What can I say? I'm in love with our van. It's wonderful to have the kids spread out, far enough away that I can ignore them properly and they can't invade on each others personal space. It's a win win situation.
Of course there are a few quirks that will need to be "ironed" out over the next few months as we put the car in tip-top shape. (thank heavens for extra $$ from piano lessons)
But we couldn't have too much good luck flowing our direction. Because that would be unheard of!
On the way home from church the kids and I sweated bullets as we made the 10min ride home in 95 degree heat (+ humidity) without a working a/c. Least to say we were ALL bears by the time we pulled into the garage. With hungry belly's, little one's needing naps and sweaty church clothes...Larry was lucky to not get his head ripped off by momma bear when he pulled up. He graciously ignored my teenage rampage of ANOTHER ISSUE to deal with and let me eat lunch before entering into a heated discussion about the van's broken a/c.
Personally I wasn't looking forward to another LONG drive to the dealership for some "diagnostic" help...but what choice did we have?
So it was settled. This morning I moved the car seats back into my friends car (thankfully I still had it) and sent Larry off to work, planning on picking him up later in the day back in Arlington. Least to say, there was a HUGE frown on my face.
Flashes of "NOT AGAIN", running through my head.
But not 5 mins after he left, Larry called asking...
"Did you play with any of the buttons before you left church?"
(thinking, thinking)
"OH yeah, I pushed the button to circulate the car inside the car instead of breathing nasty, exhaust filled air and then I turned off the 'defroster'. I didn't know why we had that on."
"Rae, it wasn't the defroster button. It was the a/c button. It works fine. I'm currently driving in a very cold car."
"OH! Really? I'm THAT stupid?"
"No! Heck, I'm really, really GLAD it's the button and not the a/c."
He was very gracious for not reaming me. He had every right to. Especially since I'm usually the electronic guru and here I am shouting claims of a broken a/c when it was ME all along. So as of today I don't know who is more embarrassed...
Me for being retarded,
OR
Larry for having to drive a Mom-mobile to work.
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car. Show all posts
Monday, August 10, 2009
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Bite The Bullet
Is the anticipation killing you?
I know my family is MORE then
done hearing all of the "car talk"
we've been sending their way!!
I know my family is MORE then
done hearing all of the "car talk"
we've been sending their way!!
So if you happen to live in
4-knee
and want to see what is sitting
in my garage right now....
you'd see this beauty!
4-knee
and want to see what is sitting
in my garage right now....
you'd see this beauty!
Did you know that for the priceof a '97 Buick with 127k miles
you can get this?
A 2000 Chrysler Town & Country
with 7 leather seats, and 150k miles!
We found this "white knight" on a mega
street filled with used car dealerships in
Arlington. We've watched it drop in price
over the week and then pounced when it struck
close to our price range. But with a few minutes of
smoodging Larry got us a FAB-U-LOUS car
(tax, title, license, fees included)
for measly $2500.
Talk about squeezing every cent out of our cash!!
It took time, a lot of effort, but we found it.
Our new family car.
I'm really surprised at how many people and dealerships
were annoyed that we weren't willing to fork over
more $dough$ by taking out a loan.
It's like just paying things with the cash we had
was "blasphemous".
But we stuck to our guns,
and with the help & support
of many friends and family,
we came out on TOP!!
So now that we've had a month long crash course on how to sell and purchase a car we're thinking about writing a book or at least teaching a night class at the local community college.
Quick Tips on Car Transactions 101
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Did I Just See Ashton Kutcher?
Last night we struck gold! Our pot was clearly visible at the end of my rainbow.
We had found THE PERFECT CAR.
It had everything we were looking for, and them some.
The captain chairs instead of a bench, great color, cd player (which isn't always evident in 11 year old cars), no mechanical problems, no a/c problems and best of all LEATHER. Can't say no to that!
We took it for a test drive and bartered with the sellers...all seemed to be going our way.
We asked for $200 off since the registration and inspection were a few months expired.
Then a little bump in the road...
The title was in someone else's name. Apparently they had purchased the car from someone else a few months previous. And were planning on getting down to Mexico at a Father's request. But money fell short and it was now necessary to sell it. This flew up some red flags for us. It was an out of state title and we didn't want to have any "surprise" when we took it to the county offices. So Larry insisted (even though in my heart I wanted to take the keys and run) we meet them tomorrow morning at the county offices for the switch.
They agreed. They shook on it.
