3 Things I Love and Hate About Car Shopping

I spent hours yesterday at dealerships test driving 5 different vehicles. It was hot and exhausting, but as you all know by now, I enjoy the task. As a woman who loves cars and is not afraid of the showroom, let me share my love/hate relationship.

3 Things I Hate About Car Shopping:

1. Advertised Specials: You see an ad for a great deal on a vehicle, and you do your homework to read the fine print. (Be sure to do this before you get there). Once you get to the dealership, the salesman has no idea what national deal you are referring to, has to look it up online, and then tells you he has a better deal than the national deal. The reality: He doesn't have a car on the lot that meets the requirements of the deal (usually a base trim, base car). Instead of telling you that, he tries to sideswipe the issue. 
2. Lame Trade In Values: I had my current vehicle appraised at all dealerships,  and have again done my research on current value of my 2014 Jeep Wrangler. One dealer told me it was worth $9,000 less than everyone else told me. I looked him square in the eye and asked, "Are you confident in that number?" After he said yes, I shook his hand and left. No one should put up with numbers that are ridiculously off. Reality: He doesn't want your business.
3. Asking Financials: Don't give all your numbers away in the first 5 minutes!! There is no need to tell them your payoff on your vehicle, your current monthly payment, your financial life story. Reality: Once you tell them these items, they use it to their advantage, not yours. One guy told me yesterday, "I need to know your numbers so I can help you." No, you tell them, give me your best deal sheet and I will go from there. All you have to do is deduct your payoff and stick the numbers into an online finance calculator. Tell them everything they need to know after you negotiate the final price of the vehicle. 

3 Things I Love About Car Shopping:

1. Test Driving: I know this sounds obvious, but it is the best. And I love when I go alone on the drive. Ask to go alone if you like that, there is no rule you can't. I say it at the beginning: I prefer a solo test run. I tend to drive for 2-3 minutes, find an open office parking lot, pull in and look at the car critically away from the dealership. This allows me to not be wowed by the full impact of 500 new cars on a lot. 
2. Independent Consultant: My independent consultant is my husband. We both love cars, and he knows the stats on all of them. I called him repeatedly yesterday to ask, " How many horsepower?, Which model has the best lease deal?" after the salesman didn't know. He asks me good leading questions that help me figure out what I like and don't like about the vehicles. I don't think that women need men involved to make car decisions, but everyone needs an independent consultant. That could be a dad, a sister, your friend. It's the person who knows you and a bit of car knowledge. 
3. Saying No. I like saying no and walking away. I think it is good practice for life and business. It is in a sense the Michael Jordan principle that you must fail to succeed. You get a chance work on decision making and conflict resolution. It allows you to see how business operates on a very base level. If they want your business they will work for it. 

Yesterday I did not buy a car. I collected information, I handled great salesman and terrible ones. I learned about what I am looking for in a sedan. I met a really cool 55 year old female minister in a parking lot who said me being there and talking about cars for 5 minutes made her feel confident. I acted as her independent consultant. I had goose bumps watching her drive her shiny new Mazda 3 toward home. 

TDO: A new car invention

In a pursuit of the best car experience possible, I came up with the idea of the TDO: top down odometer. I may not be the first to ever think of it, maybe it already exists, all I know is that my car does not have one and I want one.

Here's the skinny:

A top down odometer measures miles driven with the top down. A sensor senses when the top is opened and starts its own odometer reading.

Why is this cool?

It allows you to measure your fun. You could set a goal of 1,000 TDO miles for the summer.
Or you could find out a ratio: " My car has a TDO ratio of 1:3" (the top is down 33% of the time).
You could talk to other drivers about your usage, "My TDO ratio 1: 5 as my daughter hates the wind in the backseat".

You could decide if a convertible works for you: "My TDO told me I used the feature only 5% of the time, I think I will go with the sedan".

For used car sales, you can see how much the top had been used, giving you a way to measure condition.

Car people like metrics. And people who choose a convertible are car people.
Every top down driver would smile and nod their head as the dealership explained the feature, ah yes, but of course.

And the marketing and ad angle the car maker could take with this....brillant. Which is really why they give us cool features in cars. To sell the car to us.

