I’ve been thinking for a few months now about getting a newer vehicle for my business. The el-cheapo Saturn SW2 I bought last year lasted just about as long as I wanted it to, which was long enough to see if I was going to fail or succeed at this whole business ownership deal. I put over 24,000 miles on it in the year, and clearly I am getting enough work to keep me going (yay!) so it’s time. The Saturn, if you read my FB, has so many problems it’s not even funny. When I drove it off the lot right after buying it the check engine light came on and has stayed on ever since. (I can almost guarantee you that the used car lot guy had the computer re-set so the light would stay off long enough to test drive and get it sold!) When I got the car inspected last August it was discovered that the problem was the catalytic converter. Not a cheap fix! Plus, it burns oil, the transmission has been getting progressively harder to shift (I suspect synchronizers going out, although if that were the case double-clutching should work and it doesn’t, really) and there are a multitude of small cosmetic items like a broken windshield and a loose headliner and a glove box that won’t shut. I’d pretty much decided that I’d love to have a truck but can’t afford the gas. Even a small truck only gets 15-18 mpg, and I drive 50+ miles a day now for work. But I want 4-wheel or all-wheel drive for winter, so that kind of sticks me with a truck or an SUV or maybe a van. My friend Debby has a Honda CRV and she gets 27 mpg highway with it, and around 22 in town. I figure with a stick shift I can up that mileage by at least a couple mpg, which is doable. I found 2 used stick-shift CRVs online within 50 miles of me, so yesterday I went out to look at them.
The first one was newer, a 2006 with 56k miles, and in a town about 35 miles from me, so I went there after my morning cat visit. It turns out that there are two dealerships of the same name in that town, and I had gone to the wrong one. But the salesman quickly assured me he could bring the car down so I could look at it there. I wished he would just let me go to where it was, because I was instantly NOT enamored of this guy and knew right away that I probably would not buy anything from him. But, I wanted to see the car so I waited while they went and got it.
This salesman was older, I’d guess in his 60’s, and he definitely talked down to me as a woman buying a car. That was so very strange to me because it has never really happened before! He was pointing out all the ‘niceties’ of the car, the air bags all over the place and the sun roof and the 6-CD changer. How clean it was. Stuff like that, when all I care about is how it runs and how long it will last me! He was astounded when I laid on the ground to look underneath it for any obvious leaks. HA! So we took it for a test drive and wow, that car was SWEET. It shifted so smoothly, which was really nice after I have been fighting with my Saturn for months. But after we got back to the dealer and I was looking it over more… looking at the cargo area and envisioning putting dogs in there, well, I just wasn’t sure it was what I REALLY wanted.
So inside we go and I wait some more while he gets the appraiser to look at my truck and take it around the block. They offered me $1850 for my truck. WHAT?! I said, “I was hoping to get at least 2500 for it…” And the salesman had the nerve to point out to me that they had REDUCED the price of the CRV from $17995 to $15980, and that I should consider that 2k reduction as part of my trade in. Seriously?! I pointed out to him that I did not come in to look at a 18k vehicle, that it was listed at $15980 when I found it online so it was nothing whatever to ME what they had originally wanted for it. I think that flustered him a little. I said, “well, we are obviously nowhere close to agreement about the price of this vehicle, I would like to think about it.” And got up to leave. Then he said what if we give you the $2500 for the truck? I was like, well, what does that do to my out-the-door price? And he did some figuring and said with tax and tags and etc. it was still going to be something like $14,500 out the door. I said, “No thanks.” And left. This guy was desperately practically YELLING at me as I left, all flustered and saying, stuff like, “what about $13,500? You NEED to buy this car! What about...?!!” I was like, really? NEED? I don’t NEED to buy anything! And got in my truck and drove off.
I had been there by this time about 2 hours, and I had just enough time to run back home and get my car and go walk Molly. It’s a good 45 minute drive back from that town so on the way home I was thinking about vehicles. And why did I want the CRV? I should just buy a nice cheap but newer car. But then the whole reason I wanted 4-wheel or all-wheel drive, especially if I only have one vehicle, is for winter, especially for getting out of my driveway. And why wouldn’t I just buy a smaller truck and put a cap on it and haul the dogs in the back? All these thoughts were spinning through my head.