On the drive home Larry and I discussed all that we needed to plan for in the next 12 hours. Excited that this endless search was now coming to an end. After pouring on the gratitude to our friends for babysitting our kids, we went to work. Calling insurance companies, finding an inspection place near the county offices, finding a babysitter, etc...
Only to receive a call at 830pm saying, they just sold it to someone else and they were really "sorry".
Say what?
But sorry wasn't going to cut it. Not for me. Because for this emotional purchaser was already daydreaming about my next drive in that car, full of my kids, off to anywhere.
Larry tried to comfort me, but I couldn't even face him.
Deep down, I felt like I... Rachel Roberts... was being PUNKED.
And as of that moment, my mind was made up. I'm done. I'm emotionally spent. Completely checked out. I can't do it anymore. Larry has full power of attorney. He can pick out whatever he wants (even that minivan that looked like a freakin' taxi), I don't care.
I refuse to let my year long hopes for a larger car for our family be crushed anymore.
I know this is ending on an extremely personal note, but this blog is called "mom-therapy".
And if anyone needs any of that today, it would be me.
We had found THE PERFECT CAR.
It had everything we were looking for, and them some.
The captain chairs instead of a bench, great color, cd player (which isn't always evident in 11 year old cars), no mechanical problems, no a/c problems and best of all LEATHER. Can't say no to that!
We took it for a test drive and bartered with the sellers...all seemed to be going our way.
We asked for $200 off since the registration and inspection were a few months expired.
Then a little bump in the road...
The title was in someone else's name. Apparently they had purchased the car from someone else a few months previous. And were planning on getting down to Mexico at a Father's request. But money fell short and it was now necessary to sell it. This flew up some red flags for us. It was an out of state title and we didn't want to have any "surprise" when we took it to the county offices. So Larry insisted (even though in my heart I wanted to take the keys and run) we meet them tomorrow morning at the county offices for the switch.
They agreed. They shook on it.
On the drive home Larry and I discussed all that we needed to plan for in the next 12 hours. Excited that this endless search was now coming to an end. After pouring on the gratitude to our friends for babysitting our kids, we went to work. Calling insurance companies, finding an inspection place near the county offices, finding a babysitter, etc...
Only to receive a call at 830pm saying, they just sold it to someone else and they were really "sorry".
Say what?
But sorry wasn't going to cut it. Not for me. Because for this emotional purchaser was already daydreaming about my next drive in that car, full of my kids, off to anywhere.
Larry tried to comfort me, but I couldn't even face him.
Deep down, I felt like I... Rachel Roberts... was being PUNKED.
And as of that moment, my mind was made up. I'm done. I'm emotionally spent. Completely checked out. I can't do it anymore. Larry has full power of attorney. He can pick out whatever he wants (even that minivan that looked like a freakin' taxi), I don't care.
I refuse to let my year long hopes for a larger car for our family be crushed anymore.
I know this is ending on an extremely personal note, but this blog is called "mom-therapy".
And if anyone needs any of that today, it would be me.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Why Can't Everyone Be More Like Me?
After my experience selling our 12 year old Buick,
like oatmeal (quick & easy).
I assumed that purchasing a van for our family would be just as delightful.
Instead I've been slapped up-side my face with a rude awakening!
It's been awhile since I've had to interact with my fellow community members.
With 4 young children most of my face to face is either with grocery store clerks, neighbors and teachers. Mainly a small percentage of the city at large. When I meet others I automatically assume that they are just like me. The average person, that loves their family, wants to make the world a better place and generally tries to find happiness in this life.
You know, people with a conscience.
However, after sending Larry on at least 9 reconnaissance missions and joining him for 1 (to see it with my own eyes), I was flabbergasted, perturbed, disturbed and shocked with how much people LIE. Blatantly. Flat out. Down right. Lie. And then, dust it off, like it's no big deal.
But let me explain.
With our own piece of scrap metal (I mean slice of '97 heaven) there were a few, shall we say...quirks? Mainly 3. And we didn't plan on fixing them. So in MY ad for our car I shouted and praised all of it's wonderful Ben-gay, Aspercream, Automatic handicap parking that came with Buicks. But at first meeting (phone call, email) I divulged those 3 quirks. I felt it was my job to "lay it all out on the line" in the beginning, as to gain these strangers TRUST. Especially since, they were the ones with the money.
It is these qualities that I believe made my "craigslist" sale like oatmeal.
