Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Say Hello To My New Wheels

Ready for many years of use
I bought my 2002 model Honda CR-V back in 2006. It's been a great ride, but it's starting to show its age. The steering wheel was shaking at highway speeds, and a couple of months ago the axle began making funny noises when I turned the corner.  Besides, Hubby Tony is within a couple of years of needing new transportation himself, and we wanted to spread out the costs. It was time for me to start looking for a replacement.

Based on my last experience of buying a Certified Used vehicle I wanted to go that route again. After I figured out I wanted another small SUV I went to the library and looked at the latest Consumer Reports list of best used cars. Based on that information I narrowed it down to one of two models. Coincidentally, one was a newer version of the Honda that had served me well for so many years. The other was a Mazda. 

On Monday night I went to the Mazda dealer to ask about their preowned CX5s. The salesperson that helped me didn't look like he really wanted to be there. He showed me some information on his computer, then after I decided on a specific one he was reluctant to offer a test drive. (He actually told me I could take it out by myself!) The car drove very smoothly, but I thought the driver's area felt a little claustrophobic. At the end of the drive I decided that I could make it work, but wondered if it was the car for me.

Tuesday morning one of my work assignments fell through, so I decided to go to the Honda dealer where I made my last purchase. This salesperson was energetic and professional. He showed me all the Certified models they had on the lot; after I chose the one I liked the best he offered a test drive. And he went with me.

This vehicle felt perfect. It helped that many of the dials were in the same place as the one I've been driving for more than a decade. Halfway through the drive I decided that this was the one for me, but I didn't let my excitement show. Instead, I told the salesperson I would think about it and maybe come back.

Even though he rarely drives my car, I still needed for Hubby Tony to weigh in on the purchase, so after dinner we went back to the dealership. Tony drove the car and said he liked it as much as I did. We sat at the salesman's desk, where there was some dickering back and forth over the price. Twenty minutes later I felt like Tony and I had won the dickering, and I had myself a new car!

The finance person was with another customer, so after a lengthy wait for him to free up we completed the final paperwork. By the time we were done my new car was ready to be driven home. As excited as I was, it was also a little sad to say goodbye to the old model that had served me so well.

Five years ago today: Absentee

14 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the new car. Enjoy.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I totally understand wanting a car you are comfortable with. I love my Subaru and would be willing to consider another one, however they no longer make my model in a small size with a large back window. Terry says it's due to safety regulations, which I understand, especially after seeing what happened to my daughter's car in an accident.

    I would like to hold out for a self-driving car which I figure is still a few years away to being mainstream. I'm pretty sure the next car will be electric.

    Hope you get as many years out of this car as you did the previous. You are a good advertisement for that Honda dealer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to keep a car for ten years or so (although the one I just got rid of was in the garage for a little longer than that). It's interesting that you think self-driving cars are so close to being readily available. Maybe that's because you see more progress in California than we do in the Midwest?

      Delete
    2. We see self-driving Teslas on 101 all the time. However, I'm not too sure how safe they are as of yet. We've heard of too many accidents. The technology is there, it just needs to be accepted in more areas. I may end up with an electric car before the completely self-driving one.

      Delete
  3. Congratulations on getting your new car. Good for you! I hope you enjoy it a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I've had a great time driving it since it officially became mine.

      Delete
  4. Congratulations, Kathy! Woot! Woot! That new car looks like it has pizzazz! Very nice choice. Our kids have other versions of yours (a Traverse and the other I can't remember lol) and I like them both. Makes me wish I could afford one!! Have a happy new beep beep day! ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The small SUVs seem to be very popular. Although I don't need the cargo space as often as I did when there were more people in the house, I like having the ability to haul things when I need to.

      Delete
  5. Sounds like a great car! What kind of gas mileage does a car like that get?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mileage is not the best in class, but not the worst either. High 20s-low 30s mpg.

      Delete
  6. Congrats. Very happy for you.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Congrats!!! The Honda CR-V looks great! You've got an awesome car.

    ReplyDelete