Went in today to get an estimate for my car. I have $1,000 deductible which is set so high cause I thought that would save me some money cause I haven’t been in an accident since 1998. (Granted I have been in Korea since 2003). They said that I have a bent frame, I’m leaking fluid, and there is damage to the hood, fender, and the front bumper with headlight needs to be replaced. The estimate was $2,984. I bought this car for $4,500. I didn’t see the purpose here. They also said that they would give me $1,000 on a trade in. Which with the insurance money would make me out about $1,500.
A 2002 Mazda Protege, with 160,000 miles on it. I don’t remember what I was thinking when I bought it, but $1,500 to get rid of it sounded good. So I explained my situation like you always do to a car dealer. This place was also a Chevy dealership by the way. Yeah, they all learned my name real quick. I hear off in the distance, “They treating you ok, MR. CHRYSLER”, saying my name ever so slow and loud like I was someone important they wanted everyone else that was in the dealership to hear. I just gave a half faced grin and a nod.
The dealer they stuck me with had only worked there a week and had yet to sell a car. He tried selling me on the Chevy Aveo, which I felt like I was inside a plastic bubble the entire time I sat in the thing. Kind of felt the opposite of claustrophobic. Like the dash was 10 feet away. I hated it. I saw the Cobalt, and the more I looked at it the more I fell in love with it. I hate 2 door vehicles, just because those couple of times I have someone get in the back its just awkward, and they only make the supercharged in 2 door so I just went as cheap as possible and decided I am going to mod it myself. I need a new hobby, especially one that gets me away from the computer. The only one they had on the lot I liked was a black LS, with only two options. A Spoiler and automatic transmission. Driving the Mazda with the 5 speed was fun, but it wasn’t always convenient. Like on those days your trying to save time and eat (or in my case shave cause I forgot) on the way to work. Maybe if there was a highway involved on the way to work, but I have like 40 stop lights and its only 9 miles.
I can sport an automatic, I’m married and have a kid now too. Regardless I am a poser, not a “tuner”, and I know it. The car is naked and needs so touching up, but it runs so smooth and I am loving it. I have to go back tomorrow to sign some more papers and let them clean it up a little bit. They also said that they will fill it up so to burn off as much gas as possible tonight. It had 41 miles on it when I first saw it, 48 after I test drove it…, and 198 when I got home. I think I burned off enough gas for now.
I wonder if my wife will notice when she gets back from Korea, I wonder if I should tell her. I am in so much trouble.
