~The Car~

........I have finally come to the conclussion I must be OCD ....just a little.  I have been wanting a new car for over a year now....and I have known all that time exactly what car I want, the model, the year and  I have studied this car and know everything that I need to know about it.  I have poured over ebay and every car accessory place there is to find the cosmetic bits I would like on it (I am a bit of a car nut) and how much they cost etc..
       My dilema was hubby is a cash man...does not believe in finance.  He believes if you need something you save and pay cash...not spend on the spur using credit.  Great beliefs,  but frustrating to me because I want everything yesterday.
          He finally told me he has almost enough for the car I want.. and he did agree that if we were only a little bit short he would get a very small personal loan for the difference..so last weekend daughter and I decide to go look for and test drive the car I would like... ......the last measure to make sure this is 'The' car for me.  I had 5 car yards on my list that had the model and year of car I was after in the price range we allowed.
        The first yard had listed one in stunning metalic blue...it looked amazing on the internet and even had an extra feature I didnt expect to find.....so by the time we got to the yard (an hour trip) I was pretty excited....the car was just back from the front and looked amazing in the sunlight....thats where my excitement ended.  We opened the door to look inside only to be hit with the stench of stale cigarettes.  The sunroof (the feature I didnt expect to find but really wanted) was dripping with condensation straight onto the drivers seat.  The let down continued to faded paint on the rear and scratches carved deep into the back from obviously heavy items being dragged in and out.  The car for want of a better word was a pig.  I was starting to think maybe my expectations were too high.  Disheartened, we left the yard and decided to try another car in another yard from my list.  The next yard was only 10 minutes away and we arrived with me no longer wondering around with glazed over expressions of granduer but a more realistic approach of what to expect for the money I had to spend.   This yeard was set to spoil me with two choices of my chosen car.  The first was a stunning dark gray metalic....and did it shine.  I opened the door to be greeted by ....nothing....no odours of stale cigarettes....but pure cleanliness and perfect condition.  In fact this car was perfect all the way around.   So rather than standing there drooling I decided to check the other which was a metalic silver.  It turned out this one was the delux model and while a little dearer than the other, it had all the bells and whistles.  Everything was finished off just that little better and had some fantastic extras that would cost me quite alot if I wanted to put them o the Grey one.  Again spotless, fresh smelling and perfect all the way around.  This was the one I decided to test drive.  The salesman was perfect.  Not pushy...answered all my questions...even my stupid ones.  Handed over the keys...so in we hopped and around the block we went.  I was more convinced than ever now.  I had found it...the car I had my heart set on for over a year.  Now I just had to convince hubby.  The salesman offered for us to drive it to his work (nearly an hour away)...and who were we to turn that down..........we pulled into hubbies work and it was like a grand prix mechanics bay....the 5 boys (hubbies employees...all rev heads) all poured out of the workshop and had everything opened, up, pulled down and were underneath within minutes.    They then proceeded to find several faults (mechanical) ....my heart was in my throat over these finds...but I had to be practical......I asked hubby to ring the salesman and see if a deal could be met but I wasnt holding my breath.  Hubby came back and told me if the salesman would put the agreements they had made (repairs and such) over the phone  in writing....I could HAVE the car.    Back to the yard we went and I must have look so silly driving with a huge grin.  The salesman put everything in writing and I paid our deposit.  Now we are just waiting on the news from the bank (have everything crossed that they approve it)......oh and the car I have wanted for over a year now....Toyota RAV4........keep your fingers crossed for me. xx