Buying a Car

July 8th, 2009 Buying a Car...

I had been playing with the idea of getting a car, not too seriously, and with the mild enthusiasm of someone who is waiting for a dream car to appear on their door stop for free. I cant lie and say I really wanted one, or needed one. I had been getting around quite well by bike and took some satisfaction in that accomplishment; this is after all, a car culture, and most people cant imagine living without a car anymore than they can fathom living without a right arm, or cell phone. Strangely enough, I have only lived here for two months, but I know places better than most people because of going by bike. So there!

Anyway, it seemed I still needed one for a) my status and b) the dream job I was supposedly getting any day now. My search began in the classified section of Craigs List. I dont know why everyone loves this site- is it the allure of some bargain out there being sold by some random, desperate person? Personally, I find the site shady, and that suspicion is confirmed by the "love" section, and the recent murder through one of those consenting adult encounters. Nevertheless, I too thought a bargain was yet to be had and embarked on a search for a Toyota Corolla for around $3000.

Hmmm....I only saw one in person- a nice mom-type lady was selling it. She didnt drive it far- no problems! she said, I just want to sell it. I had it inspected and we strolled Adams avenue sharing stories and a latte. I was almost babysitting for her until the results came back- $1200 of repairs, and she bolted.

Hmmm....I was discouraged for a bit, but eventually switched gears and started looking at trucks. Perfect for throwing mountain bikes in the back, I thought, ooh...here's a yellow one with a camper shell! Its the color of a banana slug and is just dying to have some flames or hippie flowers painted on it. The price was cheapish, albeit double my original budget, and I drove it around the used car lot. Perhaps I should have been tipped off the lot was next to the topless bar, and the salesman was just a hair too friendly, too personal, and texting me too much...was I really his "tree hugging special girl"?

What is going on here? Half an inspection later, and I pulled the plug. Why go on? Is there a way to do his withot getting a headache, without knowing somebody who knows somebody, without shady craigs list deals, help from Dad and a man who has to be my husband to go along with me?...argh!!!

Enter Car Max. Dad said so. I looked online, I saw a truck that would do. Triple my original budget, by screw it! I cant handle living in limbo! I called, I made an appt, and I went down there, drove it, bought it and got insurance. All in one day. Today in fact.

There is a 5 day grace period, and 30 day repair at no cost. I bought the extra repair insurance for breakdowns, and basically, although I go weary with all the paperwork, I didnt get a headache and got to spend the day with a friendly, but non-groping, used car salesman. In fact, he was almost like me- recently divorced and living in a studio, hoping for a real job to come through. Everyone has got to hit the reset button on life from time to time. It comes extra hard to people who think they wont have to. One thing I have learned, nothing is secure, predictable or trustworthy! You never know what is going to happen next. Hell, even someone like me might buy a car! Who would have thought that?!?

Now, I have a truck- 2003 Toyota Tacoma and when fitted with a camper shell will be my ticket to mountain biking destinations; not to mention, my parents house where I am sorely absent for dinner during the last month. All said and done, I still think that I didnt need a car, but I can upgrade my lifestyle a couple of notches and stop mooching off my friends that have cars for rides. Maybe I will seem less like a loser to people. Or maybe not, I still dont have a "real" job.

Best of all, I can tick this damn action item off my list! I am almost a teenager! Yeah, for me and my growing pains.