buy a new car

So I got curious to see where I stand as far as financing going for a car. Things looked much better than I thought they would. My credit is good, despite having a hit from one unpaid and delinquent credit card. This makes me feel a lot better for the time when I go to lease a car. I found that I can actually get a decent car, only as old as 6 years old with payments under $130. But I’m guessing that the car salesmen were so nice to me because of the shitty economy. Oh well, what ever works in my favor is all good!

Have decided on a 07 Lotus Elise as a 30th birthday present to myself, will have it in just over a month.

For the better part of a decade (okay a smidge more), I had a company car. I paid for it, but far less than it would have cost me as a regular customer and it was very convenient. The economy shifted and I’ve been unemployed for a while and my husband and I have been sharing a car since May.

But this is changing. It looks like I’ll be putting my car negotiation skills to the test – see if I learned anything after all those years in the automotive business. I’ve narrowed it down to the following models:

Honda Accord EX
Chevrolet Malibu LT
Ford Fusion SEL
Toyota Camry XLE

This is based on a few factors – gas mileage, amenities for price, vehicle ratings, driving experience, current discounts and warranties. I’ll know in a few days just how much time I really have to take care of this. I’ve already transferred money from the car fund to checking so I have a decent down payment.

A nice bright yellow car. Maybe not this one particularly (it’s an Audi S5). But definitely yellow. Perhaps a BMW?

THE CAR! Yep, it’s done.
I am now the proud – and happy! – owner of a 2010 Red Hyundai Elantra. I already feel so comfortable driving it. And I’m loving the satelite radio – I found an Elvis station!!

Last Saturday I drove down to the dealer to get my new little red car. Unfortunately I came home empty handed.

They had it alright but when I gave it a quick once-over, I immediately noticed the black stripe decal on both sides of the car was terrible. It wasn’t smooth and shiny. It was bubbly and discolored.

Did they think I wouldn’t notice? I think so. The salesman said “Oh, we saw that but wanted you to see it. You can make an appointment to have it fixed”. Uh, I don’t think so.

I told him I wasn’t taking it until it was fixed. I signed the paperwork – getting a better loan rate in the process -and said I’d be back in a week. That’s tomorrow. I just called and was told the car is good to go.

I’m keeping an open mind. I am again hopeful that I’ll be coming home tomorrow with my pretty little red car. Fingers crossed!

I’ve decided to postpone buying a new car until I have more cash to put down. I’m 80% sure I’ve decided on a model, but there are a few things I still need to nail down (color, options, etc). Waiting also throws a monkey wrench into the options of “good” APRs, as well as being able to write-off in sales tax on my taxes… I still figure that if I can put more money down (and get a lower payment), it’s the best decision.

I decided last week to move forward on the car this year. I’d forgotten about the tax deduction for sales tax if you buy before 12/31. That could be around $1,400. Well worth it.

Last week, I called a different dealer and gave him a challenge: find me my little red car for 2010. I also contacted a friend who is a car salesperson and she gave me Invoice pricing for the car. I negotiated a great deal: almost invoice price, less $500 rebate and another $500 for Hyundai financing at 4.39%. Plus this car has more extras than the 2009 did and will cost me almost the same.

This all happened last Friday. I then let it go and just crossed my fingers.

I just got a call from the new dealer: he’s got it. Yeah! I’ll head down on Saturday to get it.

Very, very, very excited….and trying NOT to think about what to do with the old car.

So everyday I check craigslist, or, as my mother calls it, Ralph’s Page (LOL) and I see if anyone is selling what I want. Today, there it was. A black Volvo c70 convertible with the hard top and a navigation system built in! (Which I don’t really need because I have an uncanny sense of direction and am just psychic enough to find my way around anywhere.) True, but I digress, the price is more than I have saved so far. Boo-hoo, and it’s such a nice day for a drive all the way around Mt. Rainier while wearing a scarf wrapped around my tresses just like Grace Kelly. Ah, well, someday… when I can pay cash for it!

Once you drive the car off the lot, it depreciates in value so much. This is not an advertisement, but I bought my last car from Carmax and just like all their ads say, it was hassle-free.

No pressure from the salespeople and they were not sexist pigs (like at ALL and I mean all of the other places I’ve been). Well, except for the last corporate dealership, where the sales guy was nice,(the car had a high price tag) but I could pick up on the vibe from the other people.

Some men emit a negative/jealous/angry vibe about a female buying an expensive car independently. I never got this vibe from anyone at Carmax.

I bought a car that was 4 years old but only had 14,000 miles on it. It was thoroughly checked out w/ all the reports and my mechnaic checked it out.

I bought a high-end car. I could have bought another new/used car with only 350 miles on it, and it was $10,000 below the original asking price.

This is the way to go, folks, if you are wise, especially in this economy, imho.

I will never buy another NEW car again. It just doesn’t make sense to me and my wallet/savings acct.