Friday night car browsing
July 28, 2006T and I cruised car lots this evening trying to figure out what we want to replace his Jimmy. T is more eluctant to take the minivan plunge than I am. We drove through Honda, Toyota, Ford, Mazda lots but didn’t see anything different than what we had considered. Now I’ve been doing a little research at home with my trusty internet connection and have come across the Chevy Equinox and now I’m wondering if maybe something along those lines is the route to go. Not a minivan but doesn’t seem to be as large as the SUVs T leans towards (Trailblazer, Envoy) or his highly “practical” suggestion of a Dodge Charger.
However, the most annoying thing is when dealers don’t put pricing in the windows. I do not like to be bothered in a car lot. I go off hours and if I see one I like with the right mileage, price, etc. I go back during business hours. No price drives me crazy. I know why they do it but seriously, it tends to deter me from coming back.
After we got home, I went for a walk while T gave Widget a bath. Looming hot, humid weather made me think if I’m going to attempt to get some walking over the next few days, I better do it now. Even though it was after 9 by the time I went, I was pretty warm by the time I got back home. I thought mostly about how I am not that fond of living where we do. It isn’t a bad neighborhood and we definitely have one of the nicest houses, it is just I would rather move back where we used to live. I miss living there and I wish we hadn’t moved but I’m stuck here for at least a couple more years unless the housing market goes crazy in the next year. If we haven’t moved in 4 years, we are definitely moving the summer before Widget starts kindergarten. I’m not all that impressed with the schools around here and if I can’t afford to send her to Christian schools, I want to send her to the charter school my younger siblings attended since they now have elementary through high school, unless it goes downhill now that my youngest sibling graduated 
Yo,
You’re going to pay through the nose for a Mazda, Toyota, Nissan or Honda minivan, but especially for a Honda. Not much depreciation on those.
The Equinox is not that old, so used ones won’t be common. And, the gas mileage is not that great. Since you’ve commented on the gas mileage of my cars, I figured that must be an important thing to you.
The lease rate on a Charger or Magnum with the larger V6 isn’t too bad.
Whatever you get, I’d think power seats are a must if you aim to fit in it and see out. Heh heh.
Another Focus, or possibly a Pontiac Vibe Or Mazda 3 or 5 wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, either. At $3/gallon for gas, note that minivans are not mini nor are they fuel efficient. And I doubt that you’ll be toting so many other people that you need seating for 7.
Heh heh, why am I not surprised to hear from you about cars?
I don’t like Dodge vehicles for the very fact I have never ridden/driven one in which I felt comfortable seeing out of it, even the Neon which was our first car purchase. I think it is one reason I’m drawn to Hondas and Toyotas because they tend to be a better fit. But yeah, I discovered unless I want a used Civic, we aren’t going to find an affordable one- even the recently used Accords are really out of our price range. And well, we traded in a Civic for the Focus wagon for the very reason that it was too small. Now they are a little roomier since the 2000 version we had and I am toting a smaller stroller and less junk when I go places, hmmm…
I did suggest another Focus wagon but T looked at me like I was nuts. Apparently he doesn’t want “matchy” cars.
And yes, it is good to reduce gas usage and get better gas mileage, if not just for the fact that it is $3/gallon, but, because you know, that thing called the environment. Al Gore is my hero
“Al Gore is my hero.”
Gag me.
My “dream team” for president/vp is Al Gore and John Edwards. I swear I might have to vote Republican in the next election if they run Hilary. Yuck! I never liked her, even when I did like Willy-Bill.
I’m hoping to go see Al’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” soon. Wanna come with me? I’ll let you throw popcorn at the screen