Demo days, part 2

Finally found a dealer who would let me demo a manual transmission Honda Fit. This was dealer number three. Dealer number one (see previous post) completely ignored me. Dealer number two refused to let me demo a manual, said only an automatic was available for test drives.

Dealer number three actually let me sit behind the wheel of the car I was interested in. Then I got to drive it. It really felt good. Drives just as sportily as my (former) 13-year-old Honda Civic del sol, but without the clunking and creaking and terrible fear of something falling off.

I bought it and drove it home today, despite getting screwed on my aforementioned trade-in.

I paid more than I should have, but felt slightly vindicated when a family came in and offered to pay $500 above sticker price if they could have the car I'd just bought.

I've heard that dealerships in California and Florida are adding a $1500 "limited availability fee" to the sticker price.

Whew! Good timing. Got it in silver.

And that was before seeing this promo photo. Apparently, Death Eaters and Dementors prefer the Fit as well. (See photo below.)

Demo days, part 1

Tried to go car shopping tonight.

Took friends J. and B. with me and drove quite a bit out of my way to the dealer that had showed most promise over email. I'd emailed the dealer days ago that I'd be stopping by the lot to check out a car at 7:30 p.m.

I got my first look at this from the outside, and we opened the doors and took a peek inside. My neurosis about cars rolling down hills kept me from actually getting in, since the car was parked on an incline and the parking brake was not on. (Spend seven years with a car without a reliable parking brake that is known to propel itself spontaneously down hills and you'll understand.)

When we arrived, there were two salesmen talking to each other next to the nearest car.

After ten minutes on the lot and five on the showroom floor without being asked whether we needed help, I approached the receptionist and asked whether I could speak with one of the two salespeople I'd been in touch with over email.

Only one was available, so she sent him over. He introduced himself, then excused himself to go look up my previous emails to him. He returned five minutes later and said he was in the middle of something else and he'd check on whether they had the car I was interested in and send another salesperson over.

We waited another ten minutes, poking around the showroom floor to kill time. Over at a bank of computers, there are five salesmen gathered around a computer.

After another five minutes, we started to get impatient and began to ease our way to the door. At least two of the five salesmen noticed us moving toward the exit (one of whom was the salesperson I'd emailed). None did a thing to stop us.

Here I was, ready to spend a chunk of cash and carrying a manila folder full of documents and printouts that mean I mean business, and they completely disregard my presence.

Why? Because I have pink hair? Because I'm a woman? Because I was there with two other people my age? I shudder to think. But I'm taking my business elsewhere.

Big news

Check it out over at Maid of Honor Chronicles.

I'm going car shopping tomorrow. Whee!

Thanks to the miracle of credit unions ...

I am one step closer to this.

Torch songs reader challenge

In migrating my CD collection to iTunes, I've realized that I've got a thing for torch songs.

So here it is — a torch songs reader challenge!

Click "comments" below to help me build my torch songs to my playlist. I want to know what steamy songs you carry a flame for. I prefer oldies-but-goodies, but I'll consider new songs, too.

Extra points for good torch songs sung by men and anything by Sarah Vaughan.

Here's my playlist so far:

"Cry Me A River" — Julie London
"Fever" — Peggy Lee
"A Sunday Kind of Love" — Etta James
"My Love Is A Fever" — Over The Rhine
"Blue Prelude" — Peggy Lee
"I Found A Reason" — Cat Power (see previous post)

Cat Power?

I've been listening to the V for Vendetta soundtrack, and there's a slow sexy song on it by a band called "Cat Power."

Anyone know anything about this band? Are they any good?