9/5/2011

OK, remember how I was thinking about putting a header on Ms. Clio? I talked to Mr. Wet Blanket, AKA John, who totally rained on my parade by pointing out that the header deletes a catalytic converter and that I'd never be able to sell that car because of it. Well, I practiced him! Yesterday I bought a Genesis Coupe! Nanny nanny boo boo! Here’s the story. Saturday, mom and I took a load of stuff to Granbury to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club Resale Store figuring we’d have lunch at Niester’s afterward. Well, we were about an hour early for lunch so I stopped in at the Hyundai dealer to see if they had any Genesis Coupes. They did. All but one were automatics though. Oh but what a car the manual transmission car was! It was a 2.0t R-spec in black. It was so sinister and awesome that I was pretty sure I was going to buy it. All I had to do was convince mom. Shut up! Yes, I'm 45 years old. Yes, I make my own money and pay my own bills... for the most part. She does provide me with food and shelter so I gotta listen to her. Get over it. Anyhoo, I did not drive the car. I knew that would just be the end of it. I had the out of saying, “Mom won't let me buy it,” which I totally expected. So, she and I go to lunch and then head back home. I immediately go to the credit onion to get a letter of credit saying I could buy the car. When the payments came back at $350.00 a month, I thought they were a bit steep. John and mom on the other hand were shocked I could get so low a payment. Hmm. So, before heading out to Granbury to see what they would give me for Ms. Clio, I talked to John. He called Allen Samuels Hyundai across town to see what they had in stock. They had one R-spec six-speed... in white! Yes, the black car was terribly sexy. Yes, I would have looked awesome in it. But I have learned from Ms. Clio that they never look clean and they are hot as hell when parked in the sun all day. No, it was time to get back into a white car. It was decided that John and I would stop by and look at it on our way to Jeff’s birthday party in Grapevine. We stopped and found that the only six-speed car on the lot was an R-spec V6. I'd always thought I wanted the V6 more than the turbo four but had allowed myself to be talked into the hype of the four being better for “racing.” I re-convinced myself that the six was what I wanted. John pointed out later that this car was what I should have been shopping for back in 2008 when I was looking at the Altima Coupe as it has the V6 and manual transmission, but is rear wheel drive. We went to the party and stopped to look at it again on the way home. I decided I'd come talk to them on Sunday. See, car dealers have a choice in Texas as to whether they will be open Saturday or Sunday. Allen Samuels chose Sunday. Sunday I picked up John and we went to talk to them. We found a sales person, Karon Key was her name, and began the process. She found the keys to the car and had Ms. Clio appraised. I drove the Genesis and was hooked. No, I was hooked before the test drive, I'll admit it. I was willing to walk away if they wouldn't give me enough for Ms. Clio to get the drive off price down to the credit onion’s letter of credit though. And I was still prepared to do that. They came back with an offer. It was $2,300.00 more than I “had to spend” as it were. I said, “Well, here’s the thing. I don't need to buy it as much as y'all need to sell it. I've been approved for $20,000.00 from EECU. Make this number,” pointing at the bottom line, “$20,000.00 and we’re on.” She went back to the manger who “gave me” another $1,005.00 for Ms. Clio getting that “bottom line” to $21,995.00 or so. It almost worked. I almost saw $21,000.00 and thought, “Meh, close enough.” Then the $995.00 flashed in my mind and I thought, “Whoa! That’s another grand!” I sent her back to see if they would meet me half way at $21k even. She came back with $21,345.00 or something. John and I went outside. He pointed out that it was halfway between my “definite yes” number and my “definite no” number. He then asked if I was going to let $1,300.00 queer the deal. We went back in and I signed. After a few more hours, it seemed like, we got through with all the paperwork and were on our way. I felt a little guilty and bid Ms. Clio a farewell as I got my glasses from the overhead console for the last time. I'm not sure how long it will be before she’s dead to me. Probably the first time I drive Jenny, that’s the Genesis Coupe’s name for the time being, on Highway 5 in Aledo. In fact, since it is a holiday, I think I'll go do that now. Excelsior!