Car!
Car buying seem to be contagious. girlfromgraz recently bought her first car and, since I'm starting a "respectable" job in january, I thought I needed to get myself a "decent" (no dissing my current car, which I love to bits, but clients might consider their attorney arriving in a 1960s convertible a little odd) car.
So, I went out in search for a reliable, economic and respectable car.
What could possibly go wrong?
Weeellllll.
Alright, I admit it: When it comes to cars, I'm a little emotional because I like cars.
I tried a pre face-lift Mini first because I liked the looks of it. There was something seriously wrong with the first Mini I tried (funny clutch noise, pulled to the left and potentially manipulated odometer). The second was better, but there'd been some really funny import-export business going on with that one.
I tried a Fiat 500 (1,4l) next and was suprised how nice it was. The 1,2 is pretty useless in my books, but the 1.4 was a halfway decent car. Not a rocket, but good design, nice interior and fine value for the money, The engine was a little noisy and seriously unresponsive in the lower revs, but one can't have everything. It was black and red leather inside, which I like a lot in an Italian car.
I'd been half set on getting the Fiat, but I though I'd try one other car (one seriously above my budget and too new - I didn't want a car that was less than 3 years old because you lose too much value) before I put my money on the table.
So, I went to the dealer yesterday to have a look at the overpriced and decidedly not sensible car. Looks were fine, not my favourite colour and and only half-part leather seats. A start button, which is fun and retro.
I took her out and she handled fine on the open road. I took her up on one of the old hillclimb tracks next. And there comes the overly sentimental part: The car spoke to me. ;-)
"Come on, love," she said "You can push harder, I can handle it. See? Now, give me a couple of nice curves and let me show you what I can do"
My father drove her next. He was rather quiet and when we arrived back at the trader's, he just said: " I know you have the money you took out of the bank for the Fiat with you. Pay that in cash and we'll bring the rest tomorrow when we go and get her."
And that's what I did.
Screw sensible. I'm not too fond of driving, so I might as well get a car that's actually fun to drive.
So, I went out in search for a reliable, economic and respectable car.
What could possibly go wrong?
Weeellllll.
Alright, I admit it: When it comes to cars, I'm a little emotional because I like cars.
I tried a pre face-lift Mini first because I liked the looks of it. There was something seriously wrong with the first Mini I tried (funny clutch noise, pulled to the left and potentially manipulated odometer). The second was better, but there'd been some really funny import-export business going on with that one.
I tried a Fiat 500 (1,4l) next and was suprised how nice it was. The 1,2 is pretty useless in my books, but the 1.4 was a halfway decent car. Not a rocket, but good design, nice interior and fine value for the money, The engine was a little noisy and seriously unresponsive in the lower revs, but one can't have everything. It was black and red leather inside, which I like a lot in an Italian car.
I'd been half set on getting the Fiat, but I though I'd try one other car (one seriously above my budget and too new - I didn't want a car that was less than 3 years old because you lose too much value) before I put my money on the table.
So, I went to the dealer yesterday to have a look at the overpriced and decidedly not sensible car. Looks were fine, not my favourite colour and and only half-part leather seats. A start button, which is fun and retro.
I took her out and she handled fine on the open road. I took her up on one of the old hillclimb tracks next. And there comes the overly sentimental part: The car spoke to me. ;-)
"Come on, love," she said "You can push harder, I can handle it. See? Now, give me a couple of nice curves and let me show you what I can do"
My father drove her next. He was rather quiet and when we arrived back at the trader's, he just said: " I know you have the money you took out of the bank for the Fiat with you. Pay that in cash and we'll bring the rest tomorrow when we go and get her."
And that's what I did.
Screw sensible. I'm not too fond of driving, so I might as well get a car that's actually fun to drive.