So, I ran home, got the car, and headed out for Molly. On the way the phone rang and it was that sales guy. He said, “Did we do something WRONG that you left in such a hurry? Even my manager was concerned!” I just rolled my eyes so hard I am surprised they didn’t stick in the back of my head and make me wreck, but I said no, it was obvious we were nowhere close to my price range. He said, “what were you really looking for?” I said, “I need something around 11-12k, and there is no way you were going to do that with that CRV.” Then he said, “well, what about something else? For that price you are going to have to go a LOT older or a different vehicle.” I was like, “whatever! If I have to buy a car I will!” So he says, “Can I help you find something else then? We do have over 70 used cars on the lot!” I said, “yeah, so does every other dealership. And a lot closer to home. I am NOT going to drive 35 miles to buy just any old car. You had a specific vehicle I wanted to look at, and I did.” He was like, “So you don’t want to deal with us at all?” Really?! NO! How stupid would I be to drive 35 miles to buy a car?! He finally hung up and wow was I right in my immediate estimation of his personality when I met him!!!
Ok, so. I went and walked Molly and took 20 minutes convincing Ernie that I wasn’t going to hurt him before he would let me put the leash on to take him outside, and by the time I got out of there it was after 3 pm. I decided on a whim to stop at a Hyundai dealership and just look at the cars. I did actually really like the looks of the Sonata, and they had one in a stick shift even. But it was a 2009 and 20k. WAY out of my price range. They had some used ones, 2007 and 08, which were much cheaper, and I was even thinking so what if it’s an automatic, it’s a tiny little high-mpg car! But nothing was under 14k.
So I went to the Toyota dealership where the other CRV I had found is. I didn’t even really go to look at the CRV by this time, but to see if they had any stick-shift used Corollas or maybe a used Tacoma truck. They did have a Tacoma that was pretty nice, a 2006 stick shift one, but it was still 20k. And even the small trucks don’t get more than about 15 mpg, which if that’s all I am going to get I might as well keep my big truck! So I went and looked at the CRV. It’s a 2005 with 86k miles. I actually liked it a LOT more than the other one, and as a bonus it has these thick rubber floor mats for mud, including a large one that covers the whole of the cargo area and even has about a 2-inch lip on it. I looked at that and thought how PERFECT for hauling dirty dogs. (I have two big dogs, malamute and husky, that when I petsit them I have to take them somewhere to walk because of where they live. And they are always very dirty when we get done, especially if it’s raining/muddy or spring or fall.)
I went and found a salesguy (who was very personable and I instantly liked) and test drove it, and there was an obvious problem with the brakes. A warped rotor or something. And I am not positive the transmission is in really good shape, it felt kind of gravelly and the clutch was much stiffer than the ’06 one. But it does have 30k more miles on it. And I thought that even if I have to replace the transmission in a couple years, if the car itself lasts 250k miles it will be worth it.
By this time it was 4:30, I was supposed to do a dog visit at 5 pm, and I told the guy I didn’t have a lot of time to dicker. I said, “I don’t have my trade with me, unless you want my Saturn too.” He said, “we’ll take 2-for-1” I ALMOST said, “You do not want this piece of garbage Saturn!! Do you know how much stuff is wrong with it?!” But I bit my tongue and let him get the appraiser guy out to look at it. They offered me 500$! I about FELL OVER. I was planning to put the car on craigslist as a mechanic’s special for 300$ if I got something newer! HAHA! It was all I could do not to dance with glee!
Then we discussed my truck and he went and talked to the appraiser guy about it and said that without seeing it obviously they could not give me a firm figure, but they thought somewhere between 1- $2,000. I said I was hoping to get $2500 for it.
By the way, this CRV was listed on Autotrader.com at 15k, but the salesguy showed me where they had advertised it in a paper or something for 13k! So we did some figuring and it was going to be close to 11k out the door, even if they give me $2500 for my truck. I said I was really wanted to go no higher than 10k out the door. And he said would you do $10,500? And I said yes, if I get $2500 for my truck and can get out the door with $10,500 I will buy the CRV. (of course they will fix the brakes first, on Tuesday probably) So he went and asked his finance guy who agreed that we would do that contingent on the truck being worth what I think it is.
