My Johnny!

So, as you are aware...my lease is up, and I am in search of a new car. This search comes at an absolutely terrible time for us. But, I suppose it's better that it happens now rather than in 2 months! Let me tell you. It ain't easy trying to find a car you like, that is big enough for your family, on a limited budget.

Here is a summary of my test-drives:

Volkswagon CC = pure, unadulterated lust = too expensive. Finally a VW car that doesn't make me feel like the jolly green giant. In a different situation...this car would be mine! In three years...maybe it will be.

Nissan Altima = still really like inside and out. Insurance has drastically increased for some reason which makes it too expensive. Returning Nissan lessee advantages.

Nissan Rogue = super-de-duper cute and fun. Rear visibility issues. Price is right. Returning Nissan lessee advantages.

Hyundai Sonata = very nice interior, super smooth ride, good meaty car. Very impressed. Hyundai has changed a lot over the years. Love the Assurance program...especially now. Price could be right if the salesperson wasn't a cross between Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson. He doesn't want to work with me, so I am walking away.

Toyota Corolla = "Sport" package. Super cute. Fun to drive. Nice interior, fun sporty exterior, nice handling. Teeny back seat. Price is right.

Toyota Camry = Nice smooth ride, asthetically pleasing interior. Bored to tears. Nothing, absolutely nothing, about this car makes me want to buy it. Couldn't wait to get out of it for fear of falling asleep at the wheel or my hair turning blue.

Mazda 6 = slick, super slick, exterior. Big bold front end. Nice interior. Terrible ride. Sluggish. Bumpy. Ick. Don't even care how much it costs. Not interested.

And now the top 2:

Scion xB = decided to drive on a whim. Have always thought they were fun and funky. Enter vehicle=LOVE. Drive vehicle=LOVE. Price vehicle=love. No haggle price...don't love. Aside from the funk-factor of this vehicle, I love the cavernous interior, the layout of everything on the inside - the use of space is fantastic, the ride is nice and smooth, firm handling, meaty feeling. The price is right...the gas mileage - eh, not so much.

Prius = Love. Love the roomy interior, love the handling, the smooth shift from battery to gas, super quiet cabin. I'm a city driver...this is the perfect option for me. 48 mpg average. Price = HIGH.

Now the fun stuff:

The Prius dealership brought the vehicle to me for a test drive. Quality customer service. The price was high. I started negotiating pretty agressively by asking for $4000 off the MSRP, there is a $1000 cash back bonus, so I was really asking for 5k off. They couldn't do it, but claimed they had shaved all they could off the price. It was too much for our limited budget, so I thanked them and walked away.

I fell in love with the xB and had convinced myself that I was going to get it, the only thing holding me back was the terrible gas mileage (22/28, really?). The Prius sales manager would occassionally send me emails and I would reply with "still looking", "the Prius is too expensive", etc. They also sell the Corolla, which, other than the small back seat, it was still in my top 4.

Then all the sudden, the Prius guy sends me another offer, which happens to be nearly $40 less per month. Hmmm. The only catch - he can no longer do a dealer trade at this price, so I am stuck with one of the three he has on his lot. Red, light blue or white. Well...white is the only one I would even consider. I've had white vehicles in the past...do I care? I'm not sure. I really wanted black. The xB is black!

Insurance on the xB vs the Prius is within a few dollars. And now the payment is within a few dollars. They are lined up side by side...I love them both, they are the same cost monthly...except for one nagging factor. The gas mileage. 22 mpg vs 48 mpg. There really is no comparison.

I really think I HAVE TO be practical, for once. It would really be stupid of me to get the xB simply because I love the funky factor and blackness.

I do love the Prius. I think I have to get it. When gas prices top $4/gallon again (and you're kidding yourself if you think they won't) I will be smiling! *cheesy white car smile*

****

I wrote the above blog entry Sunday night. I was 90% sure I was going to get the Prius. I woke up Monday morning, cancelled the appointment for my husband to drive the xB and went to work. I, once again, weighed pros and cons. You may think I'm obsessing, but given our situation, there really isn't much wiggle room where I need to be with the overall monthly cost of the vehicle. I started drafting an email to the Prius dealer, telling them I liked their offer and would like to buy it from them.

Then my blackberry buzzes. The xB guy. He's sorry I cancelled & *needs* to talk to me. May be able to work out a deal. Basically, I tell him if he can meet or beat the Prius offer and get me one in black - he would win the Prius purchase. If he could make the xB more attractive, to make up for the gas mileage issue, I would re-consider the xB.

He can't even come close to the Prius deal. But, be comes back with a payment of $40 less per month than the original **NO HAGGLE** pricing on the xB, same terms. Huh? I ask for details. I get them. I told him I thought the xB pricing was "Pure Pricing" and there was no negotiating. He said he wasn't negotiating. He was breaking the rules. Hmmm. Well, rules ARE meant to be broken.

So, now, I'm back on the xB bandwagon. I mean, seriously, the $40 payment difference makes up for the gas mileage, it's black, and it's what I wanted to begin with. Done. We get it Saturday.

The pursuit of happyness....Johnny Cab style.

*cheesy black car with terrible gas mileage grin*