Sand, Salt & Supper – A New York view of the left coast

15May 2013

The Final Countdown

10 days until I move to LA. I’ve organized it so I land at 10:15 AM on Friday the 24th and will be handed my car keys at baggage claim by the dealer. Next I have an appointment at 12:30 with the CA DMV where I’ll go to change my license and finish up car registration. Then I’ll head to the apartment complex. The next day my stuff will arrive and I’ll move in. I may even stop at the grocery store on the way. Organized, right? So what’s left.

I still need to pass my road test. Yup, it is scheduled for next Monday morning. I have two driving lessons left. All will go to shit if I don’t pass. So pressure is definitely on.

After that, I just have to finalize car insurance, search for a surfboard, see as many friends as possible. I need to get my hair colored. I promised to bake a wedding cake. Yup a wedding cake. It’s going to be a busy 10 days but I’m ready for it. So many dinners, drinks, lunches, parties and I’m getting over a cold. I got this though.

05May 2013

Car shopping without a Driver’s License

by Jess K. ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅ Link

I’m scheduled to take my road test on may 20th. A few days before I leave for LA. With my plan to arrive and have a car waiting, I needed some help. My mom loves cars, so voila, we decide to spend Friday car shopping.

When we set out, we were down to three options: Volvo S60, Nisan Rogue and a Lexus CT hybrid. It’s my first car so I don’t want it to to nice. I want it to fit a surf board – have good mileage, tech support and good visibility. And my mom has to say it drives well.

First of all. The entire experience was embarrassing. At 31 year-old car shopping with her mom. Everyone thought I was going to college! Um yeah, flattering but come on, I’ve got a decade on that.

First we looked at a Nisan Rogue – it was nice and the right price our default option. Then we walked in Volvo. As we start looking around I hear, “hey is this your shoe?” The shopping bag I was carrying with a change of cloths had broken open. I walk over and with my lone shoe is a lace thong. Oh goodness, so embarrassing. Only one salesmen offered a shopping bag – it was from celebrity cruises. I felt bad so he took me over to look at the Volvo S60. It was really nice but way too expensive for me almost $500 a month and I was hoping to keep my payments under $300. He then tried to get me in a Mazda. eh.

I really wanted to see Lexus CT hybrid. We walk in and it was really small. My mom thought it was a death box and the salesman didn’t do a great job convincing us otherwise. It also made weird spaceship like noises when we drove it. So far the Nissan Rogue looked like my best opportunity.

Both a bit hungry (almost h-angty) we walked in to the VW showroom and I saw the Tiguan. I like it. My mom likes it. We tested it. And then worked on a deal. They offered the fully featured car down to $369/month, with a huge sum down and shopping costs to LA on top of that. More than I wanted to spend, but close. But why ship from NY. Maybe if I called an LA dealership I could get a better deal.

Before saying yes, we asked for a day. I called the Santa Monica dealership. Same car much much less. Not sure what that means. But life is easier that way. Less down, and $299/month with taxes. They’ll even meet me at the airport with the keys. Done. Deal.