I am taking my truck for them to look at on Monday, and if they agree then we will do the paperwork then. The service area is closed for the holiday which is why the brakes can’t be fixed until Tuesday. He said if I wanted to take it home Monday and bring it back for repair on Tuesday I could. But I was like, why would I do all that extra running around? I’ll just pick it up when I bring in my trades. Besides I am WAY too busy for all that excess running around!
But this car has absolutely got to last me at LEAST 6 years. If I put 30k a year on it then 6 years is 180k, added to the 85 already on it and I am well over 250k miles. That’s a good car! I just hope it really does live up to the Honda hype and expectations. (All I hear is how long they last, of people getting 2-300k miles on the CRVs) Today I am having some second thoughts about that gravelly feeling in the transmission and I think that tomorrow when I take the truck in for appraisal I am going to ask to drive it again, and also that they drain the transmission fluid and check for metal. If the gears are stripped it can be rebuilt and I’d rather do it now than wait until the whole gearbox is destroyed.
If I do buy it I am going to do what my mechanic suggested and get a hitch put on it and buy either a small trailer or one of those flat platforms you see on the backs of cars with coolers and stuff on them. That would hold a dead deer and be way cheaper than keeping a big truck just to haul firewood or deer carcasses. I’d have to borrow Bruce’s truck for firewood, or have it delivered, or rent a truck from Lowes... there are any number of ways to get things done without keeping two vehicles in my possession ‘just in case’. I have never had two vehicles before and yet it has become hard for me to think of not having that backup, just because of the whole owning-my-own-business thing and needing to be ultra responsible. I can’t just call in sick if my car breaks down. But it’s ridiculous to pay tags and insurance and inspections/repairs on a vehicle that I drive less than 2,000 miles a year, just in case something happens to my other one! At worst I’d have to borrow one from someone else and the dogs might miss a day of being walked or get visited late. It would not be the end of the world!
In other news, this morning when I went to do visits I totally forgot it was Sunday and I wanted to be home in time to go to church! I played with puppies, including a neighbor puppy of a cat I was visiting, went to the grocery store with the bank inside to deposit checks, and just wandered around shopping until the bank opened at 10. I was leaving the store when I suddenly realized it was Sunday! HA! Oh well, I’ll have a day of relaxing instead, at least until I go back out at 4:30.
My clients who do Eskie (American Eskimo) rescue have a foster who had puppies about 2 months ago. The mother dog has a genetic defect which left one of her front legs as a ‘flipper’ instead of a leg. Well, they think she bred with her brother (who they also have fostering, he’s Spot in my Flickr client album, they are Eskie/Chi crosses) and of the 4 puppies, only two were born with 4 legs. The rest of the puppies have been adopted out but the one remaining one has only his two hind legs. Not even flippers in front, just little points of bone under the skin where the joint is. He has shoulder joints but nothing connected to them. He is only 8-9 weeks old but he is learning to get around and OH is he CUTE. They are planning to teach him to walk on his hind legs like a circus dog, but in the meanwhile he humps along like an inchworm. This morning I took him out in the grass and he even managed to do the doggy hunch to poop, with no front legs to brace himself with. He is going to be amazing I think. I am going to take my camera this evening and see if I can get some good shots of him sitting up, he looks like a prairie dog when he does that!
They have him separated from his mother and the rest of the pack, (currently there are 6 adult dogs in their house!) due to his deformity probably the pack would kill him. I think the mother would prefer to be with him but she is a mean aggressive (to humans and I think the other dogs give her wide berth too) dog (but a good mother) and they want her to get used to not having her puppies and are trying to socialize her. She HATES me and has tried to bite me twice already, the rest of the time she stands on the couch and barks the entire time I am there caring for them. She hasn’t eaten since the clients left yesterday morning and I can’t leave food down for her because the other dogs just eat it. So I don’t know what to do for her. I have given her food and taken all the other dogs outside with me to give her peace but she just barks and is too upset to eat. A few days (they come home tomorrow) won’t hurt her but they are planning to go away for 10 days in July, she won’t live that long without food! Well, a healthy dog won’t starve itself so she will eat or she won’t!
