Start of a New Era
Last week, Erik calls me from work and tells me he wants to trade in the Passat. He thinks the CVs are going out again and he's suspected the struts have been going for a while, so he wants to trade it in before we start shelling out all sorts of money to get it fixed. And he's already decided what he wants: a Hyundai Sonata. I was a little hesitant. First, I love my Passat. Second, I was skeptical about getting what we needed for the trade in. But we went to the Hyundai dealership anyway, consciously taking the truck rather than the car since we have a bad track record at "just looking."
And we did just look. Erik went back on Friday for a test drive and decided this was the car for us. He talked numbers with a salesman and was told a car with the features we wanted was at one of the other dealerships and would be here Saturday so I could test drive it and we could get everything finalized.
Four hours after they promised it would be here (that's another story I won't go into), I was finally able to test drive a deepwater blue Sonata. Of course there are always things you would change about a new car, like the placement of some of the instruments, and there's always those quirky little things you love about your current car, like the adjustable height of the center console, but I decided it passed my inspection and we sat down to sign the papers. My main concern was the payment. When we bought the Passat, it wasn't a pleasant experience haggling for the price. I think the salesman actually said, "What can I do to get you in this car today?" And then he proceeded to waste our time bringing us a payment that was more than we were willing to do. Maybe it was the fact that this is a brand new car and used car dealers have a bad reputation for a reason. Maybe it was the fact that we were getting a screaming deal through dealer and Hyundai rebates. Maybe it was the fact that we have awesome credit and they probably would have jumped through fiery hoops if we asked them to. Whatever the reason, the payment was actually less than we're paying now. I didn't need to worry at all. Everything just fell into place.
So here it is:
Complete with satellite radio (which, honestly, we won't be renewing after our initial free trial), iPod hook up (a selling feature, definitely), and new NEW car smell.
But I have to admit, I felt a pang of sadness as we pulled away from my cute Passat, its smiley face decal mocking me with its ever-present grin and showing no signs that we were just abandoning it. That car was the closest to luxury we will probably ever get from here on out, and even though it was just a sedan, it was my little version of a sports car with it's turbo (how I'll miss the subtle "weeeee" as it charges and smoking the guy next to me when the light turns green). I almost feel it was a symbol of our care-free 20s with the leather seats and hip German engineering. :) Now we have a car that we chose based on the trash-kicking warranty and for which we actually purchased the extra seat protection in case Lillian spills something on them...a definite sign of growing up.
Cool new car! Sounds like it was quite an adventure to buy it. I think that is probably why I won't be buying a new one anytime soon.
Congratulations on your new car. I hope you will be very happy. Sounds like you just got married, huh? Well, you did, sort of. A new car is like a new relationship. You know you like each other, but don't really know each other very well until you live together for awhile. I'm on my 6th new car (8th car overall)and I like buying new cars because they don't bring a lot of former relationship baggage with them. I tend to drive them well after they are paid for and the warranty has expired. It's OK. By then, I feel bad giving them up, for whatever reason. My first car was a 1973 Pinto (the kind that blew up if you rear-ended them). Leonora's Dad hit a piece of black ice and bumped a LaSabre. Crunch. It was considered totaled and we sold it to Uncle Greg for a buck or something. No damage to the LaSabre.
The 1980 Toyota Tercel broke a belt at about 80K miles in 1991 and was picked up on the side of I-15. It cost us $40 and the title for the tow job. I don't know if they fixed it or junked it. Len was driving a Yugo, then. We replaced the Toyota with a new Saturn Sedan. I loved that car. It was my friend. I regret I neglected to listen to the "funny engine noise" that precipitated its demise. The Kidney Kar folks came to get her; I said a tearful goodbye. She was so wonderful through all weathers and trips to the University Hospital. She broke down just after Garrik was home. The timing belt had ruined her engine and we chose not to replace it. Len traded the Yugo in on the Diatzu Charade. That was handed down to Garrik via Leonora, but after Erik and Leonora had to get it out of the trailer park lot, Garrik wasn't able to claim it and they sold it. The Charade is still running around Logan somewhere, I think. After the Saturn, we bought the Sentra. This poor car was cursed. It was rear-ended by an uninsured Ford pickup truck. Then, I backed it into a pole in a Cedar City motel parking lot. I think the purpose of the pole was to prevent one from hitting a pillar, but the pole could not be seen out my back window. Ouch. It was just a bend in the bumper, so we didn't have it fixed. Then, I hit someone on the I-10 in Phoenix (didn't anyone ever tell him not to come to a complete stop on a freeway?) I looked to change lanes, and when I looked back, it was too late. Smush. Oh, the passenger side mirror was taped to the body. It had been knocked off by the garbage can. Funny, the Saturn fit in that space OK. The body shop fixed it for $100 when they fixed the front end. Some guy in a pickup truck rolled down his window on Greenfield Road in Mesa one day and said he'd fix the crease in my bumper-he did. Then, at the same intersection several months later, an Acura hit me from behind and left the scene. Same crease, same spot. It was there until recently when another guy talked Len into fixing it. Len gave the Charade to the children and bought a KIA with automatic transmission and AC cuz he was moving to AZ. The car was paid for and then the engine whacked out (just after the warranty)so, since we had the cash, we put in a rebuilt one. Then the driver side door got stuck in the locked position. Len is 6'4" and had a hard time either climbing out the window or crawling over to the passenger side. He swears no one could fix it, including the KIA dealer. I think he wanted a new car. Again, the car was destined for Garrik, if he wanted it. And, again, it went via Leonora and Erik. Erik (bless him) fixed the door. After an annoying issue with the title, it sits proudly in the parking lot of Garrik's apartment house, awaiting the day he gets his licence and insurance. The replacement for the KIA is a Chevy Aveo, which research will bring up if you use key words "cheap" "high gas milage". Somehow, I am driving it and Len took over the Sentra. I like it, actually. I realized after driving it and then the Sentra that it has a higher center of gravity and I don't grunt as I get in and out. A plus. That's our car adventures. Enjoy your new car!!