Now as for my quest in finding a diamond in the rough with He-man qualities has only been met with detours and pitfalls.
Each and every time before we have gone to give a car a strip search we ask questions. Like:
-how many miles?
-any major repairs?
-are there any mechanical problems?
And from owners and dealerships ALIKE we are sung the songs of praise and glory for the automobile at hand. This of course, excites us! Because there's nothing like knowing that maybe, just MAYBE we'll be bringing a car home with us.
But as I said, instead of a shiny USED car, we find Herby the Lovebug. And it's not like we don't expect the car to have problems. Actually we anticipate that there will be little quirks that come with cars built only a few short years after I graduated from high school. We can handle a window that won't budge, or a small scratch in the paint. However 99% of the time we come face to face with..
like oatmeal (quick & easy).
I assumed that purchasing a van for our family would be just as delightful.
Instead I've been slapped up-side my face with a rude awakening!
It's been awhile since I've had to interact with my fellow community members.
With 4 young children most of my face to face is either with grocery store clerks, neighbors and teachers. Mainly a small percentage of the city at large. When I meet others I automatically assume that they are just like me. The average person, that loves their family, wants to make the world a better place and generally tries to find happiness in this life.
You know, people with a conscience.
However, after sending Larry on at least 9 reconnaissance missions and joining him for 1 (to see it with my own eyes), I was flabbergasted, perturbed, disturbed and shocked with how much people LIE. Blatantly. Flat out. Down right. Lie. And then, dust it off, like it's no big deal.
But let me explain.
With our own piece of scrap metal (I mean slice of '97 heaven) there were a few, shall we say...quirks? Mainly 3. And we didn't plan on fixing them. So in MY ad for our car I shouted and praised all of it's wonderful Ben-gay, Aspercream, Automatic handicap parking that came with Buicks. But at first meeting (phone call, email) I divulged those 3 quirks. I felt it was my job to "lay it all out on the line" in the beginning, as to gain these strangers TRUST. Especially since, they were the ones with the money.
It is these qualities that I believe made my "craigslist" sale like oatmeal.
Now as for my quest in finding a diamond in the rough with He-man qualities has only been met with detours and pitfalls.
Each and every time before we have gone to give a car a strip search we ask questions. Like:
-how many miles?
-any major repairs?
-are there any mechanical problems?
And from owners and dealerships ALIKE we are sung the songs of praise and glory for the automobile at hand. This of course, excites us! Because there's nothing like knowing that maybe, just MAYBE we'll be bringing a car home with us.
But as I said, instead of a shiny USED car, we find Herby the Lovebug. And it's not like we don't expect the car to have problems. Actually we anticipate that there will be little quirks that come with cars built only a few short years after I graduated from high school. We can handle a window that won't budge, or a small scratch in the paint. However 99% of the time we come face to face with..
doors that don't lock, maroon cars that are really PURPLE (I'll save that one for my mom), an a/c that blows hot air ("oh but it's fine" says the salesman, "don't you want to put down a $200 deposit?"), a car with NO gas & a broken a/c (but "don't you want to take it for a ride in 95 degree heat and listen to the BEEPING of the gas gauge the whole drive?") or a check engine light that just screams "I'm going to break down 2 miles after you buy me!"
This is why I've lost faith in my fellowman.
And this is why I think we're doomed to drive something like this.
And when I do get our first mom-mobile I'll be slappin' on a bumper sticker that says something like this...
And this is why I think we're doomed to drive something like this.
And when I do get our first mom-mobile I'll be slappin' on a bumper sticker that says something like this..."HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY"
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Cry Me A River
Me? Emotional? NEVER!
Well, that's what I used to think.
Although this past week has proved me wrong.
I'm not saying that I cry and blubber at Hallmark commercials.
(I save that for when I'm prego)
Recently I've had an epiphany that...
I, Rachel Roberts, am an emotional purchaser.
When we were looking for a bigger home a year
or so ago, I couldn't get it out of my head.
I searched and searched, learned and learned.
Narrowed things down and eventually
after months & months we ended up getting
the best possible home for the best possible price.
It was exhausting!!
The ups and downs, the rollercoaster of getting past
all of the pitfalls that came along the way. One day I'm
as excited as can be and the next was all doom & gloom.
It's like living with a constant knot in my stomach.
It even intrudes on my dreams!
The worst part is that I can't get ANYTHING done
until this "purchase" is final. (hello, laundry piles)
My mom likes to call it..."The money is burning a whole in your pocket!"
