Another Car Post...

This car buying thing is consuming my life right now so of course it's consuming the blog. I thought car buying might be fun - there's nothing like a new car smell, flashy accessories, and a shiny bright new car with you behind the steering wheel. The only hesitation I had was the sales people. Let's face it - car salesmen have the rep of being sleazy DBs. I'll be nice and say up front not all the ones I met were DBs but there were some in the mix.

My car buying strategy - don't bring your trade and straight up tell them you're just test driving the car but will come back if you like it. Don't talk money and leave after the test drive. You need time to think and research - don't be seduced by that new car smell and the threat that your dream car will be sold tomorrow. Cars are mass produced so even if your car sold tomorrow a new one would show up in a day or so.

But here's what I want to say to the bad car salesmen out there (all the stuff K and I have joked about):
1. Don't underestimate me. Ever see Pretty Woman? Know that scene where the saleslady won't help her because she looks like a total prostitute and then later she comes back all dressed up and looking gorgeous with a ton of shopping bags. And she says something to the effect of "big mistake, huge". I've always wanted to have one of those moments. Because let's face it we've all been mistreated by some loser out there.

I might be in a hoody and leggings looking like a broke college student but you never know what's actually in my wallet or my intentions. You might not think I know anything about how a car works, and you'd be right, but humor me and at least open the hood (out of all the dealers only one has lifted the hood). When you start to underestimate me - I think you a. don't want the sale because you're not working for it and b. you're questioning my intelligence, spending ability, and reasoning for being there. I'm not wasting my time driving to various dealers, I'm doing my research to find the best car for me, so you can at least act like you want the business.

2. Walk the line. Don't be too aggressive or too passive. This is a fine line. I want you to be professional and pushy enough but know when to back down and just listen. Don't call me 18 times for an update, or when I don't show up right at the designated time. You're not my mother and I don't owe you an explanation for my final decision. On the flip side, don't not try. If you don't try - I'm going to walk away and find someone who does want to play.

3. Know what you're talking about. Hello, I have Internet - don't tell me facts you pulled out your ass and expect me to believe you. You're trying to sell me your product. I'm going to go home and research everything you just told me and you better believe that I want to know more about your car than you do when I come back.

Funniest thing I've heard so far: "Most people pay full price for this car. There's just not a lot of room to negotiate and I don't know when we'll get more in... they are on a boat from Germany." - Stupid Salesperson.

Me - "That's funny, because your car is made in Mexico." (Simple Google search and the car's place of origin is listed on the window sticker).

So, don't quote facts that you can't back up, it's as simple as that.

4. Don't question my choices. If I'm considering two cars and tell you that, sell me on your car. What's so great about x. Don't tell me the negatives about your competition y. Why? Because I don't believe you. You're trying to sell your car. Instead tell me all the good stuff I may have missed on yours. Besides when you start spouting negatives two things happen in my head: a. I think you're questioning my decision making (bad move) and b. I start to defend your competition to defend my decision. If you make me defend the competition I'm naturally going to like it more.

That's all I have right now. I'm still in the same spot I was five days ago but am slowly coming to realize that maybe there isn't a perfect car. Maybe it's more about finding a car I can live with and hoping I can love it later.

Driving Away

I've had two cars in my life and only one of those was really mine. It's ten years old and I still love it as much as the day I took it home, but I'm getting ready to say good bye.

Let's start at the beginning. My first car was a big white Oldsmobile the size of a small boat or island - just what a high school student wants. The thing is I did want it. That car was the first bit of freedom. Sure it was a bit large, and the electronic dash cut out at the most random times (I did get great at figuring out speed based on vibration), and it leaked antifreeze but I could go where I wanted (as long as my parents knew). I called her Samantha, Sammy for short. I name all my cars. I don't know why but it gives them personality. And Sammy was a no nonsense type of girl.

When I went to college, my sister got Sammy and I got nothing. My dad said Sammy just wasn't reliable for a two hour trip. After about the fifth time they picked me up they decided a car would be a better option. And so we went shopping. Of course my parents were paying but they at least pretended I had a say in what we got. We drove an Escort, an Echo, and finally my little Protege. We (my parents mainly) decided the Protege was the better deal but did say I could choose between a blue one or a green one. I picked green and named her Isabelle, Belle or Izzy for short (long before Twilight launched any similar names into popularity). Isabelle was a bit exotic sounding and a bit more flash.



Izzy - my always reliable Protege



Izzy and I have been through a lot. I was thinking that today as I drove to work. She's seen me through college, she's seen me through moving north, moving south, buying a house, getting married. If she'd been a friend I'd say we're BFF's. And now, I'm the one whose about to not return her phone calls. As exciting as the prospect of a new car is, it's a bit sad to say goodbye.

So, now I'm at the daunting task of picking a new car. It sounds like it would be fun but it's like walking into a lion pit and hoping to come out victorious. It's all about the game. And I don't really want to play. I want the car to be like buying a Michael Kors dress on 75% clearance at Macy's. I want the original price to be $25,000 with tons of options and the final price to be marked clear as day $17,500. Dream world? Yes. But so much easier than you give me a number before I tell you what I want to pay.

So far we spent much of Sunday driving around looking, test driving, talking, looking at cars. My lunch break today was spent scouting Mazda 3's up and down the east coast. I'm nothing if not loyal to Mazda (I've had pretty good luck with Izzy and the problems I have now are minor). And then my night so far, is no dinner, a quick walk for the dog and more research and adding back in a Jetta for consideration. I've wanted a Passat since I had one as a rental. It was nice. The best rental I can think of to-date (beats out the Mustang which was also a cool rental but horrible visibility and a gas guzzler). The Passat is just a bit big and out of my price range so the Jetta is like it's slightly smaller sister. I had kinda ruled them out - all day I was thinking it's a Mazda 3 but the Mazda dealers don't want to play the game or they're playing too well - offering a measly $1,000 off the sticker price and it's not even that loaded (now I sound like a snob).

The thing is if I'm paying a ton of money and planning to keep this car for a few years, I have to think about what's the biggest bang for my buck and let's just say Jetta's come pretty damn loaded. I'm not even that picky - I want a nice color (I don't like white and I'm not crazy about red or black), I want it to be safe and reliable (I don't need it to fold up in a slight fender bender or be in the shop every other month), and I want Sirius satellite radio. The rest - I don't care. Cloth or leather seats - a toss up. Tons of options - maybe but only if I'd use them (sunroof would be nice but not a deal breaker for me but K is pushing for it). So we'll see... what do you guys think? What car should I buy? Is there something I should consider but haven't?

On the what I've considered note - we've looked at Honda's (K wasn't impressed), Toyota's (they were ok but I wasn't excited about it - do people get excited about Camry's? They're nice cars but they're just a reliable Joe), we've talked about Nissan's (I've had hit or miss with their rentals), I ruled out pretty much all American cars because of the whole bail out nonsense (sorry but I want a dealer that's going to be around tomorrow and let's face it there just aren't that many cool American cars out there for the price and the Ford's I like (Taurus) are too expensive).