Wow, grim. Never can tell what people will do when they get a chance.
I've finally joined the choose-the-dealer-first crowd. Took me a long time. Bought present two cars from the dealers with the best reputations in the area although it means I have to pass by the closest dealers to get to the best-rated ones.
Even then, being mechanically challenged, I have to pretty much trust what I am told by the car "experts" on line and at the dealer. These dealers are not the cheapest, but neither are they they exhorbitant.
So far, so good. (Come to think of it, not likely I'll ever have an unauthorized drive issue ... doesn't seem to be much of a problem with Olds 88s or Focuses.)