Guest Kit: Why Can't I Buy a Camaro?

Joel is on his way back from Italy. For today, we give you Vijay Ravindran, a Postie who is fairly new to town and in need of a hot car.

My Futile Effort to Help the American Auto Industry

By Vijay Ravindran

I wanted a Chevy Camaro.



I'd never really liked American sports cars before. But the 2010 Camaro -- a revival Chevrolet has been talking up since 2006 -- is so much more sleek than your typical muscle car. And since my BMW 330 started showing its age (nine) around the same time that the death of the U.S. auto industry hit the headlines, I thought: Why not do a little something to help?



So, after seeing a newspaper ad promoting Camaros at a local Chevy dealer, I called and left a voicemail saying I was interested in a test drive.

I never heard back.



I was shocked. Here I was, ready to buy, while GM was in financial straits. I thought they'd be all over me. Turns out it's not so easy to obtain a piece of the American dream.

The next week, I decided to widen my search. I e-mailed four Chevy dealers in the area. Two never wrote back. One replied that they had no Camaros, and ended the correspondence right there. The fourth said they'd have one soon -- just stay tuned.

Dealer 4 began to check in periodically -- pitching Camaros that I could buy sight unseen. I reminded him of my request for a test drive. Then I reiterated my request for a test drive. Then I absolutely insisted on a test drive. And, eventually, I ended up with an appointment. But after driving 45 minutes to the dealer, I found that the one Camaro they'd gotten in was an automatic (I'd asked for a manual transmission) and that I wouldn't be allowed to drive it, just sit in it on the lot. The sales person tried to get me in a Corvette and to convince me that transmission is the same (it's not). I left the dealership, dejected, but not yet ready to give up.

Three days later, I got an e-mail:





Hello Vijay,



I know that we have been diligent in our follow-up, however, we have not reached an agreeable time for you to come in. Is there something more we can give you?



If not, can we assume that you are no longer in the market to purchase a vehicle and be taken out of our follow-up system?



Thanks.

The last of my dealers had abandoned me. And so I abandoned my effort as well. I still hope that someday I may get a Camaro. I'm just hoping my BMW holds out long enough for supply to catch up to demand.