Man and Woman Buy A Car

Our Jeep finally gave up and said, "I'm through with you guys. I'm done. No more." At least that's what it said in my head.

We were faced with two choices.

Go shopping for a new used car, or pay the huge amount of money it would cost to fix the Jeep. Usually shopping appeals to me. You would think that since I have been shopping for new used cars on the internet for over a year now, I would be excited about the prospect of finally getting my hands on a different car. But the Jeep just picked the wrong week to quit. We've been so overwhelmed with work and the kids, that we were both just exhausted at the idea of looking for another car.

Onward we moved, though. Like good little soldiers we toughened up and started searching on the Internet for cars. I made a list of used cars within what I thought our price range was and I handed the list over to my husband and told him to "get to work" on getting us a car.

Enter the good, the bad, and the ugly differences between this man and this woman who have sworn forever to love and cherish each other. I am happy to say that not once did we fight like cats and dogs over this, but I did feel like crying every now and then.

My husband is a researcher. My husband is slow to make a decision. My husband would take a year to find the perfect car for us if he could.

I am impulsive. I hate negotiating. Enough said.

We test drove a few cars. We narrowed down our choices to three. We got cornered with sales people a few times trying to offer us their best deal. We walked out. The first time we walked out, I nearly had a panic attack. I've never done that before. Walk out. I was afraid I'd hurt the nice car salesman's feelings. I was afraid someone else would snatch up my car.

My husband sent my head reeling when he said the Internet said that in order to get the best deal, you have to walk out more than once.

By the time we had selected the car we wanted, I was nearly curled up in a fetal position on the floor. We had gone back and forth about mileage, year, model, and make, of cars. We (my husband, let's be honest) had entertained the idea of getting the Jeep fixed (to which I said, "YOU can get the Jeep fixed. I'm not driving that car anymore." ) My husband assured me that the negotiation of the car we wanted could happen by phone.

"You do it," I said.

Now here's where testosterone kicks in and men are in their element. Exhausted as he was, my husband managed to talk them down $1,600 from their original asking price. By the time he was down to negotiating the last ten dollars, I was so anxious I threw my hands up in the air and said, "Just take the deal."

He did it. And now we have a MiniVan. We have a Minivan that has an engine that's already giving us problems and the back passenger door won't open. My husband's taking it to the mechanics at the dealer today. Thank goodness we have a warranty.

I bet my husband finds something to negotiate about anyway.