Toby is still hanging in there. He is doing pretty well so far with the heat, but it is at least cooling of into the 60’s at night still. He goes for a walk with me every night after the sun goes down, not very far but he is always excited to go when I get the leash out. I had his urine checked for kidney function a few days ago, just because he had been drinking a lot and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t developing kidney problems. It was totally fine. He is still waking me up at 2 or 3 or 4 am for breakfast, but usually if I feed him (I refuse to feed him at 2 am!) he goes back to sleep for the rest of the night. Sometimes he must be uncomfortable or maybe confused because he will pace the house for a couple hours, keeping me awake. I get up and let him out repeatedly when he does that but he doesn’t want out he just wants to pace. He looooves his pig bones too. He’s doing so great for 15 years old, I am amazed and grateful everyday.
I hope you are having a fantastic holiday weekend, and if it’s not a holiday where you are, it should be so have a cookout anyway!
The first one was newer, a 2006 with 56k miles, and in a town about 35 miles from me, so I went there after my morning cat visit. It turns out that there are two dealerships of the same name in that town, and I had gone to the wrong one. But the salesman quickly assured me he could bring the car down so I could look at it there. I wished he would just let me go to where it was, because I was instantly NOT enamored of this guy and knew right away that I probably would not buy anything from him. But, I wanted to see the car so I waited while they went and got it.
This salesman was older, I’d guess in his 60’s, and he definitely talked down to me as a woman buying a car. That was so very strange to me because it has never really happened before! He was pointing out all the ‘niceties’ of the car, the air bags all over the place and the sun roof and the 6-CD changer. How clean it was. Stuff like that, when all I care about is how it runs and how long it will last me! He was astounded when I laid on the ground to look underneath it for any obvious leaks. HA! So we took it for a test drive and wow, that car was SWEET. It shifted so smoothly, which was really nice after I have been fighting with my Saturn for months. But after we got back to the dealer and I was looking it over more… looking at the cargo area and envisioning putting dogs in there, well, I just wasn’t sure it was what I REALLY wanted.
So inside we go and I wait some more while he gets the appraiser to look at my truck and take it around the block. They offered me $1850 for my truck. WHAT?! I said, “I was hoping to get at least 2500 for it…” And the salesman had the nerve to point out to me that they had REDUCED the price of the CRV from $17995 to $15980, and that I should consider that 2k reduction as part of my trade in. Seriously?! I pointed out to him that I did not come in to look at a 18k vehicle, that it was listed at $15980 when I found it online so it was nothing whatever to ME what they had originally wanted for it. I think that flustered him a little. I said, “well, we are obviously nowhere close to agreement about the price of this vehicle, I would like to think about it.” And got up to leave. Then he said what if we give you the $2500 for the truck? I was like, well, what does that do to my out-the-door price? And he did some figuring and said with tax and tags and etc. it was still going to be something like $14,500 out the door. I said, “No thanks.” And left. This guy was desperately practically YELLING at me as I left, all flustered and saying, stuff like, “what about $13,500? You NEED to buy this car! What about...?!!” I was like, really? NEED? I don’t NEED to buy anything! And got in my truck and drove off.
I had been there by this time about 2 hours, and I had just enough time to run back home and get my car and go walk Molly. It’s a good 45 minute drive back from that town so on the way home I was thinking about vehicles. And why did I want the CRV? I should just buy a nice cheap but newer car. But then the whole reason I wanted 4-wheel or all-wheel drive, especially if I only have one vehicle, is for winter, especially for getting out of my driveway. And why wouldn’t I just buy a smaller truck and put a cap on it and haul the dogs in the back? All these thoughts were spinning through my head.
So, I ran home, got the car, and headed out for Molly. On the way the phone rang and it was that sales guy. He said, “Did we do something WRONG that you left in such a hurry? Even my manager was concerned!” I just rolled my eyes so hard I am surprised they didn’t stick in the back of my head and make me wreck, but I said no, it was obvious we were nowhere close to my price range. He said, “what were you really looking for?” I said, “I need something around 11-12k, and there is no way you were going to do that with that CRV.” Then he said, “well, what about something else? For that price you are going to have to go a LOT older or a different vehicle.” I was like, “whatever! If I have to buy a car I will!” So he says, “Can I help you find something else then? We do have over 70 used cars on the lot!” I said, “yeah, so does every other dealership. And a lot closer to home. I am NOT going to drive 35 miles to buy just any old car. You had a specific vehicle I wanted to look at, and I did.” He was like, “So you don’t want to deal with us at all?” Really?! NO! How stupid would I be to drive 35 miles to buy a car?! He finally hung up and wow was I right in my immediate estimation of his personality when I met him!!!
