At long last, I've finally decided to take the plunge and buy a new car. Not a used car that's new to me...an actual new car. I originally thought I'd buy a youngish used car, but then the salespeople showed me some new cars and I thought, yeah, how about a new car. I've never had a brand new car. I've only had two cars and they were both youngish, low mileage used cars when I bought them: a 1984 Nissan Sentra (linked picture is for illustrative purposes; I have no idea who those people are) and then a 1993 Ford Escort (again, photo is not of my car), the latter of which I'm currently driving.
I'm sure I've blogged before about my love of my Escort and how bummed I was that Ford stopped making Escorts. I thought the Ford Focus, which I think was supposed to fill the Escort niche, was kinda cute and figured I'd probably buy that. I test drove a coupla Focuses (Foci?) and didn't like them at all. They felt rickety. And they had one problem in common with my Escort: the seats weren't supportive; I've long had a lower back cushion in the driver's seat. I end up hunching forward without the cushion. I'd prefer to just have a decent seat. I'm sure I've also mentioned my admiration of the Mustang. And I do like the new design. I just don't feel comfortable buying a car that will use so much gas. It's also just a tad too big for what I want at this time. And, quite frankly, I just don't feel worthy.
So, if not the Focus, then what to get? I want to get a car that's:
- small
- fun to drive, IMHO
- visually appealing, IMHO
- fuel efficient
I first looked at the Toyota Prius, mostly out of a sense of duty, since it's a hybrid car and very fuel efficient. When it comes to looks, I tend to favor American cars. Most Toyotas do nothing for me, visually speaking, but, like I said, I figured I should at least try the Prius. It was kinda cool trying it out. There's a 'Power' butt
on to turn it on and off. You just press it like a doorbell and it just starts and stops. Neat. It drove fine. It's a little bigger than I'd like. I liked the fuel efficiency, of course. They're selling like crazy now, so I'd have to order one and it would take a while. They only had two on the lot: one silver and one grey. Eh. Notable: the salesman was normal. I went by myself and he didn't make any stupid comments about woman drivers or anything like that. Shame that that's notable.
Next, I tried the Mini Cooper. Kevin and I went one night and I test drove the hardtop and the convertible. Totally dug that car. It's fun to drive and it's adorable. Brian, the salesman at the Morristown dealership, was also normal. Zero stupidity bc a woman was buying the car. So I left liking that car and wondering only whether I'd prefer a hardtop or convertible.
Then I moved on to Volkswagens. There were three VWs that interested me, based on looks: Those little Beetles are cute as a button! The Rabbit is pretty cute, too. And the GTI looks a lot like the Rabbit.
Kevin came with me to the VW dealer. As we were driving in, he noted that I didn't seem too enthused about going to look at cars. I replied that I'd just been thinking that I'd had two very positive experiences with salesmen and was wondering how much longer my luck could hold out. Maybe those two salesmen didn't have to be squicky bc those cars are selling themselves. Perhaps it was a self-fulfilling prophecy, but the salesman at the VW dealership did not disappoint.
I'd made an appointment w/one salesman over their website. He was out bco a family emergency, so this other guy helped us. Where the salesmen at Mini and Toyota asked me what I was looking for, this guy asked me few questions and I could barely get a word in edgewise anyway. I'd noodled around the VW website and also around this dealership's lot when they were closed. There were three cars I wanted to test drive:
- the Beetle
- the Rabbit
- the GTI
in hardtop and, where available, in convertible. This seemed to throw him for a loop. The GTI was 'in a whole other price range'. Yeah? So? We drive the Beetle. Then I wanted to try the Beetle convertible. He seemed to balk, saying it was the same as the hardstop...just with a convertible top. He finally takes us out. I wanted to drive it with the top down; he said he'd show me how it goes up and down, but we didn't do that until we were back at the dealership. I specifically wanted to know if it was manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic. When I saw that it mechanically closes, but you do have to clip it, I said, 'Oh, okay, so it's semi-automatic'. He seemed to think I was an idiot for considering it at all noteworthy whether it was fully or semi-automatic. Well, he's not the one buying the car, I am, so if I'm interested in how the top works, then that's what's important to me.
Then we tried the Rabbit. Another quick test drive around a slightly enlarged block. The Rabbit and the Beetle are basically the same car; just the frame is different. I think this guy would've liked me to just sit in the Rabbit, having just told me it's the same as the Beetle. But I squoze a test drive out of him.
Isn't this the cutest logo?
When we get back to the dealership, he goes inside and leaves us alone for a while. Kevin and I aren't sure where's he's gone, why he's gone, should we leave? He finally comes out and asks us what we decided. I told him we hadn't decided anything; I was still waiting to test drive the GTI. Why he found this surprising, I have no idea. It's as if he can't fathom that a person considering the Beetle and the Rabbit might also consider the GTI. I ask him if it's a problem to test drive it. He says no, no, of course not and we go out.
After driving it, I pretty much rule out the Rabbit. I like the power of the GTI (200 hp) and how it feels. I like the look of the Beetle and that it's available in convertible (the GTI isn't, although it's available with a sunroof). We all go inside and he leaves us alone again to talk among ourselves. He comes back with some numbers his manager was 'able to work out for' us. Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. So what did we decide, he asks? I said we hadn't. Why not? Bc I can't decide which car I want, the Beetle or GTI; I'll think about it for a day or two. Well, now he couldn't get rid of us fast enough and he showed us the door.
I was leaning toward the GTI, although it wasn't as fun as the Cooper. We eventually went back to the Mini dealership and tried the Cooper S, which has more hp. I'm pretty much settled on a Cooper S; just have to decide between hardtop w/sunroof or convertible. I'm so glad I really prefer the Mini to the GTI bc I really didn't want to give that VW guy any business. Although if he had been normal I might have settled on a GTI right then and there. I almost went to another dealership for a longer test drive in the GTI, but then I tried the Cooper S and that was that.
This week I'm getting car insurance and car loan quotes. We'll order it by the end of the week. It should come in mid- to late October...just in time for my birthday! Now the only questions that remain are...
...what color? And...
...hardtop w/sunroof...
...or convertible?
Right now, I'm thinking red. Although the blues are kinda neat, too. No stripes, though. That's a little too goofy for me. Undecided about the top. The convertible has decreased visibility to the sides and back and I'm concerned about that. I imagine it's just something you get used to and compensate somehow. I'm also wondering if I'm ready for a convertible. That probably sounds odd, like I should be more than ready for a convertible bc it's typically hot, young, fresh people who drive convertibles and I'm way past hot, young and fresh. I'm overripe. And I don't really know what I mean by 'ready for a convertible'. Maybe that I won't feel comfy in it. I dunno...maybe I'll get a convertible for my next next car. Perhaps I'll be ready by then.
Decisions, decisions. In the meantime, I'm off to work.
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