Two weeks ago, I started a project: get a new car.
The Outback, as I’ve mentioned, was never my favorite, plus it needed a new catalytic converter. I did not want to put a thousand dollars into a car I didn’t like. I’d already dumped so much cash into that beast, goddammit.
And when I say a new car, I mean a new car. My very first new car. Yes. Nobody else’s miles. No major repairs for a few years. Low financing. (I’ve been paying 5.75% to my bank on the Outback for three years, and boy, has that chapped my ass.) So I read through the Consumer Reports magazine my dad bought me and test-drove a whole mess o’ cars:
- Mazda3 (My mom had driven a Mazda2 recently and said it didn’t accelerate.)
- Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Matrix
- Scion xD
- Honda Fit
- Honda Accord (I wasn’t planning on buying an Accord—too big—but the guy had a 5-speed on the lot that he was trying to get rid of, so I took it out for a spin.)
I had planned to drive a couple Kias and Hyundais too, but CR gave them an open black circle for reliability, and after all the intimacy with my mechanic lately, it was an orange circle or nothing for me.
Mazda3 was my fave out of all of them. Good gas mileage, SIX (6!) speeds, and cute as the dickens. I might’ve dug the Honda Fit too if they’d had a manual transmission, but apparently those are pretty hard to snag. Folks in Japan have been replacing a lot of the vehicles swept away in the tsunami with 5-speed Fits, so I couldn’t get too mad at being put on a waitlist.
But I couldn’t really wait. My inspection was coming due, and I needed to get ‘er done before spring break was over. I went back to a couple of dealerships and got some numbers. And of course they wanted to give me chump change for the trade—Mazda twice as much as Honda, but as my boss in New York used to say, double bupkis is still bupkis.
So I put up a warts-and-all ad for the Outback on Craig’s List. I noted that I had dogs with whom I had traveled in the vehicle, that one of them had chewed the inside of the hatch door, that the catalytic converter needed replacing. I priced it accordingly, listing the Kelley Blue Book value and subtracting for cosmetic damage and projected repairs. I got five or six bites, one lowball offer, and one solid, but when I took it to the solid offer’s mechanic, his machine spat out “all kinds of electrical codes” in addition to the cat con one, and the guy rescinded. Another dude lived two hours away and wanted me to meet him halfway so he could look at the car. No thanks. I decided to trade it.
Meanwhile, I talked to my friend, Z—actually, you know him already. Remember the ridiculous specimen of male beauty?; yeah, he’s my buddy now. He had recently traded his car. When I asked if they gave him a good deal, Z said, “I made them give me a good deal.” As I’ve stated, he cuts kind of an imposing figure, what with the tattoos and the muscles. I wondered aloud if he might go with me to a dealership or two. He consented gladly.
Just knowing that gave me a boost of confidence. I wasn’t going to take any bullshit. I went back to the Durham Mazda dealer by myself, and the guy upped his offer by 25%. Now we were getting somewhere, but I wasn’t sure about the color. He had only silver on the lot, and meh. I looked online and thought I liked a hue they called dolphin gray. Durham Guy said he had one coming in “any day”.
I scoped out other Mazda dealers in the area and saw that the place in Cary had a six-speed manual transmission 3 in dolphin gray, so I set up an appointment to go check it out and hauled Z along with me.
Upon in-person observation, the dolphin gray lay well on the School Marm end of the spectrum, but the graphite gray which they also had, well, that shore was purdy. The salesman was an odd combination of pushy and pansy. He tried to offer me 800 less than what Durham Guy was willing to pay, and that was after I told him what the number was! I said, “Uh, no.” Z mostly sat in silence with just one hazy emasculation of the salesman when he intimated that the guy drove a girl-colored car. Perfect.
When Pushy-Pansy scurried back to his manager, Z straightened me out on a couple things: (1) it’s worth something to have your dealer near your house, so unless Pushy-Pansy could beat, not just match, Durham Guy in the price department, you shouldn’t do it, and (2) if you’re financing at 0.9%, it doesn’t make sense to put any money down. Oh, yeah. (“Math is hard,” Barbie said.)
Pushy-Pansy was gone for a long time. I told Z my theory: they make you sit there forever, so when they finally come back, you go, “Well, I’ve already invested so much time, I might as well buy it.” I was thinking of walking out, and Z said good plan. Meanwhile, Durham Guy called to let me know he’d gotten a black one delivered, and I set the scene for him: I was at the Cary dealership, and I was really liking the graphite—ooooh.
Pushy-Pansy came back and gave the final verdict: 300 more than Durham Guy. I told him I’d think about it, and we left. Z instructed me to call Durham Guy and gave me some pointers on what to say.
So I did. I called and said, “Look, I like the graphite best, which Pushy-Pansy has, but it’s also worth something to me to have my dealership close to my house, so if you come up with another 300 bucks on the trade, I’ll come take one off your hands today.” (I actually used those words: I’ll come take one off your hands today. Ha!)
He replied without hesitation, “I can do that.”
I pulled into the lot a half-hour later, compared the silver and the black, filled out a bunch of paperwork, and voilà!
So my car payment is more than my mortgage payment. Which is not that much. (When the finance officer asked what my mortgage was and I told him, he looked startled, and then when he saw I was serious, he laughed. He laughed out loud.)
But still, it’s a lot of money for me.
