LOL 
I think it's humble to view yourself as the problem in this situation, but I blame the tech. Mark Zuckerberg said he watched how users "abused" Facebook in the early days as an opportunity to learn what their goals were and then build tools to meet those needs... and it's clear there is a big unmet need here.
In my opinion there are a few key problems with existing Auto SMS tools...
1) Robotic - The first SMS they send to users is usually a robotic/legal invitation to opt out... something like... "XYZ motors would like to text you is that ok, reply yes, stop or help"
2) Odd Numbers - The SMS often come from a short code which puts off customers because it's impersonal/weird. Also not using a regular local local phone numbers makes it cumbersome for you or the customer to just call if/when that's appropriate.
3) Too Fast or Too Slow - The SMS is often automated so it comes immediately after they signup (robotic), or it must be initiated manually and then may be sent too long after the inquiry...or not at all. (The Harvard Business Review article entitled "The Short Life of an Online Sales Lead" indicates that quick response to a leads can improve the odds qualifying the customer by nearly 700%. Our data shows 4 minutes is the sweet spot for being quick but not creepy.)
4) Hard to Use - Many of the tools are cumbersome to use and/or don't have mobile apps that allow easy access on the go
So yeah, I'd recommend you pick up your phone and text customers guilt free. The VAST majority of them are going to appreciate it... a few won't... and that's fine. You're not going to get in trouble for the kind of SMS communication you're describing here... I know because (shameless plug) I am the CEO of a company that hosts this kind of conversational sales communication for dealerships nationally that include Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen and many independents (see screen shot of a conversation below - partially redacted for privacy).
Selling cars via SMS is becoming more common but there are some risks and misconceptions about it... but I don't want to hijack this thread. I'll start another one about that specifically.
Cheers!
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