New Car!
@owlwings (43897)
Cambridge, England
April 30, 2016 6:14am CST
Buying a new car isn't that difficult. Except that is, when you take all the emotional, intellectual and financial thorn bushes into consideration!
Our old car, now 11 years old, was due to have its annual MOT and the prospect of its passing the test looked bleak. A preliminary inspection told us that we might have to spend between £250 and £500 on it to get it to comply with the legislation and, considering its age (even though it runs very well) and condition, it seemed to be about time that it was retired.
I'll gloss over the passage through the briar patch I mentioned above. In the end, the bank provided finance at a good rate and the choice of another vehicle resolved itself quite nicely in the shape of a 'previously owned' (it's un-PC to say 'second-hand' these days) Citroen C3 Picasso just three years old. They also gave me quite an acceptable trade in on the current car, considering what it would need spending on it to make it saleable.
I arranged to complete the deal and take possession at 9am on Friday and duly turned up with pen and plastic and with my tongue hanging out (as it were). All the forms and fiddle-de-dees were completed ... but WHERE was my car? OOPS! It was still in the valeting bay and, moreover, the reversing sensors which I had enquired about but had NOT yet ordered had been fitted!
"I'm terribly sorry, sir. Please could you come back in two hours?"
Well, I could wait, I suppose. I had nothing else to do, really. So I did ... and waited ... and waited till, finally I got a call saying that it would be ready at 3pm. That was a little annoying, since I had expected to have it in the morning but still no big deal. In the end, it was actually 4pm before I finally got the car home, with the reversing sensors (which I wanted but hadn't actually said I did) AND front sensors (which I definitely DID NOT order and was certainly not going to pay for!).
Now, sitting back and looking at the deal. The 'minuses' are that I paid 50% more than I had really budgeted for and didn't get the level of service (timewise) that I should expect from a well-known and large dealership but, on the 'plus' side, I have a vehicle which I'm well happy with, got rid of the old one painlessly and satisfactorily, and have better parking sensors than I asked for (and paid for), so, all in all, I'm happy!
It's your turn now! Let's hear any good or bad car stories from you!
12 people like this
14 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 May 16
gee, 'tis been 13 years since i bought'n auto. i went to the first dealership, told the fella what i was lookin' fer 'n he told me he didn't think i needed a truck that big. bought the truck't the 3rd dealership visited 'fter a lengthy test drive. first new auto i've e'er bought (0% financin', they'd a 2yr ol' one'n the lot but with financin' would'a cost 'bout $4,000 more - ridiculous). 'fter it'd gotten its first 500 miles'n 't, i took't out to the hay field. 'n my way back into town, i stopped back by that first place - fully loaded with 'bout 3 1/2 tons'f leafy alfalfa. told the fella that he shouldn't've concerned himself with my "need", jest if'n i could pay fer such.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 May 16
@sueznewz2 he sure missed his commission'n one :D i wish i'd a camera handy, coz the look'n his face was priceless!
2 people like this
good.....
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 May 16
that'll learn 'im.... might think twice next time, before worrying himself... of others needs... lol's 
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24028)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 16
I took delivery of a new car a few years ago after two days a lady pulled out right into the side of me. I had not even covered 80 miles. She was crying I asked her if she was hurt she said no I said if anyone should be crying it should be me then as it was brand new and her car was a bit of a wreck. Even more so now! Good luck my current car is a Citroen too and I love it. I do not want to give it up as I love it so much. I hope you have many happy years in it too!
2 people like this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
30 Apr 16
I'm rather gone on Citroens. All the ones I've had and friends have owned have been good starters (and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this won't break the mould). I was very much thinking of getting a Berlingo this time but am glad I found this C3 Picasso which is only a smidgeon wider and longer than the C3 I had before but has much more space.
I was persuaded into paying a little more for a Price Protection which means that, even if the car is written off in the next three years, I will get the full price that I paid for it.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
30 Apr 16
@garymarsh6 I liked the C3, too. Just the right size for driving long distances and for around town. The luggage space is not very generous (but with only two in the car, there was plenty with the back seats down). Being more boxy and taller, the C3 Picasso has a lot more room and also has a flat loading sill - something I always have liked - my wife does car boot sales occasionally, so I had that in mind too.
Even though this has a larger engine (1.6 instead of 1.4) and is a diesel, it looks as though it'll be much more economic than the C3 was - up to about 55 - 60 mpg on longer journeys.
@garymarsh6 (24028)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 16
@owlwings I have a C3 and absolutely love it. OK I can only get one case in the boot but hey there is only me in the car most of the time although you can get five in it. I am so hooked on it I want to change it to exactly the same again. Previously I had a BX oh my it was like driving a hovercraft I loved it and nearly cried when I had to say good bye to it.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr 16
I have only had one new car in my life. My first was a used Buick and I remember the tires were so bald on it that if I parked too close to a curb I'd get a flat. I drove it that way for a couple months before I had money to buy a couple new tires. I loved that car and drove it for several years.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
30 Apr 16
i couldn't resist checking looking for an image of the datsun zx280 on good, wow! does it only seat 2 passengers?
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
30 Apr 16
@hereandthere I think there were two models, one with only two sits. Our car had two back sits, that are very uncomfortable, but better than nothing.
1 person likes this
or it can be good@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
30 Apr 16
The bad would definitely be suddenly to be without a car with little warning! Actually, where I live, it's quite possible to survive without one - the local shops are pretty good and the bus services are excellent - and I did so for about a year before buying the last vehicle.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
30 Apr 16
i think i first learned about citroen from reading paperbacks in my teens, same with maserati. it's a cute car and based on your responses, the best choice for you and your wife.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
30 Apr 16
Well, since we can't afford to buy a brand new car outright, we buy a new car and trade it in 2-3 years later and get a decent trade-in so that the difference we have to pay in cash is affordable. No complaints in the last 16 years - our current SUV is almost 2 and we still have one more 'free' oil change....and it only takes an hour while we wait in a nice comfortable waiting room.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
30 Apr 16
If you got extra sensor's for free, then sounds like a good deal, even with lost time
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 May 16
i'm glad you're pleased.... I like the citroen c3 picasso.... I've not used the parking sensors before... but I hired a car last year that had a reversing camera on it... which I found quite usefull ..... but kept forgetting to use at first... lol's
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
30 Apr 16
I made a stupid, expensive mistake the last time I bought a car. I did my research and was completely prepared before I went, but I went on a Friday after work when I was tired. They pulled all the delay tactics on me, but I was too pooped to recognize them.
I did get up and start to leave once, but should have just walked out. I think I paid about $3K more than I should have. Shame on me. I knew better. But I did get free car services and a long extended warranty which both have saved me about that much.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382326)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Apr 16
I have a story about buying our bus but it is worthy of its own 'discussion'. However it is late here and I'm heading for bed so maybe another time. Glad you have a 'new' car that you are happy with.
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
30 Apr 16
I do hope you enjoy your new car! I don't guess I have any bad car stories. Hubby was a mechanic for many years and drag races, so he knows so much about cars. We haven't bought a "new" car in years. We buy mostly slightly used vehicles that we are able to pay cash for. It helps that his 2 sons work at a car dealership too! Enjoy your new car, it is a wonderful feeling!
1 person likes this
@destimona (1910)
• Luxembourg, Luxembourg
30 Apr 16
My new car Skoda citigo is going to be delivered on 10th of May. Waiting for that.
1 person likes this
