Car shopping
This past Saturday we spent time car shopping. My husband had gone to a dealer and test drove a car Friday night and liked it so well he wanted to go back. Well, the timing of it was...someone else on the same day (Friday) liked the same car and they were coming back to buy the car that my husband wanted me to drive.
It ended up that a car salesman said that the car was sold...when we got there. Then come to find out, the car hadn't really sold because there was no legal form signed, no money put down, etc. While we were out test driving, the man and his wife showed up and signed forms, legally making it their car.
There is no importance to this story really except to say that I hate car shopping! I love my car. It has all of the features that I love-a moon roof, a great stereo system, CD player (my old car only had a tape player and I would hook up a portable CD player through the cigarette lighter), etc. Yet, I am a pretty no frills person when it comes to cars. A couple of months ago, we took my car in for a burning smell. The dealer claimed we needed $1500 more of work to be done. It would be no big deal if we hadn't sunk money into my car...thousands of dollars since early mileage. We also lucked out on a recall in December that would have cost us otherwise $3000 to fix. So we know that my car is unreliable and not ideal for toting around a young child if the car should break down and I end up on the side of the road. My husband's similar car has 30,000 more miles on it and has had less problems. I especially love not having a car payment.
Anyways, back to the original story. So the car that my husband liked and wanted me to see is no longer available. They try to talk us into a more expensive car...the same one with leather seats and a moon roof, but we just weren't going to be persuaded. I don't know what it is about car shopping...I always leave with a feeling of someone is trying to get the best of you.
Fast forward to today: the dealer says that they can get the same exact car for us but needs us to put a deposit down and we decided to go ahead. If they can't find the same exact car, we will get our money back.
I watched as the mechanic was testing out my car to see what it was worth in a trade and I started to feel so nostalgic and could feel my eyes welling up with tears. I remember my car as the car that I brought my baby boy home in at the hospital...how he was so small...and how he and I would go to places in this car. I know, it's silly isn't it? It's just a car.
I also wondered why is it that women are never in a car salesperson position? Why is it that we can't just walk into a store like any other time and just buy a car and pay the price? Why is there all of this haggling involved-not just on the sticker price but also on your trade?
Part of the big question on this new car for us was whether or not we would be having another baby...and that answer of course is still not known. So in the mean time, I am going to enjoy my little car...the one I've used for 8 years and wait and see if the dealer can find us a new one.
It ended up that a car salesman said that the car was sold...when we got there. Then come to find out, the car hadn't really sold because there was no legal form signed, no money put down, etc. While we were out test driving, the man and his wife showed up and signed forms, legally making it their car.
There is no importance to this story really except to say that I hate car shopping! I love my car. It has all of the features that I love-a moon roof, a great stereo system, CD player (my old car only had a tape player and I would hook up a portable CD player through the cigarette lighter), etc. Yet, I am a pretty no frills person when it comes to cars. A couple of months ago, we took my car in for a burning smell. The dealer claimed we needed $1500 more of work to be done. It would be no big deal if we hadn't sunk money into my car...thousands of dollars since early mileage. We also lucked out on a recall in December that would have cost us otherwise $3000 to fix. So we know that my car is unreliable and not ideal for toting around a young child if the car should break down and I end up on the side of the road. My husband's similar car has 30,000 more miles on it and has had less problems. I especially love not having a car payment.
Anyways, back to the original story. So the car that my husband liked and wanted me to see is no longer available. They try to talk us into a more expensive car...the same one with leather seats and a moon roof, but we just weren't going to be persuaded. I don't know what it is about car shopping...I always leave with a feeling of someone is trying to get the best of you.
Fast forward to today: the dealer says that they can get the same exact car for us but needs us to put a deposit down and we decided to go ahead. If they can't find the same exact car, we will get our money back.
I watched as the mechanic was testing out my car to see what it was worth in a trade and I started to feel so nostalgic and could feel my eyes welling up with tears. I remember my car as the car that I brought my baby boy home in at the hospital...how he was so small...and how he and I would go to places in this car. I know, it's silly isn't it? It's just a car.
I also wondered why is it that women are never in a car salesperson position? Why is it that we can't just walk into a store like any other time and just buy a car and pay the price? Why is there all of this haggling involved-not just on the sticker price but also on your trade?
Part of the big question on this new car for us was whether or not we would be having another baby...and that answer of course is still not known. So in the mean time, I am going to enjoy my little car...the one I've used for 8 years and wait and see if the dealer can find us a new one.
posted by Princess at 8:58 AM
2 Comments:
I'm right there with you Karen! I hate car payments and car shopping - so much so that I dragged Ryan with me when I was shopping. He was a good sport. I think it's like looking for a home or a mate. There are some you think are adorable or perfect and up close they are a nightmare. Then, the right combination comes along and your fears evaporate. I got the car and house part down....haven't quite mastered the mate thing.
I can try to help you along with the mate thing if you'd like. (wink, wink)
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