more car stuff

[thejunipertree]

I've not made all that much progress, really.

The Mini dealer in PA contacted me back and told me the specifications I want are not in stock and to order one would take 6 to 8 weeks. In theory, I could be patient and do this. However, they haven't responded to my email about "Hey, can I get this for $300 a month?" I'm taking their silence as a resounding no. That's disheartening.

I've also started looking at another car, the Honda Fit Sport (in purple!). The one dealer I've contacted about that has been UP MY FRIGGING ASS. His name is Sam and he sucks. Calling me when I tell him not to call me, emailing me every ten seconds with some bullshit, being a general annoyance. I emailed him yesterday asking if they had my specific build in stock (2009 Fit Sport Automatic in Blackberry Pearl, iPod adapter, NOTHING ELSE) and if I could get it for $300 a month (with my additional financial information in the email). He sent me back an email which basically proved he didn't read a goddamn thing I'd written, talking about what colors they had in stock (no mention of the build I want or the no goddamn add-ons and accessories clause I have) and for me to get UNDER $300 a month, I'd have to put down $4k as a deposit. Piss off, Sam.

I haven't tried going to the bank yet because everything at work has been so insane; I haven't had the time, but that's next on my attack list. I'm going to try to do it on Friday and see what they have to say to me about getting a loan.

In a conversation with the Engineer last night, I told him I would be quite put out if I can't get a Mini. They're my second favorite car ever and I really had my heart set on one. I could get over it, because I'm just not that petty, and get another car. But, I'd be sad and probably pine away or some dumb nonsense. The Honda Fit isn't so bad, it's kind of like a rounded version of a Mini without the awesome retro styling that makes you feel like you're piloting the Nautilus. Same basic cargo space, basically the same mpg. Not bad (and did I mention it comes in purple?) If I absolutely had to go with another car, I don't think I would mind one. And even though Sam the dealer is being a dickbag, they're a ton of Honda dealers around here. Unlike Mini.

I could just go out and get a random wee car. There's a million different types. But, modern cars leave me cold. They have no personality to them. They have no character. Most of them look like eggs on wheels, or slightly square eggs on wheels. If I had to drive one every day, I would detest it. Some people may think I'm being shallow about this because after all, it's just a fucking car, right? But, if I'm going to be spending that much money on something, I want to be practically in love with the goddamn thing. I'm not utilitarian; I like shiny things. They make me happy. And I want to be happy with whatever car I wind up getting, providing it doesn't put me into the poorhouse to buy.

The Engineer told me I need to hit more than one dealer. When he bought his Cruiser, he put down $1k and his monthly payments were only slightly over $300 a month, but he had to go to three or four dealers to get to that. I thought about getting a Cruiser, but I thought it would be kind of goofy for us to have OMG MATCHING CARS. I like Cruisers, though (even though they made some big mistakes in changing the interiors after the 02, they're kind of assy looking now). I'm not totally opposed to it, but I would prefer not to.

Enough car rambling. I have Pocky to eat and chai to drink. At some point soon, I also have entries to write about class scheduling shenanigans, how Aristotle now eats behind a private curtain, and all about how my barely a year old computer monitor shit the bed this week.

Comments

[serpent-sky.livejournal.com]

I had the same experience with a Honda dealer [looking at the same car -- I swear it was the purple that sold me on it.] The guy was so far up my ass, I wanted to murder him. My dad looked at the car, declared it a piece of crap, and that's how I ended up with the Ford Focus. And I do have to say, they were all around much easier to deal with [the guy was a SLIGHT pain, but he was very up-front, wanted the sale, and was listening. It helped that they had the no super accessorized version in stock, and had a color I liked [electric blue], but I do recommend at least looking at/test driving one. Also, they are very up-front with their financing, and you actually get a better deal, all told, if you go with their financing than if you paid cash. And under $300/month, at least last Jan. was not a problem.]

I know EdwardS also recommended this car... and I didn't think I'd fall in love with it [I wanted the Fit because it was purple or a Hyundai accent in this insane green color] but I really do love Bill S. Predator, Esq. Why do you think he has such a prestigious name? [He comes from a line of Bills -- Bill, Son of Bill... looks like the third generation really made something of himself.] :)

Merry Christmas, lady. And good luck with the car thing.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

See, here I thought all this time you got the purple car! I remember you talking about in at the time, but never quite caught you didn't wind up buying it.

[serpent-sky.livejournal.com]

Heh, no... I got the electric blue one. It has a slight purple in the shimmery paint.... but nope. I write way too much. :)

Have I never put up photos of Bill S. Predator Esq.? The way this year has gone, it wouldn't surprise me.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

you would LOVE the fit. no, really. i adore mine.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

Did you get the Fit or the Fit Sport? How are they are gas?

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

fit sport, 2008 tidewater blue. awesome on gas, excellent in the snow because the sport has the paddle shifters. tons of cargo space, we moved all but large furniture in it. i'm with really happy we got it.

[ninjalicious.livejournal.com]

There's this set of commercials on now about getting a car for Xmas that for the woman surpasses the memory of getting a pony and for the guy it's a bigwheel. But the car they get is this ass-ugly completely forgettable pod. 1) Getting a car at 30 is never as awesome as getting a pony at 10. 2) Wtf cars with no soul.

[meetzemonsta.livejournal.com]

I'm glad someone understands the cars with no soul thing, but I always feel slightly googly-eyed whenever I talk about it. I don't understand how car design went from being so fricking cool to completely empty.