Top Down Odometer. Hopefully coming to your vehicle soon.

Mechanics

It is easy to think that the MEN in your life should be the ones to help you take your car to the shop. The MEN can have a good old boy conversation and you will get your car back quicker and for less money.

I say, nope.

I do all the mechanic stuff. I've got a guy. (I don't have a girl mechanic, but I would love to say I have a girl). Actually I have a few guys. I have the oil change guy and the harder repairs guy. I have the window ding guy and the guy with the computer-thingy to plug into the car to make the engine light stop incessantly blinking. And if I go somewhere and feel like the mechanic is not making a connection with me, I don't go back. It's ok not to go back.

My mechanics are helpful and cheerful. They enjoy the car banter. They really want to take care of the car and me. They take time to explain what is going on and show me the corroded part. I nod. I don't understand, but they give me enough info to process why the bill is going to be what it is.

Best advice I can give to women is to find the garage who can help YOU. Use referrals. Ask on Facebook. Leave a garage you don't feel comfortable at and find one who welcomes you. You don't have to use the import garage, or the dealer garage. Find the independent mechanic who loves what he does and smiles when your car pulls in. And for the best deal? Pay in cash.

Small car minimalism

The small car. Two doors. Tiny trunk. Small cupholders.

I have gone all minimalistic in my Audi A4 Cab.

After having many large, throw 4 golf bags in the hatch vehicle, get the chocolate lab in the back and two car seats,  I am now reduced to a zen approach to manage my car life.

Going to the driving range? Kids, pick two clubs. Thats all we can fit.

Dropping a box off at the post office? Do it now, 'cuz otherwise can't get my child in the backseat.

Grocery shopping? 4 reusable bags fit exactly in the trunk. Choose wisely at the store.

It has been refreshing to not buy 'that rug' as I know it won't fit in my car. It is calming to realize I can say no to energy sucks as I don't have the space. Costco? You are dead to me.

Everyone should try a small car once just as everyone needs to have gone camping. It is a form of "roughing it" that leaves you feeling balanced.

I Now Have my Smooth Jazz Lounge

It was crazy how intensive this search became. With two vehicles up for lease within 2 months of each other, the "what do we do now" factor for vehicles was like a chess match.  I wanted to give up and knock the board over, but my patient and determined husband wanted me to find the car I really wanted. Which was hard as I wasn't clear on what I wanted.

I knew I wanted red leather interior, and I love a nice sun roof. I also care a lot about seating, enjoying all the power positioning I can get. And heated seats. And a sporty engine. And it has to be cool without being too obnoxious. Oh wait, now I sound obnoxious.

And I wanted to spend less money a month.


So here it is, my new car that is more smooth jazz lounge than british cool.

                                                      The Audi 2005 A4 Cabriolet.

Megan listening to a little smooth jazz

Mini Cooper: Wrong car, right salesman

As I am searching for a new car, I am running into a frequent problem. The wrong car or the wrong salesperson.

I had a great match of a salesman at the Mini Cooper dealership. He was accurate, to the point, energetic without being pushy. He really wanted me to like the car.

Unfortunately, I didn't.

The test drive made my head hurt. The suspension was too tight, and I felt like a mom trying too hard to be a rally car driver. It truly is a fun car that will give you an exciting driving experience.

The Mini is like a cool edgy British bar where they name the drinks as puns (the 007 Goldfinger -made with 7up and Goldschalger), and everyone on the waitstaff has a meaningful tattoo.

Sigh. I wish that was was me right now, but alas it is not.

I need a car that can be my sanctuary, a calm oasis of leather and moonroofs, and a little navigation.

I need a car that is a smooth jazz lounge where the lighting is calming, they serve Prosecco in hand blown stemware, and the staff gives meaningful eye contact.

So where do I find that?

Car shopping

My lease on my Honda CrossTour is up in 2 months.

For the first time in a while, I am unclear of what I would like to do next.

I am very fond of the car I have, but then I think this.....

If I live to 80 and starting driving cars at 16, that gives me 64 years to drive. If you get a car every 5 years, that is about 12 cars average. I have had 9 cars registered in my name.

So, I am doing the math......

and I am absolutely going to get the car I want.