02-27-2018, 09:58 PM
Hey all.
On Friday, I had an epiphany while driving back from JMU for a work trip in the 4Runner. Everyone is right, I don't NEED an SUV. The stupid payment I was making on it could easily pay for a cool car that is better for a commute and fun, and also save gas. I thought about what I'd like new and set my eyes on a WRX. It had everything I wanted, AWD, Fast, Looked Cool, Aftermarket Community, 4 Doors, and best of all, a great CPO program. I texted Joey and asked what he was doing, but of course, he was asleep, or in his garage gluing pieces of wood together and sawing them apart repeatedly, so he didn't respond until much later. I informed him of my dumb idea, and Saturday morning, I dropped the 4runner off and he drove me to Dulles Motorcars to check it out. A CPO 2016 WRX Premium was the car. We checked out a Stinger while the salesmen spent forever to get my license scanned and we headed outside to drive it; it was raining.
It sounded great, pulled hard, rode well; overall, it was a good car. However, Joey had qualms with the interior, comparing it to his GTI. In my mind, he was just being picky, as any interior made 2010+ was a foreign land to me. I do trust Joey so I gave his words some thought and we decided to go drive a new Si. We arrived at the Honda dealer and quickly realized the salesmen know nothing of their performance models. Joey and Zach explored while I sat and watched the salesmen scroll through base model Civics, asking me if I was okay with CVTs or Hatchbacks. I was too polite to correct him full stop, so I offered questions like "Does the Si even come in a CVT?", to which he replied "Yes".
That was enough.
I took over the search on the computer, guiding him to where we needed to go, reaching the conclusion that they have ONE Si on the lot. We go find it, and it's a coupe. Joey and Zach climb in the rear and I play with the gadgets. A camera shows you the right side of the vehicle when you hit the turn signal, brake hold feature, crazy digital dash, really neat stuff. I let it warm up while I get adjusted, and we take it for a spin. I work my way up through varying levels of hoonage, but I quickly realize that the car spins through first and second on the damp roads. That's no good. It's still a fun car, and miles better than anything I ever sit in, let along drive, so it's still a positive experience. It accelerates... well. Not great. Well. The styling is not my taste at all, and the interior is incredibly busy. However, it's fresh in my mind, and it seems like a good idea. I did find it cool that the salesmen asked me to keep driving since he was having so much fun, and he directed me to an empty stretch of road to really open it up. The car I drove retailed for 25,000. Not bad! I sit at the table while the salesman hustles back and forth from the manager to me answering simple questions I asked that he didn't know, so eventually the manager comes over to me. At this point, Joey had walked away to find a brochure and bring it back to me, which answered more questions than any employee. We chatted for a bit and I said I needed some time to think, so we left.
The whole day, Joey had reminded me that I needed to drive the GTI before I shot it down. In my mind, I knew I wouldn't like it, but Joey was being nice and not trying to push me, so I caved and we went to Lindsay VW. The dealership was welcoming. We are met at the door in a kind way, not in a "Rush to the door to get the sale" way, and we walk in to see a VW traversing the Nurburgring on the TV. A Type 1 VW pokes its head out in the back of the showroom. We go back to an office and we discuss a GTI. Everyone recognizes Joey and chats with him as well. I guess he's a regular. Before I know it, we're driving a Black 6 speed SE, at Joey's suggestion. When I sit down, I realize how nice the interior is without dog hair all of the place (Please don't let Molly in your new car, Joey), and all of the new things for 2018 really bring it together. It's a really nice place to just... be.
We take it out onto 28 and I gave it a little throttle. I hear the turbo spool and suddenly I'm kicked in the ass. I couldn't help but to giggle as I changed lanes to avoid running into the person in front of me. I was sold then and there. The rest of the drive was just unnecessary. We come back to the dealership and talk through a few numbers, I get the guy's card and we all head home. I was late getting back to the house to meet the kid who bought the Miata, but it still worked out. Joey texted me and mentioned he was going to the VW dealership the next day and I mentioned I would too. I didn't sleep much that night. I lied in bed and thought through everything over and over. The sun was rising, so I went to sleep.
