Buying a car in the US seems a bit different to here - servicing it sounds appallingly the same.

I never put the salesperson under pressure, nor can I remember them doing so to me: Range Rover have given me new models for the day, with a picnic hamper on the back seat, and also for the weekend, as have Mazda: "To take it for a good run": Jaguar brought the X type demonstrators round to the office for my guys to take out. MG are regularly offering to drop off the new model at my house, whilst they service the old one - but it's out of warranty and I'm not interested in the new model.
The only time in recent years that the salesman came with us was when I brought a Saxo for my daughter.
Of course, we still have it that the one they can get on the road the quickest has a spec. way over what you want, but I start early and persevere!