Buying a Car

Since most of my education and personal interests fall in the liberal arts realm, I've never really thought of myself as a business or finance type of person. I don't know a lot about the stock market, interest rates or the like. My experience though, of being savvy to the ways of money, insurance and credit makes the world go around has grown of course since I've been living on my own for years. And, even more so now, being married to a man who works in the business field on a daily basis. I've learned so much from him (which I know will go a long way to help the churches I serve in the future).

Though I've come far, I didn't think I was the one in our family to take the lead in negotiating the price of the car purchase we were to make this month.

Our problem was this: my husband's car lease had expired and he needed something more economical with the gas prices soaring. When he asked for my help, I told him that I was not really not all that interested in types of cars anyway. If a car gets to me to point A from point B, I'm happy. Furthermore, if he was going to drive the new car, there was really no need for me to be involved until it came time to sign my name to the loan.

But, I was wrong. I had negotiating skills I never knew I had and I really enjoyed the process!

After a failed attempt to get the price on the car that we could afford at one dealer (we had to cut ties with them after being lied to and walk out), I knew it was my time to step in and get involved. Car dealers are so generally so slimy anyway that it takes as many brains working together to beat them.

I made several calls to dealerships that we had not looked into yet. I quickly learned my car lingo. I was not afraid to talk about model numbers, APR financing and ask how many cylinders the car had.

In the end, we found a dealer that seemed more above board than most. I drew a hard line about what we would pay and what we would not. I refused to sit around the dealership for hours while the finance manager thought of ways to trick us and the sales rep stalled. I asked for what I wanted. And, I believe we got a great price on the car that was our top choice (minus the interior color... hey you can't have everything you want, you know!).

My favorite part of the experience came when the finance manager figured out that I had been out of grad school for a couple years. He asked me: "Which business school did you attend?" With a smile on my face, I answered: "I graduated from divinity school." I loved watching this man's face come off of the floor. "No, way! Not you?"

Yes, even the women preacher types can buy cars. And with enough good research and determination, she can find one at a good price too!

P.S. We purchased a Nissan Altima and love it!