Regarding cars and dealerships:
I've come to really loathe the dealerships. There may be some ethical ones out there, but so many are not. I had my beloved Volvo for 13 years. I had problems with the dealer in Virginia, then far more problems with the dealers here. I took the Volvo to one dealer repeatedly for the same problem. At least four times they told me they didn't know what the problem was, but each time they found something else that needed repair to the tune of approximately $200. Really? When I suggested it might be the transmission, they said, "We don't think so." An independent diagnosed it as a transmission issue and I had it rebuilt.
I was so upset with the dealer that I phoned Volvo USA headquarters. I was told that they couldn't do anything about the problem UNTIL A VOLVO DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. The Headquarters person was very skilled at representing the company's interest and completely tuning out the customer's concerns. I was now even more disgusted.
I'd always planned to, when the time came for another car, buy another Volvo. But when the time came I could not bring myself to do business with any of the Volvo dealers here. I chose an Audi instead and take it to a very good independent mechanic.