Mass Transportation

We are looking to buy a new car. We were kind of considering used, but the dealerships "encourage" you to buy new and the pressure was too much. As far as I was concerned, I was hoping to get another two or three years out of the vehicles we have because the thought of a car payment right now is daunting. Not just mentally overwhelming, but I'm wondering what kind of mathematical trickery am I going to have to pull out of my pocket to make this work. Hmmm..... so many ideas. I've played some serious Russian Roulette with my check book before, and managed to fire off a few rounds - ouch. It use to be a lot easier to do before the Internets screwed everything up what with Internet banking. Oh wait! I'm on the Internets now, aren't I. Don't let the whole plural thing fool you, there really is only one, right? Or is there another Internet that exists in another time and dimension? Just something to ponder.

But I digress. I'm trying to think what will need to be offered up to the Gods in order for us to swing this car payment? No more meat for dinner? Name brand cereals? Heat? Clothing? So many choices. I absolutely put my foot down with the kids - they still bring in a nice tax deduction. Just so we are all on the same page (assuming there is an "all" reading this), we are not buying a high end vehicle like a Mercedes, BMW, etc... not even close. It is a toss up between a Yaris and a Fit. Ooooh so many choices! Both ride like a card board (corrugated) box with wheels on it - smooth. I believe my son's skate board rides nicer and could possibly have more leg room. To be honest the Scion is now in the picture as well because we were told that they do not ship the Yaris's with cruise control & fog lights to the Northeast. Ok, why? No, really, I would like to know why? You go into a dealer and they give you that lovely glossy brochure that lists all the options and the different prices, some of which come in packages, and on that list it clearly states Fog lights & cruise control as an option and there was NO disclaimer stating "Offer is not good in Dutchess County, NY". It's times like this you just want to go absolutely postal in a dealership (my apologies to all those fine postal workers out there who still remain perfectly sane). I realize we are dealing with sales people and they are a special breed of person. I also realize they are trying to unload the cars they have in stock (out in the dealer parking lot) rather than have new vehicles shipped in. All because some pain in the arse customer won't do as their told. So here I am trying to think why they would tell us this? Isn't it all about making the customer happy? As in big smile...we'll shop here for ever and ever because y'all are great! Hugs and kisses all the way around. No, some schmuck doesn't want to clean the snow off all the cars that are still left in the lot during winter - we sometimes get snow here in the Northeast, unlike some states like, oh I don't know... California?

My husband and I are pretty much both of the opinion, it needs to be reliable and get us (him) from point A to point B which is an hour each way, every single day. I figure when money is less tight....... had to stop for a moment because I was laughing/crying, we can get a nicer vehicle (for me!). Maybe when I'm discovered from writing this blog and somebody out there wants to make a book about me & my blog and then Julia Roberts plays me in a movie about my blog.... You all are invited to my book signing by the way. There I go again with the "all". I have various versions of the back jacket photo they will use, floating around in my head. Where was I?

So, we are hoping we wrap this up by this weekend, because we are trading in our 2000 Honda Civic and I'm told it's better to drive the vehicle you are trading in as opposed to your husband behind the wheel and me and the kids pushing it into the lot, all the while ducking behind the trunk and making engine type noises to try and fool the salespeople into thinking that the car was running. I drove the Honda to work today and it chugged like a choo choo all the way. It's worse when I stop at lights, not sure why, but the thing vibrates but bad. I think I threw a disc out in my back. Also makes it kind of hard to drink coffee. I do believe I chipped a tooth taking a swig from my Starbucks Travel Mug. Thank GOD I wasn't applying make up at that time! It also doesn't show you in the best light to fellow drivers...hairs out of place (understatement), chipped tooth and your flailing around (because of the chugging) like you are possessed...Soooo attractive!