‘Kay, so, adventures in car buying. Haredawg rule number one (which I broke on the last car but it turned out fine) Never go car shopping when you need a car. The last one was an accident all the way around, but it turned out a happy accident. A week before loading up my beloved jeep of 10 years I hit a pothole and completely fucked an axle and wheel well. I limped into one of many used lots along 82nd ave. This will make sense to those of you in Portland metro. It was easy to dicker on price and trade in value and I drove out with a new used later model grand Cherokee. It made it to Michigan and has run well without major work for three years. I like that Jeep. Within the next six months I probably have to drop 1500, at least, into it. It’s the sort of work that even if I knew how to do I’d need some serious tools and a lift, like a hydraulic lift. The parts would still run seven to eight hundred.
So I’ve been car shopping. I went out to look at new and used Honda CRV’s. I would really love to tell bad salesman stories and how Haredawg fucked with them. This was a nice guy and he neither gave up easy nor was pushy. Inflexible, yes, but in a polite way, and, given his perseverance, again, polite, I think the inflexibility was dealership policy. And they wouldn’t give me anything for the jeep. Replaced title.
I saw a good deal on a used Kia Sorrento online. I left some information but didn’t complete the ask. I got a call from a stereotypical sleazy car salesman, who didn’t let me get a word in edgewise, was vague about answering practical questions and wanted me to come with a cashiers check made out to, I assume, the company that underwrites the dealership. I made fun of him but it’s not worth repeating because he just interrupted me. It only counts when they either don’t know they’ve been made fun of or when they get all butthurt.
I just did an online thing with another dealership, again not completing the whole thing (these places sort of expect you to buy online and have it delivered or contract an appointment to test drive). They are closed on Sunday and, for some reason, most dealerships around here have short days on Saturday. I don’t understand that at all.
I listed the jeep as in rough shape (rough, average, good being the only choices) because of the title and it quoted me a grand less than I paid for it. I’m looking at a 2011 Suv with great gas mileage less than 63k on it, GM certified (which means it comes with a limited warrenty, 24 months, 12 bumper to bumper, 60 months on powertrain) and with a mere 3k down and the low end trade i’m looking at three k to finish it. Hell, if they discount for cash I could probably buy it outright. I could also probably not put any down at all except the trade in, but that probably gets me worse financing.
It’s a Chevy Hhr. I probably wouldn’t go looking at new chevy’s, but unless it drives like a wheelchair in mud everything about it looks good. I even like the looks of it which is a bit rare for me and modern American SUV’s. They all looked like shoe boxes damaged in freight or mini-vans to me.
The Jeep is also hard for my mom to get in and out of. I saved that for last because I don’t want the impression that I’m being altruistic. With the Honda guy I said the new rig was all about the crippled mom and the girlfriends long, tall dog. Those are considerations, but, you know, there’s no mistake that the rig would be mine. Neither my mom nor the dog have drivers licenses. My mom never has nor has she wanted one, the dog, well, MI gave my demented dad a renewal, I don’t see why the dog couldn’t get one, he’s got to be a better driver, even before the dementia set in my dad was the worse driver I’ve seen outside of Seattle and Portland. The dog likes to cruise leisurely though, so, he probably would rather be chauffeured.
I’m saying I don’t really need an SUV except that it takes some equipment to take my mom anywhere and I haven’t bought a vehicle in two decades that wouldn’t comfortably fit at least two dogs. Habit I guess. Habit and optimism. My last car didn’t get close to the mileage that this SUV does, almost double the Jeep’s mileage, and it can run on flex fuel too.
It’s weird, the idea of flex fuel. In 76 when I first got my license, a lot of gas stations started putting images of corn on their pumps. It meant ten percent ethanol. That’s sort of what flex fuel, a bit more complicated but not by much. I ran a 73 mustang fastback on 10percent ethanol, yes, leaded, but still, leaded and likker. I think some states just made that a standard, I don’t know. You see flex fuel signs around. Anything that runs on flex fuel runs on regular unleaded too.
I never thought twice about corn squeezings in my gas. I think petrol in my corn squeezings would bother me though. I’m sure it tastes better than corn squeezings and red-bull, and probably isn’t any worse for you, but I’ve siphoned enough gas to know I don’t like the taste. I’ve probably swallowed more gas than red bull. I don’t mean to be mean to a brand name, I don’t drink anything in red bull category of meth drink. I’d rather chew on coffee beans with a mouthful of sugar. Or, for real energy, piss on an electric fence.
I’m going to try and see that SUV tomorrow.
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