And yet here we are AGAIN.
Time for another BIG "purchase".
The car! (dun, dun, dun)
And I say BIG as in the car size we need.
BIG as in the years of waiting.
So everyday, I search and search the Internet.
Longing to find some kind, old man,
(because that's all I trust)
that has loved his Van to pieces over the last 8 years or so,
put no miles on it and wants to sell it
to a sweet, little gal like me.
Did I say search the Internet?
No I mean prowl, hunt, slightly obsessive compulsively watch the Internet.
Maybe my local community has some GROUP meetings I can attend?
Wait, I gotta go...I think there are 10 new ad's on Craigslist!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
"Car...Big Car!"
After searching car ad's for months and now reading them constantly like it's my new religion...
I've come to learn a few things.
1. Newspaper Classifieds=OUT Craigslist=IN
Don't get me wrong. I love Craigslist. Who wouldn't? It's free! But I was seriously shocked at how the newspapers were EXTREMELY lacking for used car ads. I mean 98% of them were from Dealerships. No more ad's from Joe-Shmo around the corner with '79 Cadillac to sell. I guess the electronic age is seriously taking over. Sorry Baby-Boomers.
2. If you are selling a car, you must offer a picture and mileage. And when I say a picture. I don't mean one in the 3 foot high weeds that are growing in the field next to your house, or in the darkness of your garage showing us NOTHING in the picture, and DEFINITELY no pictures of the interior through the windows, because that just makes it seem like you don't have the keys to it! Hello, STOLEN!
3. Kelly Blue Book is your new BFF. Because without that. You can get screwed!! Plus then you have proof why you aren't going to pay some outrageous price for a car. And the best part? They have to agree!
4. Spelling. It's important. And when I say important I mean if you can't spell the word "mileage" or "interior" I'm NOT going to buy a car from you!!
I've come to learn a few things.
1. Newspaper Classifieds=OUT Craigslist=IN
Don't get me wrong. I love Craigslist. Who wouldn't? It's free! But I was seriously shocked at how the newspapers were EXTREMELY lacking for used car ads. I mean 98% of them were from Dealerships. No more ad's from Joe-Shmo around the corner with '79 Cadillac to sell. I guess the electronic age is seriously taking over. Sorry Baby-Boomers.
2. If you are selling a car, you must offer a picture and mileage. And when I say a picture. I don't mean one in the 3 foot high weeds that are growing in the field next to your house, or in the darkness of your garage showing us NOTHING in the picture, and DEFINITELY no pictures of the interior through the windows, because that just makes it seem like you don't have the keys to it! Hello, STOLEN!
3. Kelly Blue Book is your new BFF. Because without that. You can get screwed!! Plus then you have proof why you aren't going to pay some outrageous price for a car. And the best part? They have to agree!
4. Spelling. It's important. And when I say important I mean if you can't spell the word "mileage" or "interior" I'm NOT going to buy a car from you!!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Let's Compare
Selling and Buying a car is like trying to find someone to MARRY!!!
It's HARD!!
You've got to spruce the
vehicle/lonely single all up.
Buff out the scratches.
Give a scrub down. Inside and Out.
And then put it out there.
Over and Over again.
And weed through all the weird-o's.
You'll finally, FINALLY find the perfect match.
And it will be SUCH a good match
that there will be smiles, laughter,
and the exchange of large bills with NO haggling.
At least that's what Larry said it was like with my Dad.
P.S. We sold the Buick on the first viewing!! Now it's time to SHOP!! (my favorite part)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Role Reversal
Last night as Larry and I were trying to put the kids to bed (Ben likes his freedom) having barely spoken 2 complete sentences to each other since he came out late I nonchalantly state:
Me: "Did I mention that I've had the Buick for sale on craigslist off and on for the past few months? Actually, I've been really keeping at it for the past 2 weeks."
Larry: "Nope. How much are you selling it for?"
Me: "I choose $****, after checking the blue book value and then watching listings for vans that we could buy to make sure we could get one for that cost."
Larry: "Oh...ok. Sounds good."
And he proceeds to walk downstairs.
Is this a strange conversation or is it just me? Shouldn't the roles be reversed?
Maybe I shouldn't be posing it as a question when in reality I wish it was more of a statement directed to my husband.
