Unbelievable!!!!!!

I did it! I really did it! And I am asking myself what the hell was I thinking????? That I had waited long enough to do it. That I needed to do it. That despite the expense it was necessary. What did I do? I GOT A NEW CAR!!!!!

Yep. I did. My little green car died on me AGAIN and was costing me a fortune to fix. I got it fixed but I realized that the car is 10 years old and not as reliable as it used to be. I had to call into work and with my current attendance record, I cannot afford any more mishaps. So I broke down and decided to finally buy a new car. I did all this online research. Narrowed my choices to a Honda Civic or Mazda 3. Both had good ratings and great safety features. Plus they both were in my price range.

Let me just start off by saying I have never bought a car before. My little Tracer was actually negotiated & bought by my aunt. She technically bought it, but I made all the payments. After 2 years we transferred the title and loan to my name and I paid it off. So I have never haggled with a salesman before. I thought I was prepared. I was confident and ready. I was so wrong.

My mother and I went to a Honda dealership that a co-worker suggested to me. I told my mother that we would not get much time to look around. You see, I briefly worked at a dealership when I first graduated college. Whenever we walked in front of the dealership we had to make sure our badges were worn and easily visible. Cause them salesman were vultures. They are under a lot of pressure to sell and they are ready to pounce on potential customers immediately so they can make their quotas and commissions.

Anyway, I asked for the particular salesman my co-worker recommended but he was not there. A gentleman came out, never introduced himself and asked me what I was looking for. I told him I was interested in a standard Civic sedan, green in color. He tried to push me towards the Accord. I told him I would love an Accord, but my budget is really along the lines of a Civic. That was my first mistake.

They had very few standards and no green cars. They seemed to have even fewer Civics. He kept showing me Accords. My second mistake. Then he tried to convince me to look at a 6 cylinder but I refused. I am lethal enough as it is with a 4 cylinder, I do not need anymore engine power. Plus as many tickets as I have gotten with my little 4 cylinder car, I can only imagine the amount I would get with a 6 cylinder vehicle.

So he kept showing me 4 cylinder Accords. Black...NOPE, too hot in Texas for a black car with black interior. Plus they show all the dirt. Red...NOPE, never liked red cars. White...NOPE, shows all the dirt also. They had a really pretty blue model, but it had black interior. They had a silver model, but it turned out to be a 6 cylinder. Then there it was...Carbon Bronze Pearl with Ivory interior. Contained a sunroof, wood trim inside, in dash 6 CD changer, steering column radio adjustments, cruise control, valet key, heated mirrors, lock wheels, etc. I was enthralled. My third mistake.

I took it on a test drive. It was so smooth, powerful, and very comfortable. When the we returned from the test drive, the negotiations began. I did not research the Honda Accord, so when he asked me what I was looking for in payments I was lost. I made up a number. I signed this paper saying I would take the car if they were able to meet my payment requirements. Back & forth we went until I was placed in the finance office where the real negotiations began.

The finance guy showed me my options with regards to buying versus leasing with and without money down and no trade in. He threw in different options to woo me. I held firm. Finally he reached a point where walking away was extremely difficult. I tried calling Joe, but he would not answer his desk phone. Hours passed and went back & forth until he gave me an offer I could not pass up. I finally agreed and he began the paper work for me to lease this vehicle. I ended up adding tint, Lo Jack, another theft deterrent device, and a EPP finish for both the inside & outside for the vehicle. I paid for the tint and EPP finish up front.

Before the paperwork could be all signed, I had to leave to pick up my sister & take her to school. We were down to one vehicle between the 3 of us (my mother, sister and me). The salesman and finance guy looked at me stunned. I kept telling them I would be back, but they did not seem to believe me. In the hour that I was gone, they managed to call my house asking what time I was coming back. To say they were desperate is an understandment.

So roughly 7 hours later, I left with a 2006 Honda Accord EX, Carbon Bronze. I will be poor from now on having to have fund raisers to make my payments and keep Oliver fed. Needless to say I have put off buying a house for now. But I figure if I did not have a reliable car, I could end up without a good paying job and then definitely not be able to buy a house. Postponement is a much more appealing deal.

So now I have 2 cars. Driving the new car is awkward and scary. The first day I drove it I was terrified that I was gonna get hit. There was a huge accident that shut down the freeway both directions and everyone was driving like crazy to get off the highway. They are predicting bad weather this weekend so I am driving the green car to work Saturday. They are coming out today to install my Lo Jack. And in the next 2 weeks I will get my tint and other items on the car. I cannot wait.

Although this is a big change for me both financially and personally, I have not had a new car for 10 years. Plus this is a Honda and supposedly worth it. I guess time will tell. In the mean time, all donations can be sent to...