Yesterday I bought a new car.

I like it a lot. It's a 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid SUV. I almost didn't buy it because I was dealing with a salesperson who in my opinion was not a very good salesperson. I had started reaching out to several dealers via email on Saturday, just to get the ball rolling and to see what the prices were like.  Two of the dealers just tried to get me to come to the dealership, which is what I was hoping to avoid, wasting time on multiple trips to showrooms. But the one most local to me was willing to negotiate price via email and we actually came to agree on a price that at least acording to Kellys Blue Book was a very good price, though when they say that, it doesn't include taxes, dealer fees or the price they give you on your trade-in.

Initially I wanted the 2025 model with SE (upgraded) trim, but they didn't have one of those on the lot, so if I really wanted it, I could buy from the factory but then I'd lose out on the dealer discount, which was about $1200. So when they told me they had a 2024 S model on the lot, which is the base model, I decided to go for that since I'd save some money buying a 2024 vs 2025, even though there were some add-ons to the car that I liked anyway.

So after agreeing on price, I did go in to the dealer to show them my car and get their offer on it as a trade-in. They gave me a very low price for it, which I anticipated, but he wasn't open to negotiation, so I walked out. I went home and did some quick searches for comparable models at other dealers and started talking to other dealers, but I concluded that the price was still cheaper at the first dealer, even with the lowball trade-in offer. So I called the salesman back later and told him I could come down $500 on the trade-in;  so at that point we were just $500 apart. Then we agreed to meet in the middle and split the remaining difference.

I met with a separate person to go over the financing. I could have paid cash for it, as I've done before, but I don't want to artifically inflate my annual income that much, so would rather spread it out a bit over 2 years only. I got a 5 year loan but will begin prepayments immediately and plan to pay the whole thing off in 2 years. So instead of paying a little over $3,000 in interest alone, I will pay about $1,000 in interest.

I don't like the rate...6.98%... I was expecting something better with my "Exceptional" credit score, but those Toyotas sell themselves.  I also decided to go with the "Bumper to Bumper" 10-year coverage plan where virtually anything that goes wrong with the car is covered except for maintenance things like oil changes and tire rotations (which are free for the 1st 3 years). Without the 10-year Bumper to Bumper coverage, you'd still get 3 years of free Bumper to Bumper coverage. But to get the full 10 years, it's $25/mth, which seems reasonable.

What I DIDN'T like is that they roll the cost of this coverage into what you're financing for the car. I'd much prefer to pay for it separately so I'm not paying interest on it, but that didn't seem to be an option.  Just one more reason to pay it off quickly.

I am still learning all the electronics of the car. It's been 11 years since I bought a new car, so a lot has changed. I'm loving it so far.

The one fly in the ointment: I have already lost/misplaced the 2nd remote fob he gave me right before I left and was standing outside with him by the car. I've turned my place and the car upside down looking for it and am beside myself becus I know they are very expensive to replace should I lose the one that I have.

I have also asked the salesperson to find out for me how much it would cost to get the blind spot assist retroactively installed. (It would have been on the SE trim had I gone for that.) Becus going from a 4 door sedan to an SUV you lose a LOT of visiblity and it feels like all I can see through the rear window is what's directly behind me. I will have to use the side mirrors more, but still.  I did also order some of those little mirrors to put on top of your side view mirrors that extends your blind spot range of view, but they are so small I'm not sure how useful they will be.

In other news, I went to pick up my father today for physical therapy, knowing he would be excited to ride in the new car since it will be much easier for him to get in and out of since it sits higher than my Civic sedan. 

I had called him earlier this week to remind him that it's very cold outside and he will need to wear a proper winter coat. He agreed on the phone.  At nearly 92, dad does not drive anymore, and of his 4 kids, he relies on me the most to take him out and do things, and I know he looks forward to getting out of his small apartment.

I went to pick him up this morning and he came walking down the stairs to meet me wearing a flannel shirt. I told him he needed to wear a real winter coat (he has a beautiful one my cousin bought him a few years ago which he has never worn). He said he wasn't cold. The wind was whipping the sides of the flannel shirt since he also never buttons his shirts or even zips the lightweight nylon jacket he likes to wear. He said he had trouble putting it on, which I think was an excuse since he knows I will help him put on his coat, as I always do.

Anyway, dad is the most stubborn person I know. Guess I inherited that trait.  I left without taking him to PT, which I really felt bad about, but when it comes to his health and well-being, I put my foot down. (The only reason he got his covid shots was becaus he knew I wouldn't want to take him out without it.)

I think he just doesn't like being told what to do. 

Knowing my father, who has zero negotiation/compromise/flexibility skills, this standoff could last til more temperate weather in spring. I'm not sure I can last that long because I don't like doing things that distress my father.