"
Anyways, I bought a 21 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax loaded out today, used with 6k miles and some hail damage to the hood. I still have to add a bed cover and ladder racks to get it back to the awesomeness and usefullness of my formerly trusty Avelanche.
So I have to fund the restoration of the Avelanche to get it ready to sell, and I had to buy a new truck with a gun to my head so that I can get back to work and keep making money.
Trying to buy a truck in this market while under durress has been a nightmare, but Dustin at Henna was super cool.
Pics to follow.