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.