The dealership opened at 12, and I was there soon after. We talked some more, and after being told multiple times that the SE did not come with Plaid seats, they miraculously found one in the lot across the street. Funny how that works. We went outside to look at my 4Runner for a possible trade in and we bumped into Joey and Lauren, who never actually believed I would come back. "What are you doing here?" Joey asked, and I replied with "Buying a car!" with a smile on my face. We take a drive in the car with the plaid seats, but I was already sold on buying it. They gave me laughable offer on the 4Runner, but I expected that, but we made our way through the car buying process. Joey would pop in to check on me ever so often because he knew I was nervous. One thing after another happened, and next thing I know, I'm in the finance manager's officer signing a promissory note. He was a nice guy, and an ex SCCA Instructor, so he didn't try to sell me on any extras because I was a "fellow racer". (Little did he know, I'm just a poser). We chatted for a while, then I had a minute to think about what I had done while I waited for them to finish the preparation on my car. The salesman eventually came around and took me to their delivery area, and I stopped in my tracks when he handed me the keys to my new car.
What a feeling.
He showed me the features quickly and I drove off to grab Zach to bring him back so he could drive my 4Runner home. When we got back to the dealership, we went in the visit Joey and Lauren... and they had also bought two new Volkswagens... and on top of that, Zach was now buying Joey's old GTI. Thus, the Itty Bitty NOVA VW Committee was born.
Me: a Black 2018 SE with Plaid Seats
Joey: a Green 2018 Autobahn with all of the bells and whistles
Zach: Joey's White 2016 SE with Lighting package
Lauren: An Suv thing
Since none of us are going to do anything crazy to our cars, we are going to share one thread to discuss the happenings during our ownership.
![[Image: D0wOBFD.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/D0wOBFD.jpg)
![[Image: ZvFiK9z.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ZvFiK9z.jpg)
For those keeping track at home, when this photo was taken, I technically owned 5 vehicles.
![[Image: ciouI6p.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ciouI6p.jpg)
On Friday, I had an epiphany while driving back from JMU for a work trip in the 4Runner. Everyone is right, I don't NEED an SUV. The stupid payment I was making on it could easily pay for a cool car that is better for a commute and fun, and also save gas. I thought about what I'd like new and set my eyes on a WRX. It had everything I wanted, AWD, Fast, Looked Cool, Aftermarket Community, 4 Doors, and best of all, a great CPO program. I texted Joey and asked what he was doing, but of course, he was asleep, or in his garage gluing pieces of wood together and sawing them apart repeatedly, so he didn't respond until much later. I informed him of my dumb idea, and Saturday morning, I dropped the 4runner off and he drove me to Dulles Motorcars to check it out. A CPO 2016 WRX Premium was the car. We checked out a Stinger while the salesmen spent forever to get my license scanned and we headed outside to drive it; it was raining.
It sounded great, pulled hard, rode well; overall, it was a good car. However, Joey had qualms with the interior, comparing it to his GTI. In my mind, he was just being picky, as any interior made 2010+ was a foreign land to me. I do trust Joey so I gave his words some thought and we decided to go drive a new Si. We arrived at the Honda dealer and quickly realized the salesmen know nothing of their performance models. Joey and Zach explored while I sat and watched the salesmen scroll through base model Civics, asking me if I was okay with CVTs or Hatchbacks. I was too polite to correct him full stop, so I offered questions like "Does the Si even come in a CVT?", to which he replied "Yes".
That was enough.
I took over the search on the computer, guiding him to where we needed to go, reaching the conclusion that they have ONE Si on the lot. We go find it, and it's a coupe. Joey and Zach climb in the rear and I play with the gadgets. A camera shows you the right side of the vehicle when you hit the turn signal, brake hold feature, crazy digital dash, really neat stuff. I let it warm up while I get adjusted, and we take it for a spin. I work my way up through varying levels of hoonage, but I quickly realize that the car spins through first and second on the damp roads. That's no good. It's still a fun car, and miles better than anything I ever sit in, let along drive, so it's still a positive experience. It accelerates... well. Not great. Well. The styling is not my taste at all, and the interior is incredibly busy. However, it's fresh in my mind, and it seems like a good idea. I did find it cool that the salesmen asked me to keep driving since he was having so much fun, and he directed me to an empty stretch of road to really open it up. The car I drove retailed for 25,000. Not bad! I sit at the table while the salesman hustles back and forth from the manager to me answering simple questions I asked that he didn't know, so eventually the manager comes over to me. At this point, Joey had walked away to find a brochure and bring it back to me, which answered more questions than any employee. We chatted for a bit and I said I needed some time to think, so we left.
