Eureka, I've found it!
I have finally found my car!!!! I LOVE it! A 2003 charcoal gray Pontiac Vibe! Only 32,000 miles on it, and rated as a "Very Good" car by Consumer Reports, listed as a Recommended Buy. The advantage to this car is that it is twin to the Toyota Matrix. It has a Toyota engine! Perhaps this is the reason the car is so highly rated?
What else? Cargo room, good city and highway mileage (34 highway I believe), all in all, an excellent car for someone looking to move away, who will need something with which to haul her gear, or make camping trips in!
I actually have driven one before. My mom and I rented one the year we went out west to see the Grand Canyon. They're very peppy, and handle well. Plus they're just small enough.
And this one has all the extra features I've been looking for as well. Plus, since it's Pontiac, it would be cheaper to repair, and probably cheaper to insure. All in all, there's a million great reasons for me to get this car, and I WANT it bad!
So... I put down a deposit on it, and am planning to get it Saturday. I didn't want to officially buy it until my mom and S have gotten a look-see, to make sure I'm not making any major mistakes here. However, I looked up the carfax for this car, and it's pretty excellent. S thinks I could still knock the sale price down a little, but I'm doubtful. Seriously, the car is really worth that. It's in the top of my range, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for a car I'll love.
I'm so incredibly excited, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep until Saturday when I get it! Oooh!
BTW, in case you hadn't guessed, yeah, the Corolla fell through. Turns out the dealer was a total scammer, and the figure he gave us as we were heading out the door Saturday was in no way possible. Would have been nice to know that BEFORE I dragged my mom over, and my boyfriend from work on Monday. Ugh, I was so disappointed and disgusted. We left and did not look back. However, the dealer I found this one at (in Ann Arbor), is a very reputable one, and I was very impressed. I did not at any time get the feeling I was being scammed. I did not really like the dealer we dealt with Monday too much from the start, nor did I like the Honda dealers I met out in Plymouth. Too wheeler-dealer, not very nice or sincere. Perhaps I'm biased though, because I honestly fell in love with this car just driving it. The Civics I drove, and the Corolla? Well, sure, they were ok. But just not quite as fun or comfortable as the Vibe.
Plus now, maybe I can avoid some of the sneers I get about buying a foreign car...
oooh!!!! I'm so psyched!!!! I'm almost sad I'm going on vacation next week, and won't get to drive it!
Other good news- have another phone interview to be scheduled with a different school in NC. This one is closer to the coast, and I think they offer nice sign-on bonuses. 8 science teacher positions open in high school for Biology and General Science- both of which I'm certified for! I sent this school my mini-portfolio yesterday too. Hopefully I get a job there! Wow, how much would I love to just hear those words "you're hired!" I get disappointed from the lack of response from other schools... but you know what? Too bad for them! I WILL find a job, and I WILL get this car! It's going to happen! ;)
What else? Cargo room, good city and highway mileage (34 highway I believe), all in all, an excellent car for someone looking to move away, who will need something with which to haul her gear, or make camping trips in!
I actually have driven one before. My mom and I rented one the year we went out west to see the Grand Canyon. They're very peppy, and handle well. Plus they're just small enough.
And this one has all the extra features I've been looking for as well. Plus, since it's Pontiac, it would be cheaper to repair, and probably cheaper to insure. All in all, there's a million great reasons for me to get this car, and I WANT it bad!
So... I put down a deposit on it, and am planning to get it Saturday. I didn't want to officially buy it until my mom and S have gotten a look-see, to make sure I'm not making any major mistakes here. However, I looked up the carfax for this car, and it's pretty excellent. S thinks I could still knock the sale price down a little, but I'm doubtful. Seriously, the car is really worth that. It's in the top of my range, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for a car I'll love.
I'm so incredibly excited, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep until Saturday when I get it! Oooh!
BTW, in case you hadn't guessed, yeah, the Corolla fell through. Turns out the dealer was a total scammer, and the figure he gave us as we were heading out the door Saturday was in no way possible. Would have been nice to know that BEFORE I dragged my mom over, and my boyfriend from work on Monday. Ugh, I was so disappointed and disgusted. We left and did not look back. However, the dealer I found this one at (in Ann Arbor), is a very reputable one, and I was very impressed. I did not at any time get the feeling I was being scammed. I did not really like the dealer we dealt with Monday too much from the start, nor did I like the Honda dealers I met out in Plymouth. Too wheeler-dealer, not very nice or sincere. Perhaps I'm biased though, because I honestly fell in love with this car just driving it. The Civics I drove, and the Corolla? Well, sure, they were ok. But just not quite as fun or comfortable as the Vibe.
Plus now, maybe I can avoid some of the sneers I get about buying a foreign car...
oooh!!!! I'm so psyched!!!! I'm almost sad I'm going on vacation next week, and won't get to drive it!
Other good news- have another phone interview to be scheduled with a different school in NC. This one is closer to the coast, and I think they offer nice sign-on bonuses. 8 science teacher positions open in high school for Biology and General Science- both of which I'm certified for! I sent this school my mini-portfolio yesterday too. Hopefully I get a job there! Wow, how much would I love to just hear those words "you're hired!" I get disappointed from the lack of response from other schools... but you know what? Too bad for them! I WILL find a job, and I WILL get this car! It's going to happen! ;)