Samurai-on-wheels

[ar_wahan]

I've already mentioned that my daughter passed her driving test on first try May 20. She has subtly and not-so-subtly been asking for her own car for months now. She was interested in a used Toyota, Honda or Prizm (which is sometimes described as a Toyota living in a Chevy body). I didn't have my own car until I was out of grad school, but this is a different world here... 

We live in a rural hilltown that does not even have bus service. When it comes to mass transit, "you can't get there from here, ayuh." She feels too old for summer camp, and wants a job. She is also frustrated having to rely on me to drive her everywhere. She could have had my old 93 Corolla for nothing, but it was a standard transmission vehicle, and she does not know how to drive a stick. It was also going to need some work before it could pass inspection again, and I wasn't sure what that would cost. (And, she also told me my Corolla "didn't like her." ???) When I learned in April that I had breast cancer and faced the possibility of half a year (in all ) of chemo and radiation, the bulk of it starting during her summer vacation, I began to take her car interest more seriously. (FYI, I now know I don't need chemo, but I will still need daily radiation treatments for six weeks or so at a hospital that is 45 minutes away.) I started asking friends about used car dealers and checking the ads. I also told her I was not willing to spend more than $5,000, which *really* limited her options around here. A woman I know from church mentioned Dewey, a fellow from the next small town over who founded a car dealership in the valley with another fellow years ago, sold it out, and now has a tiny operation up here. He goes to the auctions where new car dealerships take the cars that people trade in -- but that aren't the kind the dealerships want to bother to sell themselves. She said he specialized in Japanese cars, and was quite reasonable and reliable. He usually didn't have a lot of inventory, but I should call him and tell him what we were looking for, and he would keep an eye out at the auctions. I heard other good things about this guy from other sources. When my kid passed her driver's test, I decided to give Dewey a call just to let him know we would be in the market -- eventually. He told me that he had a Corolla sedan, 1997, that he was fixing up. Too old. Then he said he had a 2000 Prizm. Long story short, the Prizm turned out to be a really nice car. One owner, from Darien, CT (which may explain why it is in such great shape, in terms of body and interior -- looks new and NO RUST. They don't use as much road salt in CT as here). 134,000 miles. He'd replaced the left front axle assembly, put on new front brakes, two new tires, new field vacuum thingie (my notes from our phone conversation break  down here) because the check engine light had been on. $4200. 

We saw the car on the lot where it was displayed (in the valley, where there is more visiblity) after her flute recital May 21. She test drove it later in the week. She loved it, and didn't overcorrect the steering on corners (she does this with my new Prius, which apparently has morey sensitive steering). I checked out the Blue Book ratings, the 2000 was a Consumer Reports Best Buy, and the price was below book. I put a deposit on it and called my AG Edwards advisor; she sold some Fidelity stuff so I could buy the car, the insurance, etc. without breaking my liquid-assets bank.

And so ...at 7:30 p.m. last night, Dewey drove it into my driveway. Samurai drove him back (with his dealer plates in hand) to his home the next town over (in my Prius). And today, I will take the title and other forms to the insurance agent, get the official stamp, then go to the Registry to get the plates. Also need to get extra keys made, since there is only one.

Samurai already took my car for her first solo excursion on Tuesday (in other words, without me in the car), to look for a job.

The deal: I will give her half the car, she has to pay me off for the other half, and the insurance. (Gulp.) Of course, I am fronting the whole thing. This is happening very fast -- remember, I called Dewey just to tell him what we were looking for, in case he came across something *in the next month or so.*

Comments

For what it's worth....

[be4u.livejournal.com]

*I* had my first car at 16. But then, that's normal in California :)

[windsparrow.livejournal.com]

None of this sounds crazy. It's working out pretty well.

::hugs:: in general.

sounds good

[fairiegodmother.livejournal.com]

sounds like you did great networking.

good deal all the way around.

is it possible she'll be driving you back and forth to radiation, and if so, how much would her assistance, time, and effort be worth, and would that figure into paying off her part of the car?

Re: sounds good

[ar-wahan.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting thought. I'm not sure when the radiation will be scheduled (it's five days a week). Depending on if and when she has a job, it (job) may interfere.

I know she'd like the way you think, though! :)

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I didn't get my first car until grad school, either... though I suppose riding bikes was easier in suburbia. But after four years of college, my parents were tired of schlepping me around, and suggested that we start looking. They had to cosign on the loans... but that's as far as they helped me out.

But it's mah Saturn, and I love it!