And I’m totally paranoid that something’s going to happen to WHAT IS THAT LEAF DOING ON MY CAR? WHY IS EVERYBODY DRIVING LIKE A FUCKING MANIAC?
But it’s new. And I love it. And it’s mine mine mine.
(Thanks, Z!)
Thanks for finally writing about > Bellatrix < Liked it!
Klare Empfehlung für ?en cashmio casino login; cashmiocasino.com.de, Casino Bonus!
Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other sites?
I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know
my readers would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the
blog. Any feed-back would be greatly appreciated.
Ahaa, its good dialogue on the topic of this article at this place at this blog,
I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my
end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your info. I really appreciate your
efforts and I am waiting for your further post thank you once again.
Hello, I read your blog regularly. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep it up!
Have you ever considered publishing an e-book
or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you
share some stories/information. I know my audience would enjoy
your work. If you are even remotely interested,
feel free to shoot me an email.
Hey very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful ..
I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also? I am glad to find a lot of
useful info here within the publish, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing.
. . . . .
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely feel this site
needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the info!
At this time it sounds like Drupal is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Asking questions are truly good thing if you are not understanding something entirely,
except this post offers fastidious understanding even.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added”
checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails
with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Appreciate it!
Great items from you, man. I’ve take into accout
your stuff previous to and you’re simply too magnificent.
I really like what you’ve received here, really like what you are stating and the best
way by which you are saying it. You are making it entertaining and you continue to care for to keep
it wise. I can’t wait to read far more from you.
That is actually a great web site.
I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers
but this article is in fact a good piece of writing, keep it up.
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog.
I’m hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get
my very own blog now ;)
I always spent my half an hour to read this blog’s content all the time along with a cup of
coffee.
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it,
you’re a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back later in life.
I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great writing, have a nice
afternoon!
What’s up to all, the contents existing at this website are genuinely amazing for people experience, well,
keep up the nice work fellows.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate
to this excellent blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding
your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to
brand new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with
my twitter group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content.
Please let me know. Cheers
Now I am going away to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast coming again to read more
news.
It’s going to be ending of mine day, but before
ending I am reading this enormous piece of writing to improve my
know-how.
This information is invaluable. When can I find out more?
Why people still use to read news papers when in this technological globe the whole thing is available on web?
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it
for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to construct my own blog
and would like to know where u got this from.
thanks
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Cheers
Thanks in support of sharing such a nice idea, post is fastidious, thats
why i have read it fully
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came
to return the favor?.I’m trying to to find issues to improve my website!I assume its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Hello There. I discovered your weblog the use of msn. This is a really neatly written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.
Hello would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I
must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at
a reasonable price? Thank you, I appreciate it!
Interdisciplinary web ?inks in OMT’s lessons ?how math’s convenience,
triggering ?nterest ?nd inspiration for test success.
Discover t?? convenience of 24/7 online math tuition at
OMT, wher? interesting resources ma?e finding out enjoyable ?nd efficient
f?r all levels.
A? mathematics undewrpins Singapore’? reputation f?r quality ?n international benchmarks ?ike
PISA, math tuition i? crucial to opening ? kid’s po?sible and protecting scholastic advantages ?n this core subject.
Ultimately, primary school math tuition ?s vital f?r PSLE
excellence, a? it gears up students ?ith the tools to accomplish t?p bands and protect preferred
secondary school positionings.
?ll natural development t?rough math tuition not ?ust increases O
Level ratings y?t additionally cultivates abstract t?ought skills valuable f?r
long-lasting learning.
Tuition in junior college math equips trainees ?ith analytical techniques and likelihood versions ne?essary f?r interpreting data-driven concerns ?n ? Level papers.
?h?t collections OMT ?part is ?ts custom-designed mathematics program
t??t prolongs be?ond the MOE syllabus, fostering crucial believing via hands-on, ?seful exercises.
OMT’s s?stem is mobile-friendly ?ne, so ?esearch on the g? and see your mathematics grades boost ?ithout missing ? beat.
Online math tuition ?rovides flexibility f?r busy Singapore students,
enabling anytime access t? sources for bett?r test prep work.
?? blog – h2 mathematics syllabus
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your site provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done an impressive job and
our whole community will be thankful to you.
What’s up mates, its impressive article regarding teachingand fully
explained, keep it up all the time.
For most recent information you have to go to see web and on web I found this web page as a most excellent web page
for newest updates.
I could not resist commenting. Well written!
Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is a very
well written article. I will make sure to bookmark
it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thank you for the post.
I will certainly return.
It’s in fact very complex in this active life to
listen news on Television, so I simply use the web for that purpose, and get the hottest information.
Thanks , I have recently been searching for information approximately this topic for a while and
yours is the greatest I’ve came upon till now. However,
what about the bottom line? Are you positive about the supply?
Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my
new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog
and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the
great work!
Hello my family member! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and
come with approximately all important infos.
I’d like to peer more posts like this .
I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet
I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty
worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made
good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thank you so much, However I
am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I
cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody having the same
RSS problems? Anyone who knows the answer will you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new
posts.
I got this web site from my buddy who shared with me about this
website and at the moment this time I am browsing this website
and reading very informative content at this place.
Peculiar article, just what I wanted to find.
My family members always say that I am killing my time here at web, except I know I am getting knowledge everyday by
reading thes fastidious content.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this info for my mission.
Exceptional post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little
bit further. Thank you!