My Weak Subaru Salesman Wouldn’t Sell Me A Bike Rack On Display, Someone Overheard, Took It Off, and I Put It On My New Crosstrek In The Parking Lot

It's all about the customer.

A car salesperson must understand the paramount importance of putting the customer first. Here's an intriguing story of a Nissan Versa owner who found himself in need of a new car when faced with a dead transmission. 

His choice? A 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. 

Here's his unique story as he sat signing the papers, a testament to the significance of customer service in the car-buying journey. 

After Warren Vasquez's beloved Nissan Versa met its end, he pedaled his way to the Subaru dealership, took a test drive, and eagerly signed on the dotted line for a new Subaru Crosstrek. He had always been drawn to the idea of owning a Crosstrek, but never imagined his 2014 Nissan Versa would meet its end so soon. 

On a road trip to Arizona, his bike racked on the back, and his Versa's transmission died. He took the bike off, rode into Subaru of Chico in California, and drove home in a new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. But that's just part of the story.

As a road enthusiast who loves embarking on road trips and camping adventures, Warren had always believed his 2014 Nissan Versa would be his companion for life. However, the untimely demise of his transmission made him question its longevity.

With his new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, he is now looking forward to a lifetime of adventures, especially the comfort of lying down in the back with the rear seats folded.

Warren tells his story. 

I love the car! There are many controls that I need to familiarize myself with. I financed 100% but will pay it off early. They sold me an extended warranty for 3500, which I was leery about. The finance guy said it's good insurance considering the electronics involved, but I'm not entirely convinced.

I'm a road dog and love taking road trips and camping. I thought my 2014 Nissan Versa would last forever, but I'm not so sure since my transmission died. I plan on keeping the Crosstrek forever, and I love that I can lie down in the back with the rear seats folded down. 

The dealership just asked me to come in for "redelivery" to ensure I know how to use the car. They probably want to sell me some more stuff as well. I want to get a hitch, but I can do that myself. I'm thinking about towing a small trailer in the future. 

I live in Southern California. I'm a union electrician working out of Local 11 in Los Angeles. Work is a little slow here, so I will probably try working in Sacramento, where the local union needs manpower, when I return from a planned airplane trip to Chicago next week. 

I'm so tempted to drive out there, take my tools, and work out of some local union halls on the way that are looking for workers. I already have plane tickets, though.

I asked Warren if he rode his bike to the dealer since it's in the picture above. 

Yes, I rode my bike with my friend's son, a Chico State senior. I was visiting him on the way home from my road trip when my Nissan Versa died when I hopped on the freeway to head home. 

I started in LA, stopped in Mt. Shasta KOA to camp for the night, headed northeast the following day through Bend and camped for the night in Yakima, went to Crystal Mountain the following day to participate in Ragnar Trail Relay Rainier, headed west towards Shelton and camped out in a hipcamp in Elma while waiting for friends to arrive to share an air BNB for the weekend near the water in Shelton for a birthday party, then headed to Chico on the way home. 

I had my bike with me the whole time! When my Nissan was towed to the mechanic, I pulled it off my rack and rode it to the bike shop with my buddy to get a new inner tube and tire. I had a flat on the rear tire but had my pump, tools, and patch kit with me to patch a hole in the inner tube. The hole was on a seam, so the glueless patch was leaking but held air long enough to ride to a bike shop. 

The mechanic said my Nissan shifter needed to be replaced and ordered the part. They are closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so it took some time for the complete diagnosis, which was ultimately a bad transmission. 

I was contemplating the Crosstrek for some time, and once my Nissan was pronounced dead, I figured it was time, so we rode bikes to the dealership, took a test drive, and signed on several dotted lines. 

Here is where the Subaru salesman missed an opportunity, and another employee understood that exceptional customer service is the key to a successful car buying experience.

Warren continues.

There was a Thule bike carrier on a car in the showroom that I asked to purchase. My weak salesman said he couldn't sell it, but someone must have heard our exchange because an employee was soon removing the display rack. I put the rack on my new Crosstrek in the parking lot and hooked my bike up. 

If the salesman had been smart, he would have installed the Thule bike carrier on Warren's new Crosstrek. But he dropped the ball. 

After removing the tire, I folded the rear seats and put my buddy's mountain bike in the back. The next day, I drove to the mechanic to take all the stuff out of my Nissan and head back to LA. I had a plane to catch to Michigan for another Ragnar Road Relay Michigan! 

The mechanic called me while I was in Michigan and told me he couldn't find a used manual transmission and that he would install the old shifter and charge me for diagnostics and a transmission flush. He said he'd get back to me - I'll get a phone call later today with an update. 

I'm headed to Chicago 10-2 for my son's naval basic training graduation 10-3, returning 10-6, and more than likely headed to Sacramento to take a job call with the local electrical union hall there that is in dire need of manpower. 

I have an appointment at Chico Subaru 10-19 at 1:00 pm for a redelivery if you care to join me! I need to learn how to turn the seat warmers off in the Crosstrek. Somehow, they came on yesterday while driving to the LAFC game. I'll drive to Phoenix for another Ragnar Trail Relay McDowell Mountain on November 2 and 3. 

Thank you for your time and patience as you read through this extended passage. I hope you found it entertaining and insightful.

Thanks for your excellent articles! I read several before I made my purchase. I see that I have more reading to do on your website and in the Subaru magazine!

Thanks Warren!

We found it entertaining and learned a valuable lesson in customer service during the process. Thanks Warren for being a faithful reader and taking my advice on the new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. 

Do you have an interesting Subaru story you'd like to share? We want to hear from you! If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Writer since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Warren