Ok, Let's do This Mazda CX-5

The moment you decide to buy a new car can be tricky. It feels like there are a thousand choices out there, a thousand offers from car companies, a thousand commercials shouting deals at you. When you think, ah yes, this is THE car for me, a concept care is showing at the LA car show, and you think you may want to hold off for the amazing models that are coming in the Spring.

Like technology upgrades, the cycle never ends. And if you are like minded, the opportunity to drive them all is strong and powerful.

If anyone has been following along with my car journey, this is where we were at: An Audi A4 Cabriolet and a Jeep Wrangler 4 door. With good intentions of driving the Audi full time, alas, I have been in the Jeep. The kids need 4 doors. That's pretty much the whole reason. They are 11 and 14 and need space for their knees.

The Jeep is a really solid nice car. I don't want to sound like I am complaining too much. But it felt like camping to me. And I am not un-outdoorsy, I just like to be comfortable. The Jeep felt too rigid, too 90 degree angle in the backseat, and no amenities. No Bluetooth, no leather, no heated seats, a 1 CD player. One.

Plus, I have been getting annoyed with the whole "wave to the other Jeep" thing.....whole other blog post, but the trend is dying out. I better talk to Jeep about it.

But the Jeep has 4WD and space. And as a family of golfers, 4 golf bags is a tall order. And I carry massage tables around. And we live in Vermont where it snows.

I had just driven the 2016 Honda Civic and really liked it, seriously considered it. If you want a well tuned sedan, please go check it out. Total loaded for around $24k. But it's got CVT transmission, which I really don't enjoy.

My husband, in an attempt to put us out of our misery, said " I will go get you whatever car you want." ( rules and restrictions apply).

I said to him, I want to buy a car from Bill at the Mazda place. He is worth our time and energy. Of the cars in their line up, the CX-5 makes the most sense. AWD, adequate trunk space, heated seats, leather, power driver seat, nice home screen, phone connection. And they have really nice lease and buy deals on 2016 models from Mazda USA.

Not wanting to let me change my mind, Chris hustled to the Mazda dealer, found Bill and said. Lets Do This.

So for car salespeople reading and learning about what makes women tick in car buying (or at least this woman) here are 3 tips:

1. The person who sells me the car is important. Work on building trust and an authentic relationship. 
2. Hitting a national deal at the right time. With so many circulating, unless you have loads of cash, you need to be patient and wait for the deal that works. If there is 0%, find it. 
3. Knowing what your absolute must haves are. Sometimes its drive train and HP, but sometimes it's a heated steering wheel. It's all ok, don't minimize what is important for you. But you must look at a whole bunch of cars to know what are deal makers and deal breakers. 

So thanks Bill at PJ's Mazda for being the right person, thanks Mazda' s CFO for running good programs, and thanks to Mazda's Design Team for getting my list of absolute must haves. And thanks to my patient husband for putting up with my car obsession.