We bought a new car! After several days of looking, we settled on a 2020 Subaru Outback. Yes, we purchased new. We compared several makes and models and felt that the Outback was the best fit for where we live. Additionally, we looked at used, but for the price difference, buying new (and getting better financing and a full warranty) made the most sense. Surprisingly, they gave us $2750 for our 2009 Outback, and it is now on the dealership’s website for $6,990. With knowing all the problems that the car had, well, buyer-beware!
In addition to our trade, we also put $2,500 down to lower our payment. We got a decent rate of 0.9%, whereas buying used we were looking at 3.25% with our credit union. The loan is for four years, but we are aiming to have it gone in three.
My appointment with the oral surgeon happened on the same day we bought our new car. We left the dealership in the morning, then I had my wisdom tooth removed, followed by going back to the dealership to sign paperwork and get the new car. Although the surgeon told me to take a pain pill right away, unfortunately, that wasn’t an option with everything we had going on. To ease the pain until I could get home, I kept a bag of frozen peas against my cheek. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do! Removing the tooth took about an hour. I admit that I did chicken out and opted to get laughing gas (nitrous oxide). Let’s just say it was well worth the $69 charge. My mouth still hurts slightly, but it is improving.
The following day (Tuesday), Hubs had his colonoscopy. We had to leave the house by 5:30 AM. He checked out just fine and won’t need another one for ten years. Given the early morning, plus me being sore from my procedure the day before, the remainder of the day was a bit of a waste. Neither of us felt like doing much of anything.
Wednesday was yet another “fun” day. We still had to return the car rental (it was on a weekly rate), plus I had to work. So, that meant a trip to the city, plus then bringing Hubs back home, and then me going to work. I ended up working a ten-hour day. I don’t usually mind more hours, but with the way my mouth was feeling, all I could think about was getting home and taking something far more potent than Tylenol/Motrin for pain.
On Thursday, we had a winter storm, giving us 9 inches of snow. I hated taking the new car out, but I also know that is why we bought it. Not a fun drive back and forth to work, but the Outback handled the snow without any trouble.
Friday Hubs had a dental cleaning, and then later on that day, we went to the annual builders show. We talked to the builder handling our renovation/addition plans and found out that they had fired their designer. While we had never once complained, we were getting just a tad annoyed with how long the process was taking. Per the billed hours, she had only averaged about 1.5 hours/week on our project. Good grief. Plus, we felt we were constantly repeating what we were looking to do. I seriously emailed her the same picture three separate times. They’ve since hired someone else, and we are supposed to hear something from her this week. Even though we aren’t near ready to do this project, you’d think the contractor would be more attentive knowing a big job could potentially be coming his way.
Saturday was another workday for me. After work, I attempted to get Hubs some hand sanitizer plus Lysol wipes. With all the Corona Virus concerns, finding those items was no easy task. Even before this outbreak, we’ve both always used hand sanitizer when out and about. The wipes, Hubs wanted for his plane trips. Especially now, it is so important to wipe things like the tray table, etc. down. I finally did find what we needed. I guess one good thing about all the hysteria surrounded by this virus is that a lot more people are paying better attention to prevent the spread of germs.
Hubs flew out bright and early Sunday morning. I did stop and get our new car washed, but other than that, I just wanted to be home. Our week was busy and tiring. I spent most of yesterday catching up on things around the house. Today, I’ll be dropping off our absentee ballots (because I forgot to mail them!), stopping at the post office, going to the bank, and then going to work.
Well done on the car shopping? Feeling secure in your ride is very important! It must be a relief to have your tooth taken care of and hubby’s colonoscopy done. If you don’t mind me asking, how old is he? I thought the recommendation was to start at 50 and then every 5 years. How is your dad doing? I fear that finding wipes and hand sanitizer is only going to get harder.
Excuse me for butting in here, but I had my 10 year colonoscopy last week. The nurse who attended me said they’ve lowered age from 50 to 40 years now.
Interesting! I had my first one in my 40s and was told to get one every 5 years. But, unlike Hubs, my family has a history of colon cancer. Hopefully yours went well.
I’m happy (and relieved) to have dependable transportation again. Car shopping can be so stressful! At 61, Hubs was WAY overdue for his colonoscopy. He is one that rarely sees a doctor, but thankfully, he has zero health issues. My dad is doing as well as can be expected, although with every call from the nursing home, I wonder if it is “the call.”
I get that with slightly used versus new cars the price gap has narrowed as more people realize that used cars are a bargain. But that’s not the case for 7 to 10 year old cars. They still basically give those away. What convinced you to pay the extra $20,000 that outback cost over a similar 2010 SUV?
What convinced us was that buying a similar (cheaper, older) SUV would have been like buying what we were trading in! Our old one had 131K miles! Subarus have one of the best AWD systems (plus all-important, have the legroom for Hubs), and given where we live, it is our best option. We have friends with other makes who won’t come down our road, let alone our driveway!
I’m sure it’s a relief to have a reliable car again, especially in your weather conditions and the fact that your DH is gone quite a bit of the time. I wouldn’t buy a 10 year old used car for my daily driver car and that I need to drive hundreds of miles if I need to go on a trip. Like you said – someone is going to pay a lot of money (apparently) for your problems you just got rid of! That new car should last you guys a long time and you are in a great position now to have that debt for 3 years with paying off all your other debt.
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It totally is! Buying an older car is a gamble. We had nothing but problems with the Subaru we traded in. Although we paid cash for the car, with all the repairs, we were essentially making a car payment.
So glad you got all that stuff out of the way and can now take it easy….relatively speaking, lol!!! Ds and I spent the day searching for toilet paper….not to stock up, because we were RUNNING OUT….Sam’s- OUT, Costco – OUT, Wall-Mart – OUT, Target – OUT…..FINALLY found some at Winco – good grief!!! I get stocking up on sanitizer, etc. but as the checker at Sam’s said, why do you need a years supply of toilet paper – she said people were buying 6 & 7 cases?? Sams is now limiting people to 2 cases of water each and if they ever get toilet paper back, will do the same.
I’m hoping for an easier week. The biggest thing on my plate this week is to get our taxes sent to our CPA. I haven’t seen a shortage of TP in my area, but think I might pick up an extra package just to be on the safe side! Haha!
What a week you had!! WOW! So sorry for your tooth (or lack of tooth) pain. We have been able to buy good hand wipes at Dollar Tree the last 2 weeks. But there is a shortage of toilet paper in my area! I was more determined to have lots of cat litter on hand, as there is no substitute for that. Hope you enjoy your new car & get prompt results from the new designer.
Thanks, Mary. I’m just happy to have it over and done with! I haven’t checked our Dollar Tree, but may do so the next time I go to town. You are right about cat litter. Another thing to add to my list since I would hate to run out of that! Crazy about the TP shortage. I’m picking up an extra package the next time I’m near a store.
Hey Lucy! The outback is a lovely car! That was definitely a good choice.
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