And while you're at it, what's your dream car?

-- Ann Monroe (monroe@chorus.net), May 15, 2000

Answers

I have *so many* car stories! The most recent also involved a Chrysler product. We decided that my wife needed a minivan due to her extra-curricular activities as a teacher. There was a sale on Dodge Caravans, so we went there first. The sale ad said the Caravan with the options we wanted was available for about $19k. The dealer wouldn't let us talk price until we picked out our favorite color and test drove it. When we went inside to work out the price, he told us his best price was $23k. I asked about the sale and he said that was only for new college graduates. I asked what kind of graduates and he said any degree, Associate, Bachelor, or Master. I excused myself for a short drive to my house and returned with my Master's diploma, then only a week old. He did that same "see the manager" thing and came back saying he could only lower the price to $21k because the advertised price was for Bachelor's Degree only. I asked to see the manager and was told that the manager was leaving as he asked about the diploma and was no longer in the store. I was pissed in a major way! We left, and by the end of the day had bought a slightly used van at another dealer's lot. It was a much better deal and had more options than I know how to use. We have been very pleased with our purchase and have never been back to the Chrysler place. Too bad, too. We both really like the new PT Cruiser. BTW, the next day the dealer called us and said the "Company" approved another $1k off the price I was quoted (still over $1k above the advertised price). And could they deliver the van to us? I told them we had already bought a van from the Toyota dealer down the road and hung up before the reply. I can be quite an ass. My dream car varies day to day. Right now it would be a 1949 Ford Super Deluxe woody wagon or an Aston Martin DB4/6.

-- Rick Nelson (nesnerik@bellsouth.net), May 15, 2000.

The autistic preschoolers I work with occassionally go on excursions with me to the pool or park. I quickly learned that I needed a car with child proof locks. One certain escape artist has 1) unbuckled her car seat 2) Unbuckled her seat belt that was holding her car seat in 3) opened the door while I'm driving. Fortunetly, she never did all 3 of these things at once. I got a cavilier LS with childproof locks and power lock windows as well (No more obsessive rolling the windows up and down). I am afraid the get a mini van, schools and parents would see this as an invitation to take more kids out at once. No thank you.

-- AJ (joijoijoi@hotmail.com), May 16, 2000.