P.S.
Come over tomorrow! I have cookies! And penguins made of olives and cream cheese! And Wemble will be there at some point (I have used the icon of she and I to indicate We mean business)! We want to see you!

P.P.S.
Coming over tomorrow is not optional. >:|

[edwards.livejournal.com]

Hey, I understand the cars with no soul thing. I think almost every modern car in the world lacks any sort of character or soul, though there are exceptions. I think of Jen's MX5 as a modern car, but it's actually a 19 year old design...

TBH, I think that you want the MINI in the same way I wanted a Citroen C6. The C6 is big, impractical, known for woeful depreciation, FRENCH, and mainly I want it because historically it's the nearest there is to the lovely old CXs I used to drive. I looked at the Jaguar XF, I looked at the boring options, I even considered a Lexus, and the big Mazda. Ultimately, I got my C6, and I love it. I don't want more cars and every time I drive it, once I've got it out of the stupidly narrow drive, I am happy and I look for it in reflections in shop windows, which is something I haven't done in a long time except to check if lights are working. The interior is so funky I want someone to drive me IN it so I can look at all the clever lights without having to pay attention to the road and enjoy the electric reclining back seats.

If you want the car to last you, then whilst the Fit is a great little car (they're called a Jazz over here for the benefit of UK people who aren't such nerds as to know this) it's a Honda, and therefore unlikely to have much character beyond being infuriatingly practical, like a Mercedes A-class that doesn't break down or tip over or require you to store 50Kg seats.

Hold out for your MINI. And get the right accessories. In the long term it means you'll want to keep it for much longer and be happier with it for much, much longer, and get a vanity plate if you can pick one you like.

[serpent-sky.livejournal.com]

oh oh also... about the more than one dealer? Yes. Ford in Mt. Kisco didn't have as good of a deal as the one in White Plains did....

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

... you're in mt. kisco? i live in mt. kisco :)

internets are a small place

[serpent-sky.livejournal.com]

I used to work there, actually. I live in Port Chester, but that's still close by. The Kisco is a special place. :)

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

ha! funny. you didn't work at MKMG did you?

[serpent-sky.livejournal.com]

No, but almost all my doctors are there. :) I worked for a company called The Kisco Group -- in that weird building with the batting cages, a few offices, a church, etc... up on Lexington and Radio Circle. I miss the deli up there... $3 rice and beans like in NYC. :)

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

i work at MKMG in the GYN dept, and have inadvertently found alot of people on the 'net who once worked there.

we've only been in MK 6 months, before that we lived in Putnam Co., and before that, Massachusetts. tell me all your favorite kisco spots to check out! i'll friend you so we can stop the OT thread here :)

[edwards.livejournal.com]

The difference in the dealer thing... the PT Cruiser is a Chrysler, and Chrysler sell to fleets. I'm not aware of the MINI being popular in fleets and thus, it's not heavily discounted. When I looked at the MINI, the Cooper S I wanted was fairly steep at £13,500 - by the time I'd added the bits I wanted to it it was £17,500... and the finance options were dire.

The same money not only got me a Beetle Cabriolet with all the kit I wanted on the MINI, but it also got me a Mazda RX8 a couple of years later when I went back and looked at the MINI Cabriolet (a very clever design, I like that you can open the front of the sunroof when driving).

I would be really surprised if you can get a MINI for less than $5000 down and $300/month without taking a balloon option.

However:

Sometimes the dealer that is annoying is also hungry. My Citroen's list price is £38,000. I wanted to buy one when the house sold (but that wouldn't even have happened, the profit is disappearing every time some moron says "We're doomed!" in the media) for cash and I decided this with test drives. The dealer I drove a car with in Birmingham then pestered me with different options, before some pre-registered, delivery mileage cars came in.

"Sorry. Still haven't sold the house"
"What are you driving"
"Um, an old Suzuki thing" (a model not sold in the US, but think 3-door Swift/Geo Metro-like from 2004).
"Pop in and talk to me"

Pre-registration brought the car down to £28,000, but he still needs a £7,000 deposit, cash I don't have.

There was a dealer sale bonus/trade in adjustment of £4,000 available.

He then offered £2,800 for the Suzuki that had cost me £2,000 in that I'd had that as an offer on my Delica, which I swapped for the Suzuki since I didn't want to sell the Delica to friends.

So we've got £6,800 on the table there. He runs a finance thing.

Not only is it affordable, it's 2.9% APR, about half to a third of normal car finance offers (apart from 0% on new cars).

And he's essentially knocked £4,800 off the price for me and thrown in mats, boot mat, mudflaps, full tank of fuel, made up my private plates and given me the extended warranty. And the car is a £1,000 higher spec than I thought, having the reclining rear seats (I wouldn't have paid for that option, but it looks impressive).

Hungry dealers are quite useful but you DO have to be pretty firm with them about what you want.

You are shopping in a class of car that people are going to downsize to - and the MINI... well, it's a stylish car, so people downsizing from things like those Porsche SUVs, or big BMWs, will see it as a fitting alternative. If you wanted something unsalable like a Chevy HHR or Chrysler Sebring (for the love of $deity, NO; I have a crack team of Marines ready to disarm and disable any of my friends mentioning purchasing a Sebring or Dodge Avenger) you'd find it a very different story in terms of discounts.