lostloverfound

So this week I decided I should start looking for a new car. I absolutely dread car shopping. The moment you drive into a car lot, you are bombarded with sales people that behave as if they haven’t had a meal in a week. And you’re the snack!

But the miles keep increasing on my current vehicle. Granted they’re mainly highway miles, but still, its a big number. So I was beginning to feel compelled to brave the dealerships. I woke up early and ate a breakfast of champions. I thought I was being pretty suave by scheduling an oil change to have a good reason to be at the dealership.

As I sipped my coffee in the customer waiting area, I slowly meandered over to the cars on the showroom floor. No one seemed to notice… shhhh. I walked by a couple of vehicles and sauntered over to the wall of windows facing the rows of cars just waiting like puppies in the pet store for someone to choose them.

It didn’t get serious until the maintenance manager found me. He began a monologue that ended in, “so with your current mileage, we recommend…” what followed was a list of services much akin to a Medicare checklist. One way or another they were gonna get some big bucks outta me.

They had their motivations. Jack up the price of the oil change with non-emergent or even unnecessary services. “Our master mechanic is on site today” was a good one. Offering me top notch skill for a transmission fluid change.

Alas, I had my motivations as well. #1 was not getting pulled into a cash suck game.

So I pulled the “let me run this past my (insert spouse, son, neighbor, Santa Claus), and I’ll call to schedule it.”

Whew… I made it out with my checking account intact.

But I started thinking even more about my vehicle situation. I wanted to make a wise choice about which direction to go. Sink some $$ into maintaining an aging vehicle, or just bite the bullet and find a new one.

I went home and made a list of what I need and want in a vehicle. Now, some wants have made it onto the need list. Like heated steering wheel. I have arthritis in my hands and my commute is pretty extensive. Heated seats are also a smile maker.

Size of vehicle is also on the need list. I’m short, and according to my primary care physician, getting shorter. Somewhere they misplaced 1/4 of an inch in my height. I told them they better find it. If this keeps up, I’ll need a booster seat just to be able to drive! But I also don’t want to carry a step stool just to be able to get in my vehicle.

Saturday came, and my dealership was having a big sales event. I met my son and his family at the event. They looked, and I looked. Even my seven-year-old grandson was calling me over to look at a car with his favorite colors. I found one that was the right size, with the needs and wants list matching pretty closely. I got in the driver’s seat, adjusted all the levers and mirrors. The salesman, Tim, came with lots of comments about the finer points of this vehicle. He really downplayed the fact that this brand new car didn’t have power seats.

Now, in an emergency, I can drive a pick up, pulling a grain wagon loaded with corn, and drive it to the grain elevator. Balancing on the edge of the seat just to reach the pedals. But if I’m going to buy a vehicle, just for me… well I have criteria. I want to love it.

My son called out “Mom, look at this one” from a couple of rows over. It was a grand vehicle, all the bells and whistles. Posh. With 89,000 miles on it.

Tim was pretty disappointed when I left the sales fair.

I spent the rest of the weekend on the internet doing research. And on Monday, I reached out to a dealership in a bigger city, where I often work. I found a car I thought would fit all of my lists, and the love it part too. I pulled up to the dealership. A young man opened the door as I approached. “Good morning, how can I help you?”

“I’m here to see if you have a specific car. ”

“Right this way” followed by a little kick of his heels.

He introduced ne to Josh. Who led me to his desk to gather more information than I needed to get my passport. Finally I said, “I want you to show me this vehicle.” (We had passed it in the showroom on the way to his desk.) I looked it over, trying to keep my excitement to myself. “I’d like to drive it,” I proclaimed.

Josh had some excitement of his own and said he’d be right back. His excitement was gone when he returned. “I can’t let you drive it, its on hold for a recall.” There was a loud ‘woosh’ as the air left my sails. After moments of questioning about others they had on hand, or at their ‘sister dealership three states away. I was left quite disappointed. Josh really worked hard after this. Trying to get me as excited about a myriad of other vehicles. I even drove one. But nope… none of them clicked the check marks on my list.

Back to the computer to search some more.

It was Gavin, with red curly hair that greeted me at the next dealership. They had a last year’s model of the car I wanted listed on their website. I asked if they still had it on site. Gavin led me to his office, gathered the same questionnaire information. Clicked a couple of keys on his computer, and said, “It’s here! I’ll pull it for you.”

Ahhh, music to my ears.

He pulled it up, after a run through the car wash. He had all the doors, hood, and hatch open as I approached. Then he said it, “It does have the heated steering wheel.”

I smiled, and said, “Sold!” Excitement exuded from my pores.

“Don’t you want to test drive it?”

Of course I did. Then I bought up that car. Both Gavin and I had a great day.

Motivations are something we need to keep in mind as we’re working to make a decision. I had to work through the motivations of the sales people, my son, and myself. We all had different motivations, even though we all wanted the same outcome. I think its important to gather as much information as possible before making a big decision. I respect the opinions of the people I talked with. But ultimately, the consequences of my decisions all rest on me.

I gotta go for now, it’s time to drive my car!