Ok, so. I went and walked Molly and took 20 minutes convincing Ernie that I wasn’t going to hurt him before he would let me put the leash on to take him outside, and by the time I got out of there it was after 3 pm. I decided on a whim to stop at a Hyundai dealership and just look at the cars. I did actually really like the looks of the Sonata, and they had one in a stick shift even. But it was a 2009 and 20k. WAY out of my price range. They had some used ones, 2007 and 08, which were much cheaper, and I was even thinking so what if it’s an automatic, it’s a tiny little high-mpg car! But nothing was under 14k.
So I went to the Toyota dealership where the other CRV I had found is. I didn’t even really go to look at the CRV by this time, but to see if they had any stick-shift used Corollas or maybe a used Tacoma truck. They did have a Tacoma that was pretty nice, a 2006 stick shift one, but it was still 20k. And even the small trucks don’t get more than about 15 mpg, which if that’s all I am going to get I might as well keep my big truck! So I went and looked at the CRV. It’s a 2005 with 86k miles. I actually liked it a LOT more than the other one, and as a bonus it has these thick rubber floor mats for mud, including a large one that covers the whole of the cargo area and even has about a 2-inch lip on it. I looked at that and thought how PERFECT for hauling dirty dogs. (I have two big dogs, malamute and husky, that when I petsit them I have to take them somewhere to walk because of where they live. And they are always very dirty when we get done, especially if it’s raining/muddy or spring or fall.)
I went and found a salesguy (who was very personable and I instantly liked) and test drove it, and there was an obvious problem with the brakes. A warped rotor or something. And I am not positive the transmission is in really good shape, it felt kind of gravelly and the clutch was much stiffer than the ’06 one. But it does have 30k more miles on it. And I thought that even if I have to replace the transmission in a couple years, if the car itself lasts 250k miles it will be worth it.
By this time it was 4:30, I was supposed to do a dog visit at 5 pm, and I told the guy I didn’t have a lot of time to dicker. I said, “I don’t have my trade with me, unless you want my Saturn too.” He said, “we’ll take 2-for-1” I ALMOST said, “You do not want this piece of garbage Saturn!! Do you know how much stuff is wrong with it?!” But I bit my tongue and let him get the appraiser guy out to look at it. They offered me 500$! I about FELL OVER. I was planning to put the car on craigslist as a mechanic’s special for 300$ if I got something newer! HAHA! It was all I could do not to dance with glee!
Then we discussed my truck and he went and talked to the appraiser guy about it and said that without seeing it obviously they could not give me a firm figure, but they thought somewhere between 1- $2,000. I said I was hoping to get $2500 for it.
By the way, this CRV was listed on Autotrader.com at 15k, but the salesguy showed me where they had advertised it in a paper or something for 13k! So we did some figuring and it was going to be close to 11k out the door, even if they give me $2500 for my truck. I said I was really wanted to go no higher than 10k out the door. And he said would you do $10,500? And I said yes, if I get $2500 for my truck and can get out the door with $10,500 I will buy the CRV. (of course they will fix the brakes first, on Tuesday probably) So he went and asked his finance guy who agreed that we would do that contingent on the truck being worth what I think it is.
I am taking my truck for them to look at on Monday, and if they agree then we will do the paperwork then. The service area is closed for the holiday which is why the brakes can’t be fixed until Tuesday. He said if I wanted to take it home Monday and bring it back for repair on Tuesday I could. But I was like, why would I do all that extra running around? I’ll just pick it up when I bring in my trades. Besides I am WAY too busy for all that excess running around!
But this car has absolutely got to last me at LEAST 6 years. If I put 30k a year on it then 6 years is 180k, added to the 85 already on it and I am well over 250k miles. That’s a good car! I just hope it really does live up to the Honda hype and expectations. (All I hear is how long they last, of people getting 2-300k miles on the CRVs) Today I am having some second thoughts about that gravelly feeling in the transmission and I think that tomorrow when I take the truck in for appraisal I am going to ask to drive it again, and also that they drain the transmission fluid and check for metal. If the gears are stripped it can be rebuilt and I’d rather do it now than wait until the whole gearbox is destroyed.
