I have new car fever! The past month or so I’ve been browsing the automotive sites - checking out which vehicles are available, options, prices, etc. I knew from the beginning I wanted a hybrid vehicle. I was leaning towards a hybrid SUV, because I love having a SUV. It seems like every week there is a scenario where Bobby and I need the extra space. It is great to be able to put the back seats down and load it up! And we often cram it full. So, I did think it would be great if I could keep that space. That narrowed down my choices to three (or two, depending on how you see it) - Ford Escape, Mercury Mountaineer, and Toyota Highlander.
The Mountaineer is really just a jazzed up Escape. They add some extra bling to the interior and exterior, and charge you about $3000 more. After taking a look at it up close, I took it off the list because I don’t think they extras warrant the higher price. That leaves me with the Highlander and Escape.
Bobby and I stopped by a Ford dealer on Sunday and just peered through the windows of an Escape Hybrid. I have to admit I was a little disappointed with how little difference it had to my current Escape. I was hoping for a bit more wow factor. Yesterday I stopped at a Toyota dealership and took a look at the Highlander. It’s interior did have the wow factor - digital thermostat, audio controls on steering wheel, heated mirrors, power seats, etc. But it also had a much higher price tag.
This morning I took a little time out of the work day and did some in depth research. USAA (our bank) has a great feature that lets you build a vehicle online, selecting all the features and packages, and saving it in their system. You can then get an insurance quote from them, loan quote, do side-by-side comparisons, have an advantages/disadvantages report created, and even have them find a dealership and haggle a price for you. Using the USAA website and a little spreadsheet I put together, I was able to see that for the extra money, all I was getting extra from the Highlander was audio controls on the steering wheel and digital thermostat. Both really nice features (I fell in love with steering wheel audio controls in the last car we rented), but not worth the extra bucks. I also found out that you can get a blinged out audio/navigation system in the Escape and still pay far less than the Highlander.
So I found an Escape Hybrid at a dealership near us that has all the features I wanted, and even in the color I want. And the price is lower than I expected (but I will still haggle them down a few more hundred if I decide to buy) Plus, I found out they are offering 1.9% financing for 36 months. You can’t beat that. So I’m going by today to take a look at it. I’m actually going to force myself to deal with a sales person so I can get inside it and play with the gadgets. If I like it enough, I’ll drag Bobby by tomorrow for a test drive. I need to get his opinion before I do anything.
I know that I am in the throws of “big ticket purchase mania” where I am so excited about getting a big new toy that I will look over the little issues just so I can have my toy. Want it! Want it! Need to have it! But the problem with “big ticket purchase mania” is that, after spending some time with your new toy, the newness of it wears off and all those little things you overlooked start to pop out at you. And when you start adding up all these little things, you are suddenly disappointed with your purchase. But it’s too late. You’re stuck with it. And that is when you curse your significant other for not stopping you from buying it (when in fact, they never had a chance in hell of stopping you because you bought it without asking them their opinion).
Wow, long post. And I haven’t posted in awhile! But yeah……car fever……I’ve got it. So we shall see what happens!
I have to be careful and play it cool though.
Wow - that was a long post!
Big ticket purchase mania afflicts millions of Americans, which is why most car salesmen behave the way they do - to take advantage of it! I have a mild case, but am able to withstand the powers of most salespeople; it must be that negotiation training. I also tend to start shopping way early for a car so that I can decide exactly what I want before I buy and avoid buying an option I don’t need or failing to get one I’d be disappointed in not having.
Plus, it really is a good idea to buy a hybrid, not just to cut down on your gas expenses - we know the extra cost of a hybrid isn’t offset by the fuel cost savings (at today’s gas prices, but could be worth it if gas goes to $4/gallon). More importantly, you consume less fuel and contribute fewer emmissions. Best of all, you can REALLY look down your nose at Hummer owners!
Best of luck!