Car Shoppin’, Day One
The time has come to look for a replacement vehicle. My ladywife’s Asuna Sunrunner served us well for its first two years, but the next two brought us a myriad of problems. While it’s still drivable and in acceptable enough shape, it has transmission and brake problems, which together would cost more than the value of the car itself to fix. So car shopping began today.
I’d narrowed the search down to three types: the Honda Fit, the Suzuki SX4, and the Cadillac Escalade the Suzuki Aerio (all used - I’m not a new car buyer, and I refuse to lease). I found one of each model to test drive today, and while they’re all very similar, there’s some definite pros and cons to each one. Today also reinforced my distrust of dealers: the Honda Fit I drove was listed just barely less than a new base model despite having $3300 of damage repaired. Seriously. The SX4 I first attempted to drive had unresponsive electronic side view mirrors. Oops. But the goal today was to get a feel for how each car behaved, and to my surprise I found myself liking the Suzukis over the Honda. I also farted in each one, just to give them that familiar, I’ve-always-owned-this-car feeling.
The big question now is actually looking with the intent to buy. A friend referred me to a car-search service, whereby one pays someone to do all the legwork (the stuff I hate): car history reports, independent mechanical inspection, lien search, and price negotiation. I’m definitely considering retaining this person’s services. If I don’t go that route, at least I’ve learned from my first horrible car-buying experience to just walk away.
7 Responses to “Car Shoppin’, Day One”
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wizened old soul on October 4th, 2009
Hey, watch that Suzuki stuff–go with the car broker. He knows more than all of us put together. And yes, I totally agree w. you re dealers AND re buying good used. For good measure, read the LemonAid Used Carbuyers’ Guide!
Garrett on October 4th, 2009
I’ve probably read the Lemon Aid guide a dozen times in the past six months. It has told me to buy Japanese, and that’s all I’m looking at.
wizened old soul on October 4th, 2009
Yeah, but remember that not all Japanese are created equal. Cars or people. I’ve had a rough weekend, sort of. Forgive my nonnuendos.
wizened old soul on October 4th, 2009
I thinks things are slowly coming round to normal. Lucy farted (YOU started this!)–at least I think it was she, because ’tweren’t I. Her stents have put a whole new interpretation on post-nasal drip, by the way. You just saved yourself another child-rearing drama
Special Ladyfriend on October 4th, 2009
How on earth did mom change the subject from Japanese cars to dog farts?
Tony on October 5th, 2009
Expertly.
wizened old soul on October 5th, 2009
Well, dear special lady friend: above, you’ll notice that Garret was the one who brought up farts. I just added to the dynamic w. my own anecdotal material…