madbaker | Ch-ch-ch-changes.

Well, we Did It.
We are now the ~~owners~~ debtors-in-charge of a 2005 Highlander. Not a hybrid. Sort of gun-metal sparkly blue. (I'll post some pictures once we find the appropriate camera software to re-install. Ah, the joys of having the computer die.)

We went in with the same general principles we used when going to the pound. "We're not going with the expectation that we will come home with something; but if one works, then okay." Costco has a negotiated deal with certain dealerships; you pay a fixed amount over invoice, although some further haggling is allowed. (We got free cargo mats and a net.) It was remarkably stress-free, and since we found basically what we're looking for, we signed and signed and signed. Our first payment is due July 4. Hmm: we can celebrate Independence Day by making car loan payments to a foreign company.

Times have changed since I last bought a new car, ten years ago; then, I had to walk in with a cashier's check. This time, we could write a personal check for the down - and they even offer to hold it for 24 to 48 hours for you to transfer the funds over. (Which is good, because we didn't have that kind of money sitting in that account...)

I'm reasonably happy with it. Granted, I've only driven 15 miles so far. It'll take some getting used to - being that high up, and also not having a stick shift. I've never had an automatic transmission before.

Now all the subsequent fun: notifying AAA, the insurance people, the parking folks in SF so I can get a new sticker, the work security people ditto, arranging for donating the old wagon...