A New Car Era

Today started out as a pretty typical Sunday. We lazed around the house this morning, went to UU, ate some lunch. Then my husband decides to shop around again for a car for us online. Yesterday we test drove a Mazda 5. It is like a European minivan, super tiny, can't believe it can still be called a van. It was fun and zippy, and we found out it was great on gas, just as good as the hybrid. It didn't have all the nice features that our hybrid does, but reasonable, and a decent price. So, we had the dealer start working out the paperwork to see what he could do, and we would talk to him on Monday.

So, Doug goes online searching for other Mazda 5's, and puts in 100 mile radius instead of 20. Eureka! He strikes gold. A Mazda 5, $1,500 less than the one we test drove, fully loaded (the other one was basic as you can get), even with a DVD system for the kids, and less miles on it, just a year older (BIG DEAL!) However, it is 100 miles away. So, he gets on the phone, and like any car salesman, the guy is eager to get us there and sell us the car. We tell him that as long as there is nothing wrong with the car, we have made up our minds, just go ahead and start up the paperwork. We are sold. So, we gather up sleepy kids, get a jump start from Beth (the kids drained the battery once again playing with the lights as I was cleaning the car out- RRRGGHHH!!!!), and then we were on our way.

Right when I walk into car dealerships, whether buying a car or just browsing, I get this distinct feeling that I am being bent over and taking it up the ass. It is too squeaky clean, too sterile, just like a hospital. I get this feeling, while the salesmen is fiddlin' around, like I am sitting in a waiting room, someone is in surgery, waiting for the doctor to come out and give me the diagnosis. ***Doc, how is it looking?** Well, let me give it to you straight, the diagnosis comes back, You will be taking it up the ass for your reckless abandon with your mile limit, and either way, we can help, but you will still be bent over my desk. Any questions?*** Gulp!

So, they tried to explain to me that any way we do it, we will be paying extra, but that if we buy the car today, they can reprieve us of the burden by working in our "up the ass" payment into the loan. I try to take this, 'Well, I have a hybrid, and I know it is a highly desirable car, so NOW what are you going to do for me?" approach. It pretty much fails, I end up in tears at my confusion on this (boy am I a sucker, you know I feel the knot welling up in my throat, and think to myself, 'No time to be a baby, Why are you such a damn baby! You can do this, what the hell is wrong with you?'- but no amount of self talk helps me through it, and I end up sobbing anyway). I think this was to my advantage though, they felt sorry for us, said, "We want to sell you this car, what can we do for you to help you feel good about this?" **Sniff, Sniff** "Lower the monthly payment somehow. Less than what we are paying, I want a warranty, gap insurance, and I don't want to put anything down." *Deep breath, Crying subsides* "Don't worry, I think we can do this, just a minute."

In the meantime, my kids are getting ever more restless, running around, hurting each other, climbing in cars, and why the hell did no one tell us there was a toy room until the end? Until we were signing our life away again? Why does it always take a millenia to buy a car? Grant gets a bloody lip, they were just being terrors because they were bored and hungry (such a bad combo for any kid). Luckily the dealership gave us all we were asking for, and they took it up the butt a little bit for us. Now I think crying was the best strategy, even though it wasn't at all, (Doug did have to ask if it was though later, thinking I would have been really clever if I had planned the waterworks!)

So, as we drove home in our new Mazda 5 (and fiddled with the DVD player for a while), I was a little sad over the end of our Hybrid era. I do really like our new car, and it is a lesson in un-attachment once again, but the hybrid was sooo cool! (just not the payment). We are in a new car era, hoping the smell of our new car fades quickly!