That dreaded decision...is it time to get a new car?
The Camry is now 12.5 years old but it has "only" 122,000 miles on it. The problem is that we've had two steering problems in the last six months or so and I really don't like driving in fear of having the steering go out completely. With the most recent one, we don't yet know how much it will cost to get it fixed. Before this year, we've done basic maintenance and that's about it and it runs fine, starts consistently, gets mediocre mileage and it's still comfortable. It's not falling apart. There are a couple of distasteful rust spots which are hard prevent when the roads are always coated with salt. A few scratches. A pen mark or two from when Sam was bored.
A year ago Ben was hot to get a new car to replace it but I held off because it didn't seem necessary. But now I'm beginning to think it might be time and of course Ben doesn't want to buy now because we've just put some money into it so we could keep it for awhile longer. At what point do we cut our losses?
In the midst of this our usual mechanic disappeared, we think to run off to warmer climes with his new girlfriend, so we've got to find someone new although at least this gives us the opportunity to find someone within walking distance of the house.
But if it's going to have new problems pop up every few months so I don't trust it any longer then it's time to move on which means that it's time to think about the horrible thing that is car shopping.
I'll admit it. I hate test driving cars. I hate negotiating with salespeople and I always feel as though I'm being ripped off when I'm considering my options. There are so many different cars out there that it takes forever to test drive them. My criteria is simple...reliable, comfortable, reasonably inexpensive. I don't care what it looks like so much but it needs to feel good to drive and have enough substance that I don't feel as though I'm in a tin can. The research takes forever! The shopping takes forever. After the test drives on Saturday (with the help of Beth who LOVES car shopping!) I'm tempted to just go buy a Hyundai Elantra because there was a new car but left from 2008 in the color "purple rain" and so it comes with a built in nickname, "Prince." Alas, I don't feel as though I can buy something without test driving more cars and now I'm all in a dither of indecision.
Did I mention I hate car shopping?
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3 comments:
I hate any kind of big purchase. I spend WAY too much time on them.
Here's a cool website to help narrow down your choices. It doesn't take that long, and I thought it was kind of fun.
As for mechanics, I highly recommend the "Mechanics Files" from cartalk.com. It's all referrals from NPR listeners. I found my mechanic here, and he's GREAT!
Yes, yes, yes, it is time to cut your loses and get rid of the Camry! Test driving is fun, but the negotiating sucks, I'll agree on that. At least this time, with total economic collapse, you have way more bargaining power than ever before. I wonder if they physically restrain customers who walk out the door during negotiations? We should find out.
i think you should take advantage of all of beth's research and test driving and just go get yourself a good ole vermont subaru forester...beth loves hers
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