Plan B

[bertine]

I forgot to mention this when I posted about Zach not going into the Army. I have decided to still get a new car. If Hoopty hadn't been such a cheap car to start with or if he hadn't been hit by a bus and ran over a pipe on the interstate requiring a new oil pan thingy put in I might kept him. However, I am ready for a car that doesn't feel like it is about to fall apart at any moment.

I am pretty sure I am going to get a used car, one that is just a couple years old. However, I have no idea how to do this at all. I bought Hoopty from a friend of mine and this is the only car I have ever owned. I don't really think I have ever been to a car lot before. Any advice? Anyone want to go test drive a car with me? Any car suggestions? I like Sedans, I am thinking about the Mazda 6 but that isn't really based on anything.

Comments

[scentedwoods.livejournal.com]

Take the emotion out. If you don't have emotions about the car it's 100 times easier.

Research the car to death. Pick what you want to pay. Pick what features you can afford for that. Figure out what a true fair trade for hoopty is (answer, pretty low, really.)

I've used the web sites to find the car that fits my research parameters and then go to the dealership. When you sit down with a check in hand and say "I will buy a car right now if you can meet my (reasonable) requests" you will get a car.

It also helps if you've found two versions of the car that you want so you know in the back of your mind that this is not the only one because NO car is the only one.

p.s. I love my Mazda Protege.

[bertine.livejournal.com]

I am selling Hoopty to my cousin, so I am not even trading him in. A eleven year old car with 120,000 miles isn't worth much anyways.