‘The key is IN the ignition.’
Years ago, my wife and I were looking for a new car. It didn’t have to be BRAND new, just new to us.
In other words … affordable.
But there were certain things I thought it ought to have on it.
This is Oklahoma. It gets hot in the summer, cold in the winter. So air conditioning and a good heater (and defroster) were musts.
Mom always stresses good tires. No argument there.
We didn’t want ripped upholstery, broken glass, or an oil leak. And we didn’t want one that had been to the moon and back, distance-wise, according to the odometer.
It had to have a good radio, preferably with (back then) a tape player.
So, we decided that we would look over the lots, new and used. For a young couple, married only a few years and still just trying to make ends meet, money was a major consideration, of course. There were certain sizes and types we knew we couldn’t afford.
We wanted something that would provide protection in an accident. We looked for those that could handle severe weather. Though we had no plans for long journeys, it had to be comfortable on a trip.
Though in the years since I’ve learned of many auto purchases at garage sales, it wasn’t something we weren’t going to do. Buying a car was going to be done through a reputable dealer or individual.
The great search began, and continued, and continued, and …
We looked at sporty, classy, fast, shiny, slick, big, small, midsize, sedans, coupes — you name it. Then, one day, we looked at one that we thought might just be right for us.
It was new. The color was nice, the interior appeared comfortable and we were told it would be good on gas mileage. It had a radio and tape player.
“Go ahead. Open it up and sit in it. See what you think,” the salesman said.
I reached for the door, opened it, then froze.
“The key is IN the ignition,” a woman’s voice said.
“And I am out of here,” I responded as I shut the door.
I wasn’t going to have a vehicle that talked to me. No way.
Eventually, we settled on a small station wagon. It fit our needs and it was comfortable, it had all the items we wanted and the price was right.
It also didn’t talk to me.
If you’re looking for a new car, my advice to you is shop around, get an expert’s opinion on how sound the vehicle is. Check your finances, and price good insurance.
Ask questions. Many. Know the vehicle best you can before you make a deal.
Look for more advice in knowit.newsok.com/buying-a-car-oklahoma
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