Buying a Car: Phase II

Um, yeah. So for me, the second phase was to buy the car. My dad drove me all around Atlanta on Saturday to look for a good deal, and though I wanted a little black (overpriced) 2003 Mazda Protege, he wanted me to get a new Toyota Corolla. If I had gotten a new car, I would have gotten that one for sure. The cheap version is not the cutest car around, but Corollas do have simple and sturdy-looking engines. But how could I afford a new car? Even if it did have 0 miles on it? I couldn't.

While we were driving around, I noticed an ad for a 2003 Mazda Protege that my mom had found online. It looked good. It sounded good. I made a call. And found out it was clear over in Montgomery, Alabama! Oh no! Would my dad be willing to drive there just to look at it? We both decided that I should look at it, and I'd hold off on the Corolla (and that black Protege).

It was too late to go on Saturday, and Sunday was a no-go because the credit union wouldn't open until Monday. But what if they sold the car before I could get down there?!? So I resolved myself to wait and pray that nobody would buy it -- because I think I knew somewhere in my heart that it was the perfect car for me. Well, my mom would have nothing to do with waiting! She knew we needed to drive down on Sunday with some cash in hand for a deposit.

So on Sunday, mommy and I drove to Montgomery to look and buy, but we didn't get the car until yesterday, after I had gotten all the credit union stuff in order. When we got to the seller's house, she told us that she had had 6 more calls about the car that day. She also said that on Sunday night, a couple offered her and her husband the full amount (plus 5 dollars) in cash for the car. But she kindly told them that I had just signed the contract that afternoon! YAY! My mommy knew we needed to get down there. Mommy looks out for me!

My favorite thing about this whole experience was spending time with my parents. I spent all day Saturday with dad and all day Sunday and Monday with mommy. I had fun with both of them. I especially liked the final drive back home on Monday. Mom and I were in separate cars, but she called me about every 15 minutes with comments about anything from "watch out for cops right here" to "Look! Armadillo, armadillo!" That was a whole lotta fun.

Wait -- what is my favorite thing about the car, you ask? The alloy wheels, of course! I'm not a sporty car kind of driver -- I definitely found that out over the last 2 weeks. And I never thought wheels were a big deal. But they do make a car look good.

Anyway, I hope you didn't mind the long post today . . . I wanted this "Buying a Car" series to last a little longer; it might've been interesting for you blog readers. BUT, as it is, I'm glad it wasn't a series -- I don't think I could've handled car-shopping much longer.

Thing I'm thankful for: I'll say it again -- my mom and dad. They're names aren't actually on the car loan, but without everything they have done for me, I wouldn't be able to get a car -- or much of anything else, for that matter. So I didn't really pay for it myself . . . I've had some help for the past 24 years. :)