OK, I decided I would try to take advantage of that cash for clunkers program that the government was offering.  If my ‘94 Plymouth voyager did not qualify then I do not know what would.

Well wouldn’t you know it?  At the time this make & model was made it gave 19 mpg.  The only voyager van with a 3.0 liter engine as opposed to the 3.1 plus.

But that did not stop there.  The sales man wanted to sell me a car sooo bad it was not funny.  Now you folks know me.  Ms. Numbers.  I NEVER do anything without crunching the numbers.  I live by numbers.

While he had a nice accord there BUT the salesman was pushy, as all salesman are.  My Van as a trade in.  Them telling me that it is a 14,500 vehicle.  Wanting me to sign then and there.

I do hate that.  I get suspicious.  My hackles go up and my ears go back.

Why can’t dealers let you shop around?  Are they so afraid that you will find something better?

He offers me the car for 14. I told him off the top of my head 10 grand would be about right. Of course there is the ritual.  A script.  “Gotta talk to my boss”.  Then of course the boss comes out and has to question your sanity.  Eventually I left the dealership because my diabetic meds were home and I was in dire need of them, and truth be told, I had enough of the sales men.

I go online and find that this car goes for around 9 grand in good condition.  Good gas mileage.  Then I think it may not be such a bad deal.

Silly me.  I go back to the dealer.  Now I do not want to give up my van.  Why should I?  It dose not qualify for the rebate & they will only junk it.

They want to up the antie on not junking my van by 800 dollars. What this has to do with anything is beyond me.  I tell him I know the blue book value on the car.  No reason to take my van OR jack up the price.  I get suspicious with a squeeze for every dollar.  I know they are in business but still. By not taking my un-sellable van I am saving them money.

Much haggling.   They go down to 10,400.  You know, had they stuck with the 10 grand they MIGHT have closed the deal with me, but something was fishy.   Used card do not count for the government rebate so my van is a moot point.

Then I call the insurance company to put this car on.  OK the insurance on this, much higher than my van.  While they get the paperwork together, I crunch the numbers, which is what I am good at. I do not drive much, if I put 50 miles a week on my van that is a lot.

Extra insurance premiums - the savings on gas = A loss of about 10 bucks per week.

Not good.  Since I have a vehicle I am not desperate for another.  Just looking for a good deal.  While this car was an OK or fair deal that is not good enough for baroness barracuda.

Much to their dismay, I left the showroom before signing the papers.  I made my apologies. It  is a function of dollars and cents, period.

I will still be shopping around.  If I come across a fantastic deal then great, but until then I will try and get the AC running properly on my van.  (It only works on days when the sun dose not beat down on it)