New Car

Yup. The deed is done. I have a new car. In the end (after an aggravated Chris offered to take my car and get a new one if it truly doesn't meet my needs -- BONUS!), I decided to get the Honda CR-V. The mileage is a little less then my last car but of all the cars I saw, it was the only one I visualized us using -- specifically, the mid-section of the rear seat flipped down and Frankie sticking his head out as he chilled out in the back.

As for the actual car buying process...it's a good thing Chris has no aversion to uncomfortable situations because he was in there, going toe-to-toe, wheeling 'n' dealing. In the end, we got a pretty good price. Plus with the insurance settlement and the additional $$ I was willing to put down, the monthly payments will be less then what I had to make for my last car.

So, that said, let's see where we netted out:

NEEDS:
• Automatic -- CHECK!
• Cruise Control -- CHECK!

WANTS:
• Good Gas Mileage -- Not Bad...CHECK
• Seat 4 plus Dog -- CHECK!
• Tinted Windows -- CHECK!
• DVD Player -- NOPE! Looks like we'll have to use the old one a little longer.
• Light Exterior -- CHECK! It's light blue.
• Dark Interior -- Sort of...it's grey.
• Roof Rack -- NOPE! But Chris thinks we'll find something better for our needs elsewhere
• iPOD Ready -- YUP. Not the swank set-up I had in the Saturn but it'll do for now
• Bluetooth for Phone -- NOPE! This is probably the biggest disappointment. Can you believe it that Honda doesn't offer bluetooth in any of it's CR-Vs!

WOULD BE NICE:
• Navigation -- NOPE! Actually this was more of a ''Want'' for Chris but in the end, we'll have to go with an aftermarket variety...which we hear is the better move, anyway.
• AWD/4WD -- NOPE. I decided to forgo the AWD for the extra bit of mileage.
• Concealed Storage -- YUP!

DON'T WANT:
• Sunroof -- Couldn't avoid this. I guess it's standard with the model we chose.

All in all,we're happy with the decision all around. And now we get to take it out on it's first road trip...Trillo Easter Festivities in Tehachapi.