The whole day, Joey had reminded me that I needed to drive the GTI before I shot it down. In my mind, I knew I wouldn't like it, but Joey was being nice and not trying to push me, so I caved and we went to Lindsay VW. The dealership was welcoming. We are met at the door in a kind way, not in a "Rush to the door to get the sale" way, and we walk in to see a VW traversing the Nurburgring on the TV. A Type 1 VW pokes its head out in the back of the showroom. We go back to an office and we discuss a GTI. Everyone recognizes Joey and chats with him as well. I guess he's a regular. Before I know it, we're driving a Black 6 speed SE, at Joey's suggestion. When I sit down, I realize how nice the interior is without dog hair all of the place (Please don't let Molly in your new car, Joey), and all of the new things for 2018 really bring it together. It's a really nice place to just... be.
We take it out onto 28 and I gave it a little throttle. I hear the turbo spool and suddenly I'm kicked in the ass. I couldn't help but to giggle as I changed lanes to avoid running into the person in front of me. I was sold then and there. The rest of the drive was just unnecessary. We come back to the dealership and talk through a few numbers, I get the guy's card and we all head home. I was late getting back to the house to meet the kid who bought the Miata, but it still worked out. Joey texted me and mentioned he was going to the VW dealership the next day and I mentioned I would too. I didn't sleep much that night. I lied in bed and thought through everything over and over. The sun was rising, so I went to sleep.
The dealership opened at 12, and I was there soon after. We talked some more, and after being told multiple times that the SE did not come with Plaid seats, they miraculously found one in the lot across the street. Funny how that works. We went outside to look at my 4Runner for a possible trade in and we bumped into Joey and Lauren, who never actually believed I would come back. "What are you doing here?" Joey asked, and I replied with "Buying a car!" with a smile on my face. We take a drive in the car with the plaid seats, but I was already sold on buying it. They gave me laughable offer on the 4Runner, but I expected that, but we made our way through the car buying process. Joey would pop in to check on me ever so often because he knew I was nervous. One thing after another happened, and next thing I know, I'm in the finance manager's officer signing a promissory note. He was a nice guy, and an ex SCCA Instructor, so he didn't try to sell me on any extras because I was a "fellow racer". (Little did he know, I'm just a poser). We chatted for a while, then I had a minute to think about what I had done while I waited for them to finish the preparation on my car. The salesman eventually came around and took me to their delivery area, and I stopped in my tracks when he handed me the keys to my new car.
What a feeling.
He showed me the features quickly and I drove off to grab Zach to bring him back so he could drive my 4Runner home. When we got back to the dealership, we went in the visit Joey and Lauren... and they had also bought two new Volkswagens... and on top of that, Zach was now buying Joey's old GTI. Thus, the Itty Bitty NOVA VW Committee was born.
Me: a Black 2018 SE with Plaid Seats
Joey: a Green 2018 Autobahn with all of the bells and whistles
Zach: Joey's White 2016 SE with Lighting package
Lauren: An Suv thing
Since none of us are going to do anything crazy to our cars, we are going to share one thread to discuss the happenings during our ownership.
For those keeping track at home, when this photo was taken, I technically owned 5 vehicles.
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i | 1983 BMW 320i | The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i | 2007 Toyota 4Runner |
1995 Ford Windstar | 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 1989 BMW 325i Vert | 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i | 1983 BMW 320i | The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i | 2007 Toyota 4Runner |
1995 Ford Windstar | 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 1989 BMW 325i Vert | 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
![[Image: wUZ7jnk.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/wUZ7jnk.jpg)
![[Image: tenor.gif?itemid=5112090]](https://media1.tenor.com/images/33ac1d3d429cda1835eca2992d0f9c88/tenor.gif?itemid=5112090)
![[Image: giphy.gif]](https://media.giphy.com/media/wi8Ez1mwRcKGI/giphy.gif)
