Fadra Buys A Car Part 1: Go Big or Go Home
Fadra Nally
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Most women spend more time sizing up the purchase of a new handbag than they do a new car. They think about the numbers (How can I justify spending THAT on a handbag?), they consider the value (How many times will I use it and what does that come out to per use?) and they shop competing merchants (Saks has the exact same bag, and with the gift card bonus I can get a free Bobbi Brown lipstick, too!). And they get excited.
Car purchases, not so much. But when our friend Fadra Nally bought a new car, we knew we wanted to see what went on inside her head: she thinks about things very carefully. This is the beginning of Fadra’s journey:
Go Big or Go Home
This is crazy. I know it’s crazy. It’s crazy but I think I’m going to do it anyway.
I’m going to buy a new car.
Why is that crazy? I’ll tell you why.
1. I’m getting ready to buy a new house. In fact, just yesterday I wrote about how change is good/scary/exciting/emotional. That’s a lot of change. And a car too?
2. I drive an awesome-mobile. It’s a 2009 Ford Flex that I bought because my dad works at Ford and got me a sweet deal on this ride. It was expensive but with 0% financing, it was a GREAT deal.
So why am I considering trading in my car for something new?
Two words: GAS MILEAGE.
The Ford Flex actually gets decent gas mileage for its size. I’d say it’s about 18/26 mpg. That’s a heck of a lot better than a lot of cars out there that offer the same size and functionality. It’s got three rows of seating and every option imaginable, including a mini fridge in the back.
Yes, I’m serious.
But the idea of becoming more efficient: with fuel, with money, with space is just so appealing. And so here’s what I plan to do.
Buy this car.
It’s a 2012 Prius v. It’s a hybrid. I know. Me – a Republican – buying a hybrid car. Am I becoming a liberal?
(that’s totally a joke)
But we ran the numbers and came up with this…
- With my trade-in, my car payment would be cheaper by $200 every month (even though it would extend the length I’m paying)
- With the reduced gas spending, I’d reduce fuel costs by $140 every month
So at a time when I should be thinking about conserving because we’re buying a mega-house in a much more expensive market, I’m gearing up to buy a new car.
I have to admit that I’m kicking myself for not test driving the Prius v when I went to visit Toyota in California. The line was long-ish and I didn’t think I would be seriously buying a new car anytime soon. But I did test drive a Prius and liked it. I didn’t LOVE it. But I liked it. I think I would just have to adjust. I know I would certainly adjust to the cost difference at the pump.
While I didn’t test drive the Prius v, I needed to take a second look so we went past a local dealership yesterday. I have to admit that Michael Lee at Fred Anderson Toyota really knew his stuff. He knew I was only looking and he knew everything about the Prius right down to the difference in inches between the Prius and Prius v.
More importantly, I asked him what he drove. I mean, if you’re selling something to me, I need to know you believe in your brand. He informed me he drives a Toyota Yaris for commuting and his wife drives a Toyota Camry. I guess he eats his own dogfood (that’s an annoying marketing buzz term).
So there it is. If all goes as planned, you might see me hawking my Toyota hybrid in the very near future.
Fadra’s journey continues here.
Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the Toyota TWIN community, but I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota.