Deciding between Need and Want
Several years ago, the transmission went at the same time as the heater in my crappy old van. Of course Murphy's Law prevailed as this occurred the same month the back stairs fell apart, and hot water tank blew. Urg!I slowly got them all fixed except the heat in the van which was postponed to a later date. I often drove to work with blue lips that winter as while I slowly scrapped ice of not only the outside but the inside of the van it would slowly drift down onto my freezing body. LOL! One of my co-workers and her hubby (who was in the car business) and had several vehicles gave me a 97 van providing I continue work with the animals. I kept my promise and I never took it for granted that the beast had heat!!! Ohh a luxury! The thing transported dogs,bunnies, cats, bales of hay, pet food and numerous other paraphenelia over the years. This season it's broken down 3 times and I finally decided I now both wanted and needed a new vehicle. 7 years was about time actually 9 if I started from the beginning. Come to think of it ..I have never in my entire life owned a vehicle that's less than 10 years old. I didn't take a soul with me for support. I had researched vehicles and studied rates so that I could rattle off dealership, bank and home equity loans over a period of 36, 48 and 60 months with ease. I memorized what each would cost in terms of what my monthly payments would be. I even knew what the prices were for all the other 17 vehicles listed at other dealerships of the SUV of my choice. If one didn't give me what I wanted I told him I'd go visit the others. I'm usually so whimpy when it comes to this but I had waited too long and for once as the consumer and in these tough times I knew I had an upper hand. The poor car salesman didn't know what a tough sell he'd have when I walked onto the lot probably convinced I'd be an easy mark. But, I had waited 7 years for that moment!!!!! Each time he got out the calculator I would already rattle off what this meant in terms of my payments. In the end the dealership only made 600 dollars profit as I refused to budge from my bottom line. After negotiation, I walked away with a 4 WD 2006 Limited Edition Ford Escape (that had been my dream vehicle for several years since I rented one 2 years ago) with all the bells and whistles for 3 grand off the sales price and a 5 year bumper to bumper warranty. Room for all the critters and my butt can even get warm with heated seats. (That was a bonus as it wasn't on my want or need list.) After this horrible winter I added a 4 wd on the list as many animal rescues were in dire need to have people make it to shelters to feed the animals. Finally a car that starts right away in the morning!!! Ahhhh I'm in heaven! |
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YOU go GIRL!!!!!!!!!!  |
Cool!  Congrats |
Until it too breaks down!    |
| you well deserve it go girl |
| Good job!!!
Enjoy the warm butt!! |
| Conratulations!
(I want you to help me negotiate everything I ever buy  ) |
| Marianne, that was super shopping!!!!
The Escape is the vehicle I would have chosen if I didn't get my Element. They are a cool vehicle and lots of them on the road. That is good news for frugal shoppers (me included ) who can get used parts and save $$$ later.
I hope you have fun. I am on my 1st ever new vehicle, and the 1st one not over 10 yrs old too!!! PS - no heated seats for me - enjoy them |
Good shopping Marianne!  My husband has an Escape (I can't remember what year it is off hand) that he bought new at the time & he LOVES it. So much so that when he's ready to get a new vehicle he said he'll get another one. He's in sales & travels quite a bit. It's been very dependable! |
| Dunno if you'd want me along to negotiate most things Ron as I mentioned I'm kinda whimpy in that dept. Most times people tell me the price and I say okay - then I'm mad at myself for not being a better shopper.
However, in this case I was a woman on a mission. My van had died 4 times in the past 6 wks, I had to have it towed 3 different times and used rentals and taxis which was killing me financially. It made sense to get a new/used vehicle..but the one thing is I didn't let my desperation show but it was always foremost on my mind. LOL! My mouth was yacking but my mind was thinking......gasp I need a vehicle this weekend, I'm the only driver in my immediate family, how the heck am I going to get to work, help my sons, transport 40 pound bags of food , bales of hay, rabbit pellets, ect..... See...desperation! It makes one wheel and deal.  I needed that Escape so badly.  I didn't mention a word of this to the saleman however.
On another positive note just 2 wks ago I was offered a life time supply of free pet food! That was HUGE as my pet food bills are enormous and I was finally able to free up some cash to buy the Escape. Another one of those twisty quirks of fate I often seem to come across. Thanks too for all the comments! I'm glad there are other happy Escape people out there as most owners (from what I previously read) gave them approval ratings of 9 and 10 on satisfaction and reliability. |
| Oh Marianne! I had a 2006 Escape, which I traded in on my Solara. Don't tell Tony, BUT I WISH I HAD NEVER DONE THAT! The Escape was wonderful, and dependable. The Solara was sexy. Trust me, wonderful and dependable outweight sexy any day. My Solara is great..but very impractical with the dogs. Congrats! You've made a most excellent choice! |
| NIce work on the car! Don't be afraid to use that technique on other items. You will be surprised how many fee's can be eliminated and the dollars that stay in your pocket.
Took my husband 2 houses and several cars before he was no longer embarrassed by my drive to negotiate. Congrats on the car and WOW on the free food. |
| Marianne,
I'm so jealous... a 4 wheel drive. As you see by our weather since Sunday afternoon , your timing is impeccable. I'm saving right now for a four wheel because getting out of our very steep back lane in the snow and ice has been a nightmare let alone the commute into Vancouver 5 days a week. And heated seats, my you are a lucky girl . |
| congrats on the new vehicle and a job well done with negotiating. |
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