Are you okay with buying a new car? I ask. My husband shrugs. It’s not like we have a lot of #options, he responds. Two weeks ago, we received a recall notice for our station wagon. An airbag has been recalled because it could explode, sending metal fragments through the car. The manufacturer has been quick to respond, offering my family a rental car and customer loyalty coupon toward the purchase of a new vehicle.
A lifelong NYC resident, I got my license at age twenty-eight. I know my limits as a driver. And an unfamiliar rental car that I have no say in selecting? Is almost guaranteed to be a disaster, resulting in damage and expensive repairs. The #choice is clear. I call the manufacturer back and after a discussion that spans days, they agree to cancel the rental car and give us a larger loyalty coupon.
Did we consider a different manufacturer for our new car? Absolutely yes. But in the end, our prior experiences led us back to the same place. We love our station wagon. It has run flawlessly for nine years, requiring zero repairs. We are happy to repeat the experience with our new SUV.
Are you trading in your old car? the car dealership representative asks. No, I respond. It’s worth barely anything. How many miles does it have? he asks. 31,000. That’s great for nine years! he responds. Why aren’t we trading in our car? Because there is so much damage to the exterior from impact with our parking column that the repair costs effectively lower the value to nothing. Also, we own a second indoor parking spot. Originally, we planned on buying a small car that I could use for work trips. A visit to a dealership quickly disabuses me of that notion. As my husband and I wander from car to car, our eyes are drawn to a small SUV. What do you think of this one? my husband asks. I have never before considered this model. But the more I think about it, the more I like it. The chassis is the same size as our station wagon, so I should be able to drive it. And with the higher roof height, the interior feels spacious enough for a growing family.
I look forward to many adventures filled with sunshine and joy.
Posted by Kathy Zucker on Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Kathy Zucker is an international social media Shorty Award winner, mother of three and a startup founder at companies including the Metro Moms Network®.
