It really doesn't take too much to impress me.
I've been car shopping a little over the break. After my Beastmobile, almost anything looks nice! I am, however, being much pickier this time around. I've been to Beatertown. It was fun - kinda - but I don't feel the need to go back. I've been looking at Toyota Corollas and a few Honda Civics: they're such good cars - they go and go, and are usually pretty reliable. I've seen a pretty nice Mazda Protege, too. I would love to buy new, but alas, Mr. Bank Account is not quite ready for that. The Beastmobile was an '89, so my goal is to buy something that's within ten years old. We'll see how that pans out.
I have to say, if there's one thing I've learned from trooping around to look at used cars, it's that I hate car shopping! Ug! It's phenominal how much JUNK is out there. Even more unbelievable is how much people are asking for said junk.
A few cars I never even ended up seeing because the people selling them had accents so thick I couldn't even tell if they were telling me it was a standard or an automatic (and I'm not your wussy need-subtitles-for-a-teensy-weensy-accent kind of gal!). I coulnd't even get any information on those cars, nevermind directions to go see them!
And then there were the cars I did see. Let me tell you this much: if you have been breeding wet, chain smoking dogs in a homemade swimming pool in the back of your car, NOBODY will buy your car.
I don't know what some people do to thier cars to make them smell so horribly putrid (nor do I want to know!) but phew!!! I thought my dad was kinda strange when he kept poking his head into cars on used car lots to sniff them. Uh, no. Good plan. Also a good plan? Check for indoor swimming pools. While a luxury on some super swanky limousines, it's not generally a feature you want to see in a Corolla or a Protege. About the only good that has come from the ten days of pelting pouring rain here in Vancouver (and another 14 days at least in the forecast!) is that if the car is leaking, you're going to know about it. One car I saw, in addition to the puddles on the floor in the back seat, was so full of water below the floor of the trunk that the plug was removed so it could drian. PLUG? I didn't even know cars had plugs! Too bad, cause everything else looked great!
And so I shop some more. If anyone out there if feeling overly generous, I'm taking donations (of cars or cash)!!! :D
3 comments:
hey hillary!
happy new year to you too!!!!!!!!
i totally understand the absolute luxury of owning / hoping for a car that's within 10 years old!
the car that God has provided me is amazing - my friend loaned it to me for the next 2 years - a 2000 nissan sentra! i'm so glad i didn't have to go through the pain of car shopping.
a month later, and the importing process is complete - another miracle from God. :)
LOL. Good luck in the car hunting. Perhaps rubber boots and those swimmer nose plugs would help..
Before I bought my last car I read the Lemonaid Guide (at your local library) and I took it to my own mechanic before buying. (I had chosen another car first but my mechanic had a list of 5 or 6 major things that needed repairing.) It will cost you about $100 but could end up saving you thousands.
Happy hunting!
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