Shhhhhhhhhhh don't tell my truck..and oh, by the way, Ernie Boch Jr sucks

Okay, so we've been busy. 

Guests in town over the weekend, the usual schedule plus some private tutoring of the student I affectionately call 'The sloth' and then.... we went car hunting.

Well, not really *car* hunting, as I don't want a car, nor, do I want an SUV. I want something rather in between.

You see right now, I have a 12 year old truck. 

I love my truck, she has 150,000 miles on her and would probably give me at least 50,000 more but there are a few issues.

1) NO A/C.  Need I say July, 90, humid, working 8 hours in a kitchen and then hopping into an un-air conditioned vehicle to drive home.
Sure, I had it charged.  It lasted about a week, therefore, we have a leak. 

Total cost: $300 - 500 to detect and then to repair plus more to recharge.

2) The emergency brake no longer functions as a brake - leave it in gear please.  This was mentioned as a NO/GO during my last vehicle inspection.  If it isn't working in August we don't pass boys and girls. 

Total cost: Quote received at the time to repair? $ 300.00 for the part plus labour.

3) Engine light flicky on/ flicky off, flicky on/ flicky off. This means an emissions/exhaust problem.  The exhaust on my stock truck has taken to sounding a wee bit like a tuner car of late.  This can mean anything from a new muffler to a complete replacement form the manifold back. 

Total Cost: Perhaps $300.00 - 900.00.

4) Recent repair bill for work on my rig? 

Total Cost: $1200.00. 

Total cost of vehicle:$2000.00. 

Cost to make her street legal?  An additional $900.00 minimum. 

This brings repairs to close to or above the cost of the vehicle.  This my friends means it is time to make a big decision.  I loves my truck as minimalist and rusty as she is, I love being high up off the ground, I love being able to hit the Po or Mahoney's or Restaurant Depot with equal vigor and never worry about what I want to buy or how I am going to get it home. 
But can I really continue to pour money into her just to keep her veins flowing?

We have been carefully whispering thoughts of a new vehicle around here at Casa Sheep, cause if there is one thing that I do know, if your ride hears you are even REMOTELY thinking of buying another vehicle it is sure to show you how it feels by failing at the MOST critical moment.

Have a job that you simply must get to? 

Turn the key and hear GRRRRRR.GRRRRR.Grrrrrr grrrrrr....g.rrr.r.r..........

A nice rainy day?

Shall I just die her on route 2? 

Did you remember your cell phone today? 

NO? Gee, I am so sorry.

I may not be ready to take on a car payment yet, but I thought today we might just get out there and test drive some new wheels so I at least knew what I wanted before the moment of truth arrived.

Now as some of you might know I was raised in a completely car-centric family. 

Mom - All American cars.  V-8 please.  Preferably convertible but plush would be nice.

Dad - Foreign only, preferably never Japanese.

What is a girl to do? I sure can't please them both can I?

We sent Mom and S.D. off this morning after breakfast with some road food for lunch, a few Hubbard squash plants that I had been growing in the greenhouse and a promise to see them for the 4th up in Maine and then we hit the old auto mile.

I had spent a few days bonding with the Kelly blue book, Consumer reports,  Autoweek and a few manufacturers 'build your' own sites. 

I'd spoken to Dad out in the garage, in a stage whisper of course, so Toyo couldn't overhear my plans, about potential models, horsepower, AWD vs. 4X4, American vs. Foreign and we had narrowed things down to a few potential options.

Since I am a retro girl first stop was a Chevy dealership to try the new HHR.
Of course if I could afford the SSR, I might be ALL OVER IT - storage options be damned.
Surprisingly it was pretty damn cool.  Nice ride, good suspension and a nice handling 4-cylinder with decent storage, remote start with a distinct 1940's woody feel but so unmemorable husband had already forgotten the interior by the third dealership.

Next up? 

Toyota and Honda.
I tried a few Tundra and Tacoma's that felt like luxury cars inside rather than the pick-up trucks that they were.  Wood paneled dash, bitch-en consoles, high rides, comfy seats, nice sound systems with satellite radio and big ass V-8's....RRRRRROOOOOWWWWWW. Would you like a gas pump along with that V-8?  Damn...on top of the $27,000 price tag for a pick-up that additional cost brought me back to earth - quick. That cool new FJ Cruiser.....Too much mooooola along with some baaaaadddd blind spots...but oh so, oh so, so cool looking.

We wandered next door to view the car that I have wanted since 2002, when I first saw the website to build your own, well before Honda brought it out.  This is the car that causes my Mom to visibly flinch when I mention it.  In fact, she has threatened to paint a big red cross on the side if I buy one.
I drove a nice EXP 4X4 and I LOVED IT.

I tore myself away to try a Dodge Magnum (too 'Mom to be') Dodge trucks (Hemi hogs and too expensive)and a PT Cruiser (too damn small) as well as a Jeep Commander (too damn much money).

I can have a fully loaded, brand spanking new Element with A/C, satellite radio, bitch-en sound system (with built in connection for Shaun pod) and room baby...room.... for catering, beagles, moving stuff back and forth from Maine, the Po and Russell's all at a nice low price of $21k.

Husband can have the Lexus.....I would have my fun wheels...finally.

I, the daughter of a car collector, have never owned a new vehicle in my life.  Cross your fingers kiddies.  I'm not ready yet to assume the dreaded car payment.  But I need to make a big decision by the time that sticker on the windshield expires in August.  I can tell you one thing though, after my experience today I will absolutely NOT be buying my vehicle from Boch Honda on Route 1 in Norwood.

Why?

After wandering the lot for over 40 minutes I had to ask three...THREE.... people to test drive one before a single soul could drum up a person who could bring me one.  So many people at that dealership treated me like an invisible ghost it left a seriously bad taste in my mouth.  Was it because we parked the Lexus next door at the Toyota dealership and walked over so they had no idea we were ready to spend with a FICO of over 800? 
Was it the ponytail, sweatpants and red crocs?
Or was it the fact that I was asking to test drive one of the lower priced vehicles in the Honda line regardless of the 'Our goal is to sell 800 Hondas this month' poster prominently displayed on the wall?

I have no need to spend in a dealership that feels the need to force the customer to ring a brass bell in the enter of the showroom each time a sale is made.  T-A-C-K-Y and very 1950's.

Can anyone recommend a Honda dealership in the area that will make me feel welcome and more importantly one that I can form a relationship with over the next 5 years (and perhaps beyond) of ownership??

I am also more than willing to hear about any vehicle options that I may have overlooked in my hunt (CP, this could mean you) I am ready, willing and able to test drive baby.