What I Learned This Week #8

This week, I learned that things can happen quickly.

On Saturday, Justin decided to go to the dealership where we leased the vehicle I drive. It's an Acura MDX--a silver SUV with the capability to seat seven people. Do you want to know how many times we have actually had seven people in it? Twice. The lease will be up in two months, and I had been telling Justin that we didn't have to have an SUV again because we don't carpool or haul entire soccer teams around. Whatever was the best deal: that's my motto. And I knew a car would be cheaper, no matter what.

So Justin decided to find out what kind of deal we could get if we turned in the old(er) vehicle and leased a new one. Leasing isn't a bad deal for us because I don't put too many miles on a car. If we couldn't find one in our price range, we'd buy a used car elsewhere.

Of course, in this economy, the salesman really wanted to "help" us get a car. Justin first looked at a sedan and brought it home for me to drive. But it was more than we wanted to pay, even after negotiating. Not much more--but I knew that we needed to stay within our current budget if for no other reason than we needed to be smart shoppers and not just agree to anything that came our way. I didn't want to give up the meal out or clothes I'd be able to buy, if we paid that money out every month. Justin agreed with me. We brought the car back and told the salesman that we wanted to explore our options.

Then Justin suggested that I look at a slightly smaller car--the TSX. It's still a four-door, five-seater, just a little smaller. We had the kids sit in it to determine if there would be room and it was fine. The payments are less than we're making now and it will never be out of warranty for the three years we will be leasing it. We feel really good about it and I am having fun zipping around in a smaller vehicle. We signed the papers that night and the decision I've been mulling over for six months was a done deal.

Here's what it looks like.

I was spoiled to the Acura I had, so I'm glad I get to enjoy the same amenities. (It's terrible how addicted I am to the heated seats during the winter.) Plus since 3 1/2 years have passed since I had a new car, I also now have a USB port I can plug my iPod into! AND it gets much better gas mileage--21 to 36 miles per gallon.

The kids like the new car. Miss Pink calls it "volcano red." On the way home from the dealer, we turned up "Hurts So Good" and rocked out. Today Mr. Blue requested that I open the sunroof and turn up "rock and roll" good and loud. I was happy to comply.