Car!
I shopped for and got my first car ever this weekend! Well, first one that's actually in my name, like a real live grown-up. I had lots of help from aoi_tsuki1, who did the initial research and all the budgeting, because she's awesome like that. My old '89 Crown Victoria's suspension is now completely shot. . . it made a big CRUNCH when I tried to simply turn left into my apartment complex Friday night, and everything's been rattling loose for a while now. There's no spring left in the front left; all the impact is being absorbed by the tire. Not worth paying for repairs anymore, and we're both working full-time and can afford this, finally.
The new car is basically a newer version of what I was already driving: it's a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, which is just a Crown Victoria with a different logo on it (and not 23-24 years old, but a measly 9). This is definitely an old-lady-mobile-- only 1 previous owner, very few miles on the car, smells like old people, and is like new. The price was fair, the interest rate is great, and it turns out we have good credit. Didn't have to do a down payment.
For anyone worrying about shady used car salesmen, don't. We wound up at Carmax, after going to another local dealer that was pretty crappy by comparison and test-driving a beat-up Ranger. The guy at the Ford dealer was more like a typical salesman. But the Carmax people had it together, and frankly had more reputation at stake. We got a guy who was older, not so sale-hungry as others (or at least had the sense not to show it).
Anyway, I personally like full-sized sedans. They're hard to come by anymore, and many are being discontinued. The biggest benefit for me? I can fit in the damn thing! No problem with legroom or headroom. This one ought to last a while, and it'll be good for when we do start a family.
Anybody want to see pictures? I haven't taken any yet.
The new car is basically a newer version of what I was already driving: it's a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis, which is just a Crown Victoria with a different logo on it (and not 23-24 years old, but a measly 9). This is definitely an old-lady-mobile-- only 1 previous owner, very few miles on the car, smells like old people, and is like new. The price was fair, the interest rate is great, and it turns out we have good credit. Didn't have to do a down payment.
For anyone worrying about shady used car salesmen, don't. We wound up at Carmax, after going to another local dealer that was pretty crappy by comparison and test-driving a beat-up Ranger. The guy at the Ford dealer was more like a typical salesman. But the Carmax people had it together, and frankly had more reputation at stake. We got a guy who was older, not so sale-hungry as others (or at least had the sense not to show it).
Anyway, I personally like full-sized sedans. They're hard to come by anymore, and many are being discontinued. The biggest benefit for me? I can fit in the damn thing! No problem with legroom or headroom. This one ought to last a while, and it'll be good for when we do start a family.
Anybody want to see pictures? I haven't taken any yet.