Goldilocks Goes Carshopping: Once You Go European, You Can't Go Back

Oh, how I've missed air conditioning.

I really had no idea how much I've missed the comforts of climate control until I started cruising in my new wheels yesterday. I was elated at the new experience of power windows and locks (Isn't it amazing that something as simple as door locks can make a girl happy?), thrilled by a fully operational moonroof and a slew of other creature comforts that Gretta Jetta failed to deliver (either because she was born without them, or they just tuckered out over time).

Buying a new car can be scary. Especially for a chick. It doesn't matter how much I swagger in a dealership, or how much I act like I could really give a shit about their cars, the fact is I know nothing about vehicles and must have the word SUCKER tattooed on my forehead.

I broke all the cardinal sins at the Dealership #1. I told them my price ($10K) and target car payment ($300). Yeah, I know. That was really stupid. The guy started showing me $15-18,000 cars saying I could definitely get myself in one of those rides with the right financing.

Riiiight.

Dealer #2 was crazy wacko. Okay, that's a bit of an overstatement. He was a really nice guy, but I don't really need a recovering alcoholic (isn't that too much information for a salesman to share with a customer?) to criticize me because I have my own storied past with alcohol and have opted for a plan of responsibility rather than sobriety? I also don't appreciate it when a salesman gets visibly hostile because I offer up a lowball number to counterbalance the inflated asking price.

Dealer #3 was just right. He didn't put the squeeze on me and he even let me take not one but two test drives all on my own. The sticker price was 2K less than the Kelley Blue Book estimate at a dealership, he cut $200 off the price because I asked him, and I even managed him to shave three percentage points off my interest rate.

You ask: "So what did you get, Kate?"

A 2001 Saab 9-3 turbo. 47,000 miles, Gunmetal Gray, five speed with moonroof, CD player, cruise control, seat warmers, power windows/locks, fog lamps, alloy wheels, audio controls on the steering wheel. It's basically got everything but a jar of Gray Poupon.

The previous owner was a woman. She leased it for four years before trading it in. Chicks are usually not as hard on cars (I suppose I exclude myself from that generalization).

The car was a great deal. I am so thrilled to have something reliable, sporty, sexy and I suppose a bit snooty.

Oh, how I've longed for my Sabina Saab.