We went to test drive two cars today. We’ve been wanting to trade in my tiny little car for something a bit bigger. We test drove a Saturn this morning and liked it, but weren’t happy with the terms. This afternoon, we test drove a PT Cruiser and fell in love with it.
We drove it home.
Now we’re both totally freaked out and having major buyer’s remorse. We knew we wanted a car, we knew we needed a car, we knew we were going to buy a car soon. We just didn’t expect to do it today. And we know it’s the right decision, but we’re still totally freaked out. It’s affordable, which is why we turned down the first PT Cruiser they showed us. It’s a good car, we can afford it, and we needed it.
So why are we freaking out so much?
Any other tales of buyer’s remorse? Reassure me that it’s normal and we’ll get over it.
You’re beating yourself up because you think it was an impulse buy. In truth, it was love at first test drive. You knew it was the car for you so you went for it.
In a few days, you’ll be so happy you bought it you won’t be able to see straight. (And when that happens, don’t drive, 'kay? You need to be able to see straight to do that.)
I’ve been researching cars for WEEKS, and honestly, it was down to the PT Cruiser and the Saturn. We knew we were going to get one of the two, maybe not these particular cars, but one of the two.
Yeah, I think it was an impulse buy, but it wasn’t an impulse buy.
I feel happy about it now, but it’s still OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG What did we do - wait, I love this car! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG.
Still, it’s nice to drive an automatic again:). Oh, and have keyless entry and power windows and door locks.
Last April, my 12 year-old 220,000 mile car developed yet another new funny noise. After a year of funny noises meaning assorted new little parts (water pump, A/C fan clutch, etc, etc.) and new big parts (transmission, super charger), my darling hubby had a hissy fit. “Go buy a car” he said.
“We can’t afford it,” and “I can fix this one,” whined I.
“Go buy a damn car” he yelled.
I went looking just to shut him up.
I hated the green Chrysler land yacht. The black 'Vette just wouldn’t be practicle. The Miata would have to be special ordered, as well as being astoundingly impracticle. GM wanted 9% interest on the red GTO. I don’t like SUVs, in principle and in practice.
Then I met a little blue 2006 Ford Escape. It’s flirtatious 0% 48-month financing tempted me into a test drive.
I got over the buyers remorse about 7000 miles ago. I think I’ll keep it for another hundred thousand miles – or two.
When I decided I had to part with my beloved, decrepit Audi, which was costing me a freakin’ fortune for every repair or tune-up, I, too, researched endlessly. I drove lots and lots and lots of cars. And what I ended up buying was a “I drove it and fell in love with it” Saturn — partly because it had a sun roof, which the Audi had (opened with a hand crank!) and I really enjoyed.
Buyers remorse: That night, I cried. Then barfed. Cried some more. Then I had knots in my stomach for about a month. Worried about buying groceries because of the payments & insurance. Fussed about the heating bill.
Then I drove it from Montana to California with NO FUNNY NOISES! Worth every penny.
“Last night, I cried, and the night before.
Gonna cry tonight, then I’ll cry some more.
It’s love, oh love, oh careless love!
You see what love has done to me.”
If it lets me get the baby out of his carseat without KILLING my back like I keep doing with my old car, it’s going to be worth every penny. ElzaHub is excited about the cruise control (even though I’m the primary driver), and I love the fact that it’s just so damn cute :D.
I think we both realized that if we didn’t buy it today, and we went home to think about it, we weren’t going to buy it at all. And we’d repeat that with every car we went to look at. With something like this, we just need to make sure we figure out the logistics beforehand, and just go and do it. Otherwise, we’ll overthink it.
Hey, I just spent what was left of my life savings on two Virgin Upper Class return tickets to Hong Kong. Breathe easy: at least your crazy purchase is practical. Mine will only last 28 hours.
I used to that too, but no, there is no such legal right for automobile purchase contracts (in California, at least, and probably in other states as well). In fact, you don’t even have to take delivery of the car; once you’ve signed the purchase contract, you’re committed. In rare instances, a dealer might let you out of the contract, but he isn’t obligated to.
i’ve never experienced these words in this particular sequence before, at least not without the modifier word “not” between the words “It’s” and “nice”…
seriously though, glad you’re happy with the car, Elza :), i may not like your choice of transmission, but i will defend your right to drive it (well, steer it, actually, as one really doesn’t “drive” a vehicle with a sludgematic so much as just steer it…)
(sorry, sorry, couldn’t resist, no offense meant )
Hey, I have driven a 5 speed almost my entire life (save the Civic I owend for two years), and I have to admit, I’m tired of shifting gears :D.
I wouldn’t have minded another manual, but my husband has never learned to drive a stick shift (and wouldn’t learn), so we needed to get a car that he could drive, too :).
Maybe you’re having these feelings because the PT Cruiser is hideous?
Sorry, but my mom has that car and when I visit my parents’ house it’s the only car I can drive. I can’t decide whether it feels like I’m driving a spaceship or a hearse.
See, here we have a cultural divide between those who want to enjoy the experience of driving an automobile on a road, and those who simply want to get somewhere.
Me, I’m usually in the ‘just want to get somewhere’ camp. I prefer to do as little work as possible, which is why I take the bus or train and let someone else do the driving.
To me, a traditional manual shift seems to impose an experience: the driver gets to choose gear ratios and feel the road whether he or she wants to or not, in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go traffic uphill as well as on that glorious coastal road. This is why I am interested in cars that offer CVTs or electronically-controlled manual shifting: I can choose when to enjoy the road and when to just point the car in the desired direction and press the ‘go faster’ pedal. If there were cars that could guide themselves home, I would chose one that could (optionally) do that as well.
My old car wasn’t worth fixing, and the mechanic said dire things about not being safe to drive. I ended up buying a nearly-new car, having to finance it (ugh).
I needed a new vehicle, I wanted a new vehicle, I knew we were going to have to get one shortly… And I still had the exact same reaction as you did.
My Cruiser is five years old now. Unlike all my previous cars, there have been no repairs needed, whatsoever. The only reason I ever take it in is for oil changes. And I love the way it looks.
)