100th Post-Better Be Big

I noticed last month that my next post was going to be my 100th post and instantly felt pressure to make it bigger or better than normal... Incredibly, something big has gone on the for the last few week so I'll write about that.

Three weeks ago I (and my little Dodge Neon) got into a car accident. Thankfully everyone involved was okay but I had no clue what to do because I had never been in an accident before. I was frustrated with myself because I actually saw the car (that eventually hit me) and wondered if he was going to see me and then before I knew it he was smashing into the side of my car. Had I listened to my instincts better maybe I would have slowed down and maybe the accident wouldn't have happened...but I can't hang on to the what ifs.

I was actually planning to start looking for a different car next year so I decided to use this as an opportunity to just start that process earlier. After seeing my car...I was pretty sure the insurance company would total it and send me money. I was fine either way so I started checking out some cars on line and waiting for the official word. Five days after the accident the insurance company called me to tell me they would be fixing my car and it would take about 8 days or so. So I cancelled my plans to go test drive cars that night and called my Dad to tell him I did not need him to send me the title. The very next day the insurance company called me again, this time to make negotiate a settlement on my totaled car. Somehow they got their communications crossed but in fact they were totallying my car. From that point on my mind was completely focused on figuring out the car thing.

I hit the car buying hard:
Friday night-test drove at dealer 1
Saturday morning-test drove more cars at dealer 1
Sunday afternoon-drove through some other dealerships to look at what they had
Monday evening-test drove with dealer 2 in a snow storm
Tuesday evening-test drove a different color and year of Monday's car at dealer 2, made an offer to dealer 2...dealer 2 would not budge on price, left dealer 2 feeling empowered by my ability to walk away and not make an emotional decision
Wednesday afternoon-dealer 2 called back with a better 'deal,' told them I still didn't like the deal and I had moved on.
Wednesday evening-test drove with dealer 3
Thursday evening-took Wednesday night car from dealer 3 for more test driving and kept it overnight
Friday morning-returned car to dealer 3 and made yet another offer to yet another dealer who did not want to budge on price. I told him 'no' and left.
Friday afternoon & evening-Cried out of frustration with the dealers and desire for the car buying process to be done. Took the night off from car shopping.
Saturday morning-call from dealer 3 with 'good news' about the offer they could make me. Offer was still not good and I told him I was test driving something else that morning.
Saturday morning-test drove family friend's car but didn't feel like it was the 'right car' for me. Decided to check for sale by owner cars on Craigslist. Drove a Craigslist car and made an offer that morning (they were willing to deal). Had my mechanic check out the car and bought the Craigslist car that afternoon and am now the owner of a 2003 Subaru Outback.

I am so glad to be done with car buying and hopeful that I never again have to deal with a car dealer. The whole process was a good learning experience and thankfully the people around me were very patient with me as I navigated this process.

There's the big 100th post news!!