On buying a car:
I hate buying a car. Hate. Hate. Hate. It’s the most frustrating, annoying, stressful processes I think I can endure. Last time when I bought the Scion the reason I purchased that car was the fact that I was exhausted of trying to figure out the myriad of features, accessory packages, gas mileage, manual or automatic transmission. I ended up with a xD more out of frustration and simplicity more than a true love of the car. But the fact is, I did love my little car. I named her Edison and she was my rolling boom box. She went with me to watch several friends get married, a vacation with some of the most amazing people I’m privileged to know, more nights driving and listening to my music too loud than I can count.
But I had to say goodbye to to that little thing. Something about slamming it into a concrete barrier at 55 miles per hour really puts a dent in things (ba duh dum). The take away from the story is that the car did what it was suppose to, it took a beating. I walked away with a seatbelt bruise and a dented but untracked skull. She wasn’t so lucky left & right, top & bottom main rails were bent on the car. Totaled. Totally totaled.
End result, I had to buy another car.
Indeed the moment I realized this fact I believe the noise I made was “Uhhhhghhhghh” Instead of buying into the angst of car shopping, I tried instead reveled in it. I spent a week going to different dealers and getting use to the talk, the glad handing, the lies, the fact that I’m going to know more about the foot pounds of torque in the different engines and iPod integration than the sales man. Through this process I’ve been referred to as “Sweetheart” and “Hun” I’ve had sales man try to cast themselves as the good guy while their “manager” is the bad guy. However, I’ve had my private fun, generally upon opening the trunk I’ve made the “Tisk” sound and make some comment about how the trunk opening is too narrow to conveniently stuff a body into or worse yet get out of a vehicle (having had a semi serious conversation about this with some Eastern Bloc friends over Vodka at one point makes you sharply aware of taking this into consideration when purchasing a car). I’ve plugged in my iPhone and turned to the sales man “You may not want to be here for this.” before putting on some of the loudest Girl Talk on the album. Hitting the end of a interstate on-ramp at 87mph, beating a semi I picked out from the steam of traffic and looking over to the sales man to giggle coquettishly and merge with alacrity.
I knew what I wanted as soon as I was sure I would have to buy another vehicle. Not in terms of the specific terms but in the things I needed in a vehicle. Enough oomph to push me back into the seat a little bit when accelerating, good sound system with decent iPod/iPhone integration, cruise control, and a bit bigger and more room in the cabin.
I searched almost every brand, in a week I test drove Mazdas, Hondas, Toyotas, Mini’s, Hyundai, Fords, Chevy, Scion. Hated almost single one, and I mean hated with a capital H.
Surprisingly it was a brand that I hadn’t really considered that won my business. Kia. Thats right folks, I bought a hamster-mobile. And I’ll tell you what. I love that little thing. I cannot wait for my first road trip in it.
Anyone want a visit from the Babbs?
