Where Were You? March 17, 2018

 First, Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 I am not only celebrating St. Patrick's Day today but I am also celebrating Eleanor's Birthday! Eleanor who?! Eleanor the Encore aka my car. Eleanor is turning 3 today and I am so happy to celebrate my car's birthday because I bought Eleanor, all by myself and got exactly what I wanted. 

In January 2018, I was driving Lux the Elentra. I was coming up on it being 5 years old and I was itching for a change. I started to to think about what kind of car I wanted to purchase next. I decided a small SUV would be fun to have. Before Lux, I had a Nissan Cube named Chloe. I loved the room in that car and I missed it. My mind was now set on a small SUV.  I looked online at different ones and I remembered seeing a commercial where there were women about my age hopping into this cute and stylish SUV. It was exactly what I was looking for. It just so happened to be Buick. 

Buick's had the reputation of being an old lady car- big old boats driving down the street. Buick resigned their cars to be more stylish and more appealing to my generation. I did my research and found that, that little SUV in the commercial was really affordable and in my price range. I talked with my parents about this car and what their thoughts were on it.  I told them that I wanted to do this on my own. 

Armed with a pink notebook filled with questions and a pink pen, I made an appointment with Buick to see the Encore and to get more information I was ready. 

Now I know there always be a stigma around buying cars and how women always needed men to be with them to when buying a car to make sure women don't get taken advantaged of and end up spending more then they wanted. This always infuriated me- why do we need to rely on men to help us negotiate? Are we, as women, not capable to handle negotiations? Well, I wanted to do this on my own. 

I will let you in on a secret- I was so NERVOUS! I knew I was prepared but it was still super nerve wracking. 

On March 3, 2018, I went to Buick for the first time. They had me on the board for the day and my car representative came over and introduced himself as Tom and we went to his desk to talk first. I told him exactly what I was looking for and before I know it we were outside looking at it. I wanted a black exterior, black interior automatic with no moon/sunroof Buick Encore. Tom listened to exactly what I wanted and found it for me. 

We test drove it; I was so nervous to drive this car. It had only THREE miles on it. As we pulled onto Route 37, I eased into driving it. Now at this point, I haven't driven anything bigger than my sedan so this was a bit of a change and I loved it! 

After the test drive, we went back to his desk and talked money. I was trading in Lux and putting money down and I said to him, what is your best price, with my most serious face I could muster up. He came back after about 15 minutes with a price and I was shocked... in a good way. I liked the price but I knew I had to keep my cool. 

I was sold on buying the Buick Encore but I wanted to think about it. I gathered all the information Tom gave me and told him I would call him in a few days. 

I went home and told my parents all about what went on and showed them the numbers. I decided to sleep on it for the weekend. On Monday, I was still thinking about this little SUV. I decided to go back and see the car again. My parents met me at the dealership and the three of us looked over and spoke with Tom about the price and the car. I think, they even let us take it for a test drive by ourselves.

I was still head over heels about this SUV and now I wanted to get it. BUT I would have to wait almost 10 days before it became mine. Sometime between Monday and Friday, I came down with a terrible head cold. I couldn't get off the couch. I called Tom, sniffling between sentences, to tell him I want the car and can he hold it until next week. I was more than willing to give him my credit card over the phone to put a deposit on it.

He said that would not be necessary and they would hold it for me. I was so EXCITED. I immediately starting to think of names for my new car (because you know #priorities). I made my list and I gathered everything I need to get ready for Saturday to go pick up my new car. 

My parents accompanied me to the dealership and I was so excited to get my new car. On the way to the dealership, I explained to my current car Lux, that he was going to a great new family and I appreciate all the love he had given me the past 5 years. Lux was very sad to leave me. I was sad to leave Lux truth be told. 

After a few hours of waiting and signing lots of documents, the keys were finally mine! I had one last thing to do before leaving the dealership- ringing the bell. That signifies someone just purchased a new car. I did this with Lux and I couldn't wait to do it again. 

We walked out to the parking lot and there she was- all shiny and new and all mine. Tom helped me set up OnStar and went over some controls. I was so happy this was all mine. It smelled new and still only had the miles I put on it (which at this point I think was 11 miles). Paperwork in hand, keys in hand, I was ready to take my Buick home. 

I talked to my new car all the way home, telling her how excited I was to have her and what fun adventures we were going to have. Once we got home, she seemed excited to meet my parents cars and get settled in. I still didn't have a name just yet. I wanted to sleep on it and I knew it would come to me. 

I woke up the next morning, thrilled to look outside to see my new SUV sitting in the drive way. I decided on her name, Eleanor. 

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It has been fun driving Eleanor around for 3 years now. We have gone to lots of places, parked in a lot of different parking lots and experienced a whole range of emotions together. She did great in her first real winter (this year!) and loves playing in the snow. Her favorite places to drive are across any bridge, back roads with farm animals and to Target. We have had our fair share of snacks and meals together and she might or might not have hit a few curbs or (gently) backed into things.  

Happy Birthday Eleanor! Here's to another year of personal concerts, adventures and road snacks. I promise to always park you next to your favorite cars and give you the gas you love. 

This was one of my favorite decisions I made in the past few years. While Eleanor might be small she is mighty. 

Buying a car by yourself, as a woman, sounds so intimidating but I am here to tell you, its not. If you do your research, know exactly what you want, know your price you are willing to pay AND remember you are strong and tough, you will be able to buy a car on your own and really anything else. 

Have you bought a car on your own and got exactly what you wanted?

[[Life is a highway...]]