If I do buy it I am going to do what my mechanic suggested and get a hitch put on it and buy either a small trailer or one of those flat platforms you see on the backs of cars with coolers and stuff on them. That would hold a dead deer and be way cheaper than keeping a big truck just to haul firewood or deer carcasses. I’d have to borrow Bruce’s truck for firewood, or have it delivered, or rent a truck from Lowes... there are any number of ways to get things done without keeping two vehicles in my possession ‘just in case’. I have never had two vehicles before and yet it has become hard for me to think of not having that backup, just because of the whole owning-my-own-business thing and needing to be ultra responsible. I can’t just call in sick if my car breaks down. But it’s ridiculous to pay tags and insurance and inspections/repairs on a vehicle that I drive less than 2,000 miles a year, just in case something happens to my other one! At worst I’d have to borrow one from someone else and the dogs might miss a day of being walked or get visited late. It would not be the end of the world!
In other news, this morning when I went to do visits I totally forgot it was Sunday and I wanted to be home in time to go to church! I played with puppies, including a neighbor puppy of a cat I was visiting, went to the grocery store with the bank inside to deposit checks, and just wandered around shopping until the bank opened at 10. I was leaving the store when I suddenly realized it was Sunday! HA! Oh well, I’ll have a day of relaxing instead, at least until I go back out at 4:30.
My clients who do Eskie (American Eskimo) rescue have a foster who had puppies about 2 months ago. The mother dog has a genetic defect which left one of her front legs as a ‘flipper’ instead of a leg. Well, they think she bred with her brother (who they also have fostering, he’s Spot in my Flickr client album, they are Eskie/Chi crosses) and of the 4 puppies, only two were born with 4 legs. The rest of the puppies have been adopted out but the one remaining one has only his two hind legs. Not even flippers in front, just little points of bone under the skin where the joint is. He has shoulder joints but nothing connected to them. He is only 8-9 weeks old but he is learning to get around and OH is he CUTE. They are planning to teach him to walk on his hind legs like a circus dog, but in the meanwhile he humps along like an inchworm. This morning I took him out in the grass and he even managed to do the doggy hunch to poop, with no front legs to brace himself with. He is going to be amazing I think. I am going to take my camera this evening and see if I can get some good shots of him sitting up, he looks like a prairie dog when he does that!
They have him separated from his mother and the rest of the pack, (currently there are 6 adult dogs in their house!) due to his deformity probably the pack would kill him. I think the mother would prefer to be with him but she is a mean aggressive (to humans and I think the other dogs give her wide berth too) dog (but a good mother) and they want her to get used to not having her puppies and are trying to socialize her. She HATES me and has tried to bite me twice already, the rest of the time she stands on the couch and barks the entire time I am there caring for them. She hasn’t eaten since the clients left yesterday morning and I can’t leave food down for her because the other dogs just eat it. So I don’t know what to do for her. I have given her food and taken all the other dogs outside with me to give her peace but she just barks and is too upset to eat. A few days (they come home tomorrow) won’t hurt her but they are planning to go away for 10 days in July, she won’t live that long without food! Well, a healthy dog won’t starve itself so she will eat or she won’t!
Toby is still hanging in there. He is doing pretty well so far with the heat, but it is at least cooling of into the 60’s at night still. He goes for a walk with me every night after the sun goes down, not very far but he is always excited to go when I get the leash out. I had his urine checked for kidney function a few days ago, just because he had been drinking a lot and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t developing kidney problems. It was totally fine. He is still waking me up at 2 or 3 or 4 am for breakfast, but usually if I feed him (I refuse to feed him at 2 am!) he goes back to sleep for the rest of the night. Sometimes he must be uncomfortable or maybe confused because he will pace the house for a couple hours, keeping me awake. I get up and let him out repeatedly when he does that but he doesn’t want out he just wants to pace. He looooves his pig bones too. He’s doing so great for 15 years old, I am amazed and grateful everyday.
I hope you are having a fantastic holiday weekend, and if it’s not a holiday where you are, it should be so have a cookout anyway!
Leave a comment