Feeling like a car dealer

Lots has been happening of late.  The garden is springing into life, demands from church and plenty of “tyre kicking” going on. Yes, I’m feeling like a car dealer.  Again.

I love this time of year and it just gets better as the weeks drift by.  I feel so encouraged when I see daffodils shooting and all kinds of other things bursting into life.  Over the last week we have had some truly glorious weather with bright sunshine and cold, crisp nights.

It has also seen Rachel and I doing a fair amount of “tyre kicking” as we search for a new car for Hannah (daughter).  You see, her 23 year old Honda Jazz needs some repairs for the MOT test which looms ever close and the decision was made to sell it and buy something newer.

Today, we managed to sell the car privately having advertised it through Facebook.  I was astonished at the number of people out there who wanted such a cheap tatty car to repair.

Hannah wanted something a bit bigger, more suited to her outdoorsy lifestyle.  This led to all kinds of debates about different cars, vans and so on, together with perusing online reviews.  It was good old Autotrader which soaked up a great deal of time with hours of window shopping going on.

We had almost made up our minds to go for a car in Watford.  Then the next day I said we should drive all the way to the south coast to look at another.  A quick phone call to the dealer and we were on our way.  A chat and test drive followed and the deal was done.  A week later we collected the car, which Hannah hadn’t even seen!  It all worked out very well.

All this had me wondering about my car, the Lexus.  Lovely as it is, we feel it is a tad bigger than we need.  It is definitely the biggest and flashiest car I’ve ever had.  So on Monday I decided to spend almost an entire day looking at cars – in nearby Milton Keynes as there are so many to choose from!

I asked Lexus what my car was worth, bearing in mind they always say how I am a valued customer and they would give me a good price.  When I asked how much, the value was just the same as anywhere else.  I remain disappointed at the Lexus service, which was meant to be top notch.  I think they’re a bit snooty there.  Toyota we had tried before – we didn’t like the Corolla and all of their other cars are SUVs, just like Lexus.  Not everyone wants a chunky SUV.

Mercedes, I thought, was worth a look.  Perhaps their C200 saloon as the starting point as they have a wide range.  I sat in one but didn’t think the seat was at all comfortable, despite adjustments and the salesman was distracted with other customers.  I never got to find out about the warranties or whether they do a self charging hybrid.  Their loss.

BMW, a car that lots of people fancy and I thought affordable, was definitely worth a look.  I was astonished when I saw a car in the showroom for £146,000 and it looked so ordinary.  Nevertheless I was looking at the used bargain basement end.  Some nice cars, plenty to choose from but none quite as thrifty as the Lexus.  Their warranties are potentially attractive which could keep the car going for as long as you want.  Food for thought.

Then there was Honda.  Good reliable cars and far less ostentatious compared to the Lexus.  I bought Rachel’s Honda over 11 or 12 years ago and it’s been faultless.  At the dealer I saw a brand new Civic Hybrid and sat in one.  Again, not quite as comfortable but all kinds of tempting offers.  Pleasant sales staff.  The 2.0 litre hybrid looks a plain car but is seriously quick and easily does 60mpg.  Could be the one.

However!  However I think I’ll be taking quite a hit on the Lexus, which is still a great car.  As I still need it for covering lots of motorway miles, I’m going to keep it.  I will review the situation in another 20,000 miles.

I almost feel I need to do another blog post all about the Lexus self charging car.  There’s things about it which I really do like (comfort, smooth and quiet, very fuel economy) and some things I don’t like (the infotainment system and I can’t get my bike in the back despite being such a big car).

So there we are.  Lots of car conversations in the Quirky Museum and tyre kicking too.  Quite fun in a way and I’m pleased we could get the right car for Hannah and find the right home for the old one.  And as for me, I’m quite content to remain wafting around in a seriously old man’s Lexus.