Friday
I may have done the most spontaneous, irresponsible thing I've ever done before. No, I didn't run off and get married. That would take the cake. Well, maybe I have done it twice before, sorta. But, you'll never guess. Really, I mean NEVER guess. But it was a deal I just couldn't pass up. Nope, I'm not tellin'. And, this isn't a contest - there is no prize if you guess. (I still owe Melissa from the last one.) Those of you coming to this month's stamping class will know tomorrow. Claire is the only person who currently knows - because I had to tell someone and she e-mailed me. So, Claire, please don't tell.

Okay, well this spontaneous act did take up the entire evening and now I have a house to clean and a project to finish before....well....I can't tell you that because I'd spoil the surprise.

Ugh, maybe I will break the news online and see who brings it up! That'll be a good test - to see who reads my blog. Should I? Once it's out there, anyone can see. Okay....here goes....I bought a car. Technically, it's not new. Technically it's used. But, it was originally "purchased" on January 27th of this year. It has 2300 miles on it. I found it online. It was in Turnersville. So, after Verizon came and fixed my phone, I took a drive over. Unless they could give me some SUPER deal, there was no way I was buying it. So, me and the Internet Manager took it for a test drive. I explained that I was interested in leasing it. He told me that it wouldn't make sense. Apparently, it's not practical to lease a used car. I would do better leasing a new one. But, my logic told me he was wrong. I figured that based on the price, about $5000 had already been knocked off of the new value of the car. Therefore, we were much close to the "residual" value. I asked him to humor me. I guess he never did.

We got back to the showroom and we started playing the game. He worked up the numbers on a brand new one based on a 36 month, 10,000 mile/year lease. It was a very attractive payment - definitely in the neighborhood I was looking to spend (but I didn't show it). But, I wanted the used one. So, he asked some guy to throw out some numbers and he kept telling me that it wouldn't be worth it because the rate was 5 times higher. So, he worked up financing numbers for a 72 month payment. I wasn't interested in the payment. Financing the used car for 72 months was going to be $40 more per month than leasing a new one for 3 years. But, I wanted the used one. Why? It matches my Murano. They're both platinum with black leather interior. Stop laughing.

He wanted me to think about it, so he sent me back on a second test drive, alone, to check it out. I decided that I was being silly. Why on earth would I pay $40 more per month on a 2006 car (with a manual top) when I could have a 2007 (with an automatic top)??? I turned around and told him that. So, we tried to find a platinum and black one. Problem is, that color scheme is only available via special order. I'd have to wait 3 months for it to come in. Apparently there's a special going on and he doubted he could get me the lease rate in 3 months. And by then I'd come to my senses. So, we looked at other colors - none of which lit my fire. There were very few cars out there. The car I wanted was in Puerto Rico, but he wasn't really jumping on that option. So, we went back to playing with numbers.

By now I've been in the dealership for a couple of hours. I know ALL of the guys by name. There was John and George and Jordan. They know me. We're joking. George, my Internet Manager guy, tells the Used Car manager (John) my dillema. I want the used car. But, it's more money than a new one. And, I can't get the new one with the colors I want. So, FINALLY someone decides to humor me and calculate the lease on the old one. You know what? It came almost exactly what he had quoted me for the brand new one. No one knew why. (It's because of the low mileage, but that wasn't sinking in.) And, actually it's because the residual values of the 2006 and the 2007 were practically the same. And, there was money back (or something) because of the low mileage. Anwyay, then he got more curious. He knew I really only wanted it for two years and wondered what a 2 year lease would run. He came back....stunned...a 2 year lease was actually LESS than the 3 year lease and less than the 3 year lease on the brand new one. AND, the 2 year lease had 12,000 miles/month instead of only 10,000/month for the new one. No one could believe it.

So, tomorrow morning, George is delivering my 3-month old, 2006 Platinum, VW Beetle Convertible! And the best feature, it has a port for my brand new iPod!!!!! I'm still in a state of shock. My Murano has a new friend - and they match! The guys thought that was hilarious. I think they were honestly surprised that it worked out. George told me that he was going to be using the sale as an illustration in their morning meeting. He repeatedly appologized for not running the numbers sooner. I reminded him that he could have been rid of me a lot sooner if he had done so. But, you know what? If we hadn't gone through that whole process, I may not have appreciated the deal I really got. In the end, I got a lower payment than I was willing to pay. I got more miles than I needed. And, I essentially got a brand new car when I really only wanted a used one. Too bad the top is manual. That is the only thing I had to compromise on. I guess my arm will be in shape soon!