You guys are looking at it from the perspective of knowing something about the car you're buying.
Whoever said it earlier got it right, a large % of car buyers don't know enough. They are open to being 'sold', if the salesperson is able to read them. That is, the salesperson doesn't really need to know technical details about the product, so long as they have figured out the psychology of how a potential buyer can be moved into a higher level of interest. Think about how many people they get into the showroom, because the person thinks they want a Subaru, because its AWD, and 'those are supposed to handle well on snowy roads during the winter in N. Nevada'.
On salespeople - after high school I sold Cutco knives for awhile. Also, 'Anti-fog', where I stood at a table in the mall during the Christmas shopping season, and acosted people walking by who were wearing glasses. I can't even believe I made sales on that stuff.
