So that was fun

After learning that with interest rates it might as well suit me to get a new car altogether, I had to start shopping within my price range. I don't know what that is exactly, but the bigger the number, the more scared I become. I'm an American girl, grew up with Ford cars and became sold that GM is really the only car company that matters now. After the Bauermobile, if I don't drive anything but a Chevy for the rest of my life, I'd be okay with that. So the Aveo is really cute, fuel efficient, and affordable and last night I looked at a couple and drove one. This is how my evening started out:

Amy (to mom): I want my daddy to go with me to the dealer but he won't.
Mom: Yeah, he said he wasn't going to go.
Amy: I know it!
(dad enters)
Mom: I think you should go with Amy to look at cars.
Dad: No, that makes her look like a little girl (this is my wording from an earlier conversation, btw - I hate when my own words get used against me like that).
Mom: But she's your little girl.
Amy: laughing
Dad: No, she's shopping and getting an impression of the dealer.
(topic continued, but that was the highlight)

So, I went by myself to the Chevy dealer right by my house. The guy was really nice and couldn't believe that I didn't have someone to use for the employee discount. Anyway, he gave me a pitch about the car. I never heard someone talk so negatively about a stick shift. Honestly, you have way more control and get better gas mileage with a manual transmission. But who am I? He said but for this amount of money you get an automatic, which will save you money because when the clutches burn out, it's like a thousand bucks to replace. Um, no! Yes, clutches burn out, but not often (my dad got 100,000 miles before he had to replace his) AND he only paid about 400 to replace it. It also turns out that there were no sticks on the lot. HAHA. So that explained it. We went out to look at them a couple of times. The first, I don't know what for. Then the second was to test drive. He got the keys, made a copy of my drivers license, and took me on a tour of the lot. Either the information in the computer or his map was wrong, but the car ended up being at the front of the lot and right where we started. He said, I bet it's that one up there, I said I bet it is too, because you only had two four-doors in two colors and they are right there. He said how much do you want to bet? I said how about the whole car? He said I could have it if it wasn't it. I lost for the reasons I just mentioned. Ah well. He let me go on my own, which I thought was odd. I like the car, it's nice and roomy inside, but I like the five-door version better. It's sportier, cuter, and they have more color selection. ;) It costs a little bit more, but for 400 bucks, I might as well get what I really like. I got a number because he "found" a rebate for me. And now I have that to go on.

Next week, fishing around more area Chevy dealers and getting more numbers. I really want to buy it from that guy, but I have a couple weeks yet before that's an option. And now that I have a more realistic number, I might start the loan process sooner rather than later. I might check outside the metro area also, dealers in smaller towns might be cheaper - they tend to want to move their inventory quickly. And somehow, at the suggestion of the sales guy at Moran, I need to find an uncle that works in GM.

All in all, it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be. I don't know why I thought it would be. The guy was nice enough, called me Aim almost from the start (which I just think is really funny, my name being so long and all), and we were able to laugh. He also laughed at the Super Chev, but personally, I think he's just jealous. ;) He was also impressed that I got that care five years ago and that it's even still running. ha. Not everyday you come across a 15 year old car with 271,000+ miles on it. And I decided that any small amount they would give me for a trade-in (but I don't think they would even consider it) would be an insult to me and my car. I know that if I sell it I won't get more than 500 bucks for it, but I want it to be on my own accord. And I want to keep it forever. HA. Hey, it could happen. ;)

Gotta get ready for work now.