So, its been almost two weeks since I totaled the vehicle. I received the insurance settlement from the insurance company, and now its just putting that money to good use. Good use…in terms of a car… sheesh!
I am still up in the air about what to do about a vehicle. All I know is that I like the extra cash sitting in my bank account right now. I have gone into dealerships, talked on the phone with sellers, e-mailed some, and talked to friends about vehicles. I have the numbers that I am willing to spend in my head, so if they can’t get to those numbers, I politely say no thanks, and go on my merry way.
When looking at used vehicles, I am sort of picky (I don’t care what the car is, I just want to feel comfortable about it). If the car looks taken care of, I am put at ease, but the individual sellers I have talked to haven’t given me the best of vibes. I would almost rather deal with a car dealership, because at least they have a warranty on their vehicles, even if it’s a bad one.
I saw a couple cars on craigslist yesterday at a dealership that wasn’t too far away. I actually started to get excited about one of the vehicles, it was in my price range, looked good, etc. I went and did a quick check for the dealer’s rating at the local Better Business Bureau; they had a rating of an F. Not buying a car there.
I have even toyed with the idea of going car-less. This is DC after all, and even though I live in the burbs, I could probably make it work somehow. The only trouble I find is getting to and from my hockey games (which are not metro accessible). I would hate to have to rely on others for transportation for a leisure activity.
If I can make it through the next handful of weeks, I probably won’t need a car until late August because of a hectic travel schedule throughout that month. That gives me a little comfort that I don’t need to rush my decision, but at the same time, I do feel a bit stranded.
Being forced to make a hasty purchase is never a good idea. I see it happen to people all of the time at the apartment building I work at. They come in needing an apartment that week. The building looks to suit their needs, and they sign a lease. A few months later they come and talk to me saying, “I wish we didn’t rush into this apartment. The building is fine, but we should have gone with a larger apartment, or a different area of the city.”
I can surely use any tips anyone has on buying a 10+ year used vehicle, or stories of people that have bought certified pre-owned cars. Any input will be helpful. Hopefully the next time I update everyone, it will be about my new ride.
Have a happy and healthy fourth of July. Crack a beer for me.