How do a majority of us end up with the vehicles we drive every day? We look at practicality, affordability and then the logical need to have some form of transportation. All of which translate into mundane reasons. Then there is status, trend and a reflection of who we are. I somehow missed out on the last 3 and now I am having serious buyer’s remorse.
This past July I needed a car after my divorce. I had been a loyal Chevrolet owner for the past eight years with 5 vehicles for proof. That loyalty soon went out the window after some shenanigans at a local dealer. I have absolutely no animosity towards General Motors , none. Especially after I received a letter from GMAC offering zero percent interest a month after the fact. Well, maybe not today but that day I saw red. Instead of going to another domestic dealer, I traveled up the road to Nissan with my dear old Dad.
What I went there for was not what I bought. Funny how that works, right? But a difference in a $100 a month says a lot for a car payment. Regardless of that savings I still curl my lip when I bill pay Nissan on the 15th of each month. Especially when the thought of the same car payment could be on a leftover Pontiac G8 GT found a short distance away that is begging for me to take her home. What was once going to be a $16,500 car turned into $21,000 after all the crap that gets added. The extended warranty, battery fee, tire fee, blah blah blah fee, dealer fee, state fee, and my favorite you’re going to walk out of here just happy that you only spent 4 hours at our dealership instead of 9 fee. The G8 can be bought for under $26k. What’s 5 grand more with zero percent anyways?
So what is it that I drive myself around in every day? A Sentra SE-R Spec V. La de dah! Don’t get me wrong, she is a fun car to drive. She is cute to look at and surprises me with her zip but I’m past owning the fun car and I just don’t want her. At all. Ten years ago, this car would have screamed me all over it but that was high school and I had a cool car in the same category back then. I know I should be grateful to own a brand new car but if it’s not something I want and I’m obligated to pay for it for the next X years; my feelings are completely valid. Not to mention the fact that I get approached at every red light by some punk in a riced out Civic with a fart pipe to race which lessens the enthusiasm to go anywhere. Add to the mix I’ve been to dealer for service 3 times since I bought it and my disgruntled customer attitude starts to seep out.
Oh G8, how I long for thee.
The Diva refers to all of the cars she has owned as “Her.”
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