Last week Patti and I made the final leap (or final death throw) into our new life ? we bought a min van. We really had no choice because the car we were using, which served a great purpose for many many years, was too beat up and small to sustain safe delivery of our little family. To the Neon, we will miss you and we hardly knew ye. It was fun while it lasted?I can?t really say that. It was not fun. The car was fairly reliable but was a piece of crap. The only redeeming quality was that no one wanted to steal it. That, and it was so small it got around the small Boston streets just fine.
A couple of things about buying a mini van.
- No matter how you spin it ? it only has 4 miles, it is a cool metallic black color, the tires are shinny, it is clean ? it?s still a mini van.
- It might be functional, and even driving it I feel ok, but seeing other people in them makes me cringe. I think ?do I look like that old woman???
?I?m not old. And I?m not a woman?. Sorry, Monty Python reference.
- I have never purchased a new car. In fact, I have only been to a dealer three or four times in my life. Once to test drive an expensive sports car to get the salesman to sign a form so I could get a free Time Life coffee table book. The second time was when Patti and I were looking for a new car years before Emily came along, a horrible experience because it was like we were playing a game of ?answer the wrong question? with the saleman. We would give him certain parameters and he would pull up something that was not even close to what we just talked about. It was weird. It would be like asking someone how old they are and having them answer ?Six feet, two inches?.
The third time at a dealer we bought the mini van. Overall a good experience because I did not feel pressured or swindled and the sales guy seemed direct and forward. For example, I gave him my criteria and when we were filling out the paper (after we decided to buy the thing) I asked him why he was not trying to sell me the undercoating and he said because I did not say I wanted it.
- It is nice having a warranty. With the other car, and even my truck, I have to worry about how much it will cost if something big breaks.
- While we bought a brand new Caravan, actually, the ?Grand? Caravan, we would have much preferred some giant SUV that could sit like 10 and took up two lanes on the road. But a used one, with considerable miles, with no warranty, is still big bucks. At least not as much as I wanted to spend. You see, I have a fundamental problem partying with my money. I don?t like to do it unless I absolutely have to. Which I was with the car.
Anyway, no big deal. I am well past the stage of trying to impress people with my car. Ha, to be honest, if you saw any of my old cars, you would know I was never like that. My first car was a very much appreciated hand-me-down from my parents ? a 1978 Ford Fiesta. In hind site, a great great car. A rack and pinion steering hatch back 4 speed that I took my road test in. Great car. My second car was my first car I bought, a 1977 Chevy Nova that I put some minor work into, put nice rims on, and was ok. My third and final car before this mini van nonsense was a 1995 Monte Carlo Super Sport. Great looking car, was fast, sounded tough, but it was not me. I never really liked the car even though it looked great. The Neon was Patti?s car before we started dating so I just sort of inherited it, or at least the use of it. Maybe one day I will be able to buy a sporty BMW or an expensive Merceds sedan, or a rough and tumble SUV to take into the woods. But for now, I need space to put my kids, all of the bags and crap that go along with a family, and safely get from point A to point B.
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