At this point, I'm kind of wondering WHY we didn't do this 9 months ago. You know...BEFORE Keira joined our family! I guess I've been hoping that Larry would take the reins, put his foot down, tell me he had the car posted to sell and work his magic by "wheeling and dealing". I mean heck we paid $100,000+ for a law degree, he should have some mediation skills! RIGHT?
But obviously I lived in a 9 month long fantasy. One I think many wives fall into. The "oh if I just wait he'll do it for me". Don't get me wrong I'm not mad at Larry. He's a super husband and father...and technically it's my fault for not mentioning things I need done. Like the baby-gate that I needed up, Keira's mattress that needed to be dropped or selling the car.
95% of the time I'm grateful I didn't marry someone like my dad. But there are days I wish I did.
Larry would probably say the same thing.
There are days he wished he married my Dad too!
Me: "Did I mention that I've had the Buick for sale on craigslist off and on for the past few months? Actually, I've been really keeping at it for the past 2 weeks."
Larry: "Nope. How much are you selling it for?"
Me: "I choose $****, after checking the blue book value and then watching listings for vans that we could buy to make sure we could get one for that cost."
Larry: "Oh...ok. Sounds good."
And he proceeds to walk downstairs.
Is this a strange conversation or is it just me? Shouldn't the roles be reversed?
Maybe I shouldn't be posing it as a question when in reality I wish it was more of a statement directed to my husband.
At this point, I'm kind of wondering WHY we didn't do this 9 months ago. You know...BEFORE Keira joined our family! I guess I've been hoping that Larry would take the reins, put his foot down, tell me he had the car posted to sell and work his magic by "wheeling and dealing". I mean heck we paid $100,000+ for a law degree, he should have some mediation skills! RIGHT?
But obviously I lived in a 9 month long fantasy. One I think many wives fall into. The "oh if I just wait he'll do it for me". Don't get me wrong I'm not mad at Larry. He's a super husband and father...and technically it's my fault for not mentioning things I need done. Like the baby-gate that I needed up, Keira's mattress that needed to be dropped or selling the car.
95% of the time I'm grateful I didn't marry someone like my dad. But there are days I wish I did.
Larry would probably say the same thing.
There are days he wished he married my Dad too!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday Pleasantries
If your car "check oil" light came on and then died a mile later as you tried to cruise into a gas station, thus finding out that your car was completely, totally BONE DRY of oil with the oil filter falling off, would you...
a. take it back to the repair shop that just changed your oil the previous day?
b. get a tow truck?
c. kick the tire and scream?
d. bum a ride with passing church members? (thanks Thompson's)
e. leave obscene phone messages at the repair shop and show up on their front step at 8am Monday morning?
Well, personally we choose "all the above".
With our "cow in the mire" and 1/2 of our cars dead. We are really up a creek!! Especially since 5 seats + 6 people don't = a comfortable ride. Or even a legal one.
On the way home from this lovely Sunday experience I reminded the girls that if Daddy's car was still broken we weren't going to be taking our only vacay of the summer down to our cousins house in San Antonio. I think you could hear their sighs of unhappiness for miles. They were very upset. So I reminded them to say a prayer if it was that important. Sydney quickly offered a suggestion to ask a friend if we could borrow their car. =) I reminded her that cars are not so easily acquired and that they are too much of an expensive commodity to ask friends to loan.
But not 2 seconds into the house our phone rang with a dear friend offering us an extra car!!!!!
Apparently, the girls prayed REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard!
(thanks Weavers!)
a. take it back to the repair shop that just changed your oil the previous day?
b. get a tow truck?
c. kick the tire and scream?
d. bum a ride with passing church members? (thanks Thompson's)
e. leave obscene phone messages at the repair shop and show up on their front step at 8am Monday morning?
Well, personally we choose "all the above".
With our "cow in the mire" and 1/2 of our cars dead. We are really up a creek!! Especially since 5 seats + 6 people don't = a comfortable ride. Or even a legal one.
On the way home from this lovely Sunday experience I reminded the girls that if Daddy's car was still broken we weren't going to be taking our only vacay of the summer down to our cousins house in San Antonio. I think you could hear their sighs of unhappiness for miles. They were very upset. So I reminded them to say a prayer if it was that important. Sydney quickly offered a suggestion to ask a friend if we could borrow their car. =) I reminded her that cars are not so easily acquired and that they are too much of an expensive commodity to ask friends to loan.
But not 2 seconds into the house our phone rang with a dear friend offering us an extra car!!!!!
Apparently, the girls prayed REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard!
(thanks Weavers!)
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