May 26, 1995
Dear Everyone:
I have a new car. His name is
Odin and he's white on
the outside, taupe on the inside. "Taupe"
is a color that can't quite decide if it should be gray or brown.
He has power locks, power
windows, power steering, power brakes and air conditioning; power this,
power that and a standard transmission. Did
I mention that he's a Honda?
Accord
LX Sedan. No
moon roof.
(What on earth are you supposed
to do with a "moon roof"?) Lots
of get-up-and-go. I keep finding
myself in 4th gear in next to no time.
Cruise control for those long
trips up to Oregon.
The weekend before last, my Personal Shopping Advisor (“Jeannie”) and I
went to “Livermore” to look at the Hondas.
I thought of “Livermore” because
that's where I work half the time and it occurred to me that getting a
car serviced during the week could actually be convenient.
I could drive it in, have the
dealer give me a ride to the office and pick me up when the car’s ready.
We talked to a nice guy named
“Frank”, got a brochure, took a test drive and then went to do some
(real) shopping.
Last weekend, we decided to try
Walnut
Creek Honda before going back to “Livermore”.
Talked to a nice lady named
"Fil", filled out a form or two, left Taylor (my old car) to be examined
as a possible trade-in, and walked down to
Taco Bell for some
lunch. By the time we got back,
“Fil” had run my name through various computers and come up with some
numbers.
At this point, I wanted to take her offer and go see “Frank” for a
second opinion. As soon as she
heard that, “Fil” went to the Sales Manager and warned him, "She's
trying to make a break for it!"
Enter the Sales Manager.
Called me "Mrs. Woods". Did a
song and dance about how I was the most important person in the world
and what could they do to make me more comfortable so I wouldn't leave
without buying a car? Suddenly
remembered that they had a special coming up for Service Customers and
had I ever used their Service Department (as if “Fil” hadn't already
checked and seeing that I've been going there for 15 years)?
The special was for $199 over
factory invoice, which came within a dollar of what Consumer Reports New
Car Price Service had faxed to me a few days before.
(Which was how everyone in
“Livermore” found out I was looking for a new car.)
I consulted with my Personal Shopping Advisor, who advised: "You won't
find a better deal anywhere." Tossed
“Frank” out the window (figuratively speaking, of course) and put the
down payment on my
MasterCard. “Jeannie” is
taking full credit for this terrific deal (she uses the same accountant
as the Lead mechanic's brother-in-law, or something) and is irked that,
although my car cost thousands more than hers, our monthly payments are
almost identical.
The Credit Union is taking care the financing.
I don't even have to make
payments. They automatically
deduct them from my paycheck. And
I can still afford to put a couple of hundred dollars into my savings
account each month (also deducted).
Movies…
“Jeannie” tried to get me to pay for the movie this week on the grounds
that she had gotten me such a great deal on a car, but clearer heads
prevailed. Saw
Die Hard
(3) With a Vengeance. Pretty
much the same as the first two. Bruce
Willis running all over
New York to
foil bad guys. "Borrowed" some
guy’s luxury car and then systematically eliminated the safety features
(like
anti-lock brakes) so they wouldn't get in his way while he
demolished the car. OK at matinee
prices.
No, Odin doesn't have ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System).
I know how to pump the brakes.
And I wanted the 5-speed
manual
transmission because I enjoy the illusion that it gives me more
control over the car. And, as Dad
said, I'm still young enough to drive without an automatic.
Love, as always,
Pete
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