New Set of Wheels

Of all the things I most dread to do, aside from parachuting out of an airplane, is buying a new vehicle. Spirit - my 2nd minivan which replaced Calvan, my first minivan, decided it was time for the evaporator to give up the ghost. Naturally, the warranty was over long ago. Also naturally, it was well over $1,000.00 to repair/replace. Now, I am not going to go through the summer without a/c, my friends. Been there, done that during the hottest summer drought in 1988. I would drive 400 miles every other weekend to be with my dear LH in that first year of our commuter marriage. 400 miles through the farmland of OH, IN and Central IL. Never, again.
So, a year earlier than planned, I traded in Spirit for Mystic. Wow! I've entered the 21st century! I am most amazed with the CD player and the free year of a paid premium radio service. (Something to play with on our roadtrip to IL/WI) The middle seats are bucket and hopefully easier to remove. With our greys, we never have the middle seats in the van anyway.
And the a/c works so wonderfully well and there are dual controls for passenger and driver. So when LH has it going as cold as meat locker, I can turn my side down!!!
I really dislike purchasing a new vehicle though. I time the sales person to see how quickly they descend upon me. Always under three minutes.
I still can't get over that so many vehicles cost as much as the home my parents purchased in 1966. (All brick three bedroom, 2 bath home, dng rm, lv rm, and finished basement - w/ family room).
You try to finagle the best deal but in the end you always feel like the dealership made out better than you!!
So, I really dreaded the whole rigamorole. And actually, the salesman was not high pressured, and even figured out 2 different incentive plans to see which would be cheaper. So, it was not the horrendous experience I had anticipated. It wasn't such fun, that I would enjoy it, but, it turned out much better than I would have expected. I hope I won't have to do this again for long, long time. I shudder at the mere thought.
With the hot weather, I have been enjoying the fully functioning a/c and the smooth ride, along with scanning all the radio stations and planning how to tie down the Christmas tree to the luggage rack!
Wouldn't be neat if you only had to buy a new vehicle every dozen years? Sigh. The worst is behind me and I may as well enjoy my new set of wheels.