Well, I think this week just proves that acting under pressure is the best way to achieve anything. I can't believe I started Monday night with a broken car, and by Friday I was driving a new one. If anyone else has ever had to make a HUGE purchase under pressure, you know how I felt - a little crazy, exhausted and sick of looking into your bank account. However, it was so worth it in the end. Here's a re-cap of my week:
Monday: After a great New Years weekend, I was driving home after 11. I was pulling off the 401 when I noticed my battery light came on. I chose a few choice words to yell at the car, but these worked to no avail - ALL the emergency lights came on, and the car just shut off. After this had happened the previous Friday (I had thought that it was the gas gauge then - this time I had a full tank), I knew exactly what I needed to do - get off the road as quickly as possible. So, I rolled down the exit, and pulled off the road onto the curb. I then waited and tried to start the car again - this worked, but as I drove for 2 blocks, I saw the car was going to do the same thing again - all the lights kept dimming, the radio shut off - so I pulled off the main road. Just as this happened - of course, the car died again. I managed to roll into a parking lot, and called CAA. If anyone has ever thought you couldn't get their money's worth out of a CAA card, it was me. After talking with the CAA driver, I thought the best idea would be to bring the car to Canadian Tire - Obviously there is an electrical problem with the car. I had just had the alternator switched out a couple months back - I figured I would get my money's worth out of the 2 year warrantee that came with it. Time home - approx. 1:30am
Tuesday: I somehow managed to get up at 6:30am and catch the bus into work. I called Canadian Tire and told them what happened to the car. After performing a diagnostic test, the guy called me back to say there was nothing wrong with the car.
My thoughts at that moment: REALLY?!!! You're telling me I just decided to shut the car off mid-drive willingly?!? I should let you drive the thing in the middle of the night and have it mysteriously shut off on you.... on a bridge, as you hit a patch of black ice....
My words at that moment: What do you think it could be? Is there any other tests that can be done?
After a consistent no from Canadian Tire, I took it to Ford over my lunch break. Surely enough they would find something wrong. Around 3 that afternoon, the lady I was dealing with came back with the same message as Canadian Tire - there was nothing wrong with the car. She had done 2 different tests - one that hooks it up to the electrical, one that hooks it up to the engine - and nothing was coming back wrong. She said that the technician had taken it for a drive himself and it died within 6 minutes of him driving it. She told me that she had a guess of what it might be - something to do with an AIC (?) - and that to get to it would cost $100 an hour. To fix the piece would cost about $400.
This was when I decided enough was enough. I had tossed $1500 into that car over the last 3 months, and to add another piece into that car wasn't going to make it any better in the long run. I asked her if I could talk to a sales rep to see how much I could get for the car. I told her I needed a new car by Thursday as I had to get to work. She put me in touch with a sales rep and I made an appointment to see him after work.
After the bus ride over to the dealership, I sat down and talked to the rep. He told me he didn't think he could get more than $700 for my car, but with a promotion they had going on, they could put it towards a decent car. He showed me the prices for 2 cars - one used and one new. I said the used car (a 2007 focus with 40,000kms on it) was more in my budget. He said the warrantee was still good for another year and a half, and I could extend the warrantee to 85,000 kms (which is supposed to be 4 years, but would only be 2 seeing as there were already 40,000kms on the car) if I wanted to. I said alright, as I thought that this was my only option at the time. I said I would go home and sleep on it before I signed on the papers. Time home - approx. 9:30pm
Wednesday: I got up at 6:30 once again to get to work. I called Ford and made an appointment that afternoon to sign the papers.
Now, while all this was happening, I was dreaming about a new Hyundai - the 2011's were really fancy, spacious, and the warrantee couldn't be beat (5 years/100,000kms bumper-bumper with $0 down for repairs - Ford's would have been $100 down and I would have had to extend the one that was already on the car). I thought, why shouldn't I try?
So I called Hyundai and asked what they thought - they said they had a $4000 rebate on their 2010 Hyundai Elantra's right now, that they could give me $1200 for my car, and could give me the new Elantra for the same price (of course with more money down from the Focus) as what Ford was going to give me for the used car! They could also get me a loaner car for Thursday if the car wasn't in, and I could have the car by Friday!!! SCORE!!! I made the appointment to see him after work that afternoon and nearly gave the guy a hug once I was approved :P I drove home with the loaner car and basically lazed around all night.
Oh ya, I completely forgot about calling Ford back to cancel (I had called and moved it to after I saw Hyundai).... he called me, asking where I was, and I told him all about the deal Hyundai had given me. Take that!
Thursday: I drove into Woodstock, well-rested (but sick) and worked. I didn't like how the loaner car (a 2003 Accent in better shape than my old car) drove... it seemed to have a mind of it's own and kick into 4th gear whenever it wanted to... so I crashed in Ingersoll for the snowy night. I managed to get the insurance set up for the car (which was a nice 1.5 hour chat) and somehow got property insurance and auto insurance for cheaper than if I just got auto insurance itself. I figured that was the best deal I was going to get!
Friday: I GOT THE NEW CAR!!! I was so excited :) I have never had a car with heated seats, and this just made it worth it :P So happy I decided to get it - I feel so much safer on the road. Its like a weight is lifted off my shoulders and I don't have to worry so much about unexpected costs.
For those of you who would like to see my car - check out my Facebook :)
Well, there is my week - craziness!!! Now to catch up on the wedding and demos.
Have a good one!
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