Tag: car-tipping

We’re picking up the car at Frontier Toyota at 2:30pm tomorrow. The Auto Club buying service really does simplify things. My arm will be complete again, and perhaps some of the stress since the incident will go down. Then it will be only waiting for the check from the insurance company.

Folks will notice that the userpic has been updated to reflect the correct car (in the color we’re getting), with a little bit of a pun included. Note that I can’t escape silver cars, it seems: my 1999 Honda Civic DX Hatchback was silver, and the 1982 Nissan Datsun Stanza hatchback that the Civic replaced was silver. That Stanza, however, was originally GFG’s car — the history of my cars is: 1968 Olive Green Buick Skylark -> 1977 White Toyota Corona -> 1985 light-yellow Nissan Stanza sedan -> 1992 beige Mercury Sable (it was at this point that GFG got the Sable and I got her Stanza) -> 1996 white Toyota Camry -> 2002 white Honda CR-V (the one in my travel userpic)).

Just got email from the Fleet Manager at Frontier Toyota: “…am hoping to secure your vehicle today. I will contact you by the end of the day to give you an ‘eta.'”.

Arrgh. C’mon, find me the car. Make this a good day.

Today, we drove out to Frontier Toyota to talk to their fleet manager, as we had a referral to them from the Auto Club Buying Service. This is a great service where the dealer has negotiated a set price above dealer invoice for vehicles, in exchange for AAA referrals. In this case, we are guaranteed $350 over invoice. We met with the fleet manager, and did a real test drive of the Toyota Matrix XR. We fell in love. Although the Honda Fit is nice, it just doesn’t have the power or the room that the Matrix has. Besides, what self-respecting Math/Computer Scientist doesn’t want a car called a Matrix (as long as folks don’t attempt to invert it, I’m happy. That’s a math joke, folks).

Unfortunately, Toyota seems to only deliver the Matrix in three ways: a bare-bones package, an “every option” package (the only way to get side air bags), and a moderate package that includes the Extra Value Package #2 (16-in. aluminum alloy wheels with P205/55R16 tires, power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade, cruise control, fog lamps, and color-keyed front and rear underbody spoilers), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Tire Pressure Monitor, and an AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with six speakers. We’re going with the moderate package, adding floor mats and a car alarm (which will be dealer added, if the vehicle isn’t pre-equipped). The moon roof doesn’t bother me, as I can pop it on hot days so the heat doesn’t build up.

What colors, you ask?

1st Choice	Super White
2nd Choice	Cosmic Blue Metallic
or	Silver Streak Mica
3rd Choice	Indigo Ink Pearl

Right now, the fleet dealer is calling around to find the car to our specs. He should have it sometime Tuesday, and we’ll go get it Wednesday, when I’m working from home. This is *much* easier than the hassle we had with the Fit.

Expect the userpic you see now to change, once I know which color we’re getting.

My wife has been calling around on the Honda Fit all day. It seems there are 16 of them in Southern California… and 12 of them are black… and the other 4 have been presold! Needless to say, it looks like it will be difficult to get one.

As a result, we’re considering our second choice: The Toyota Matrix. What are the plusses and minuses?

The plusses: The Matrix is slightly larger and slightly heavier. It has a larger (1.8l vs. 1.5l) engine that gives more horsepower proportional to weight. It has significantly better emissions (Tier 2 bin 5 / ULEV II vs LEV II for the Fit). It is slightly roomier, and it think it has slightly more cargo space. It is easier to find; there are more of them on dealer lots.

The minuses: It costs about $2K-$3K more, has a slightly larger turning radius, and gets milage equal to my Civic, instead of being better. It isn’t as “sporty” has the Scion xB or the Fit.

The Fit has an engine roughly equal to my Civic. I remember how the hamsters would pant trying to get up Sepulveda Pass at 65mph. The larger engine might do better on the freeways. We’re going to give it another test drive tomorrow on our way to see Tick, Tick, Boom.

According to my wife, the Fits are disappearing even before they are loaded off the trucks… and the dealers seem to be ordering only black Fits, as that’s what the kids seem to want (didn’t they take science). She’s calling Bakersfield next…. I keep pointing out that the Matrix would work, but I think she’s fallen in love with the Fit (but even if she has, it’s my car… mine… mine… mine… I tell you!)

[OK, who gets the reference in the subject line?]

Yesterday I did a long post looking at the different potential replacement vehicles. We’ve pretty much decided on the Honda Fit. Of course, just like when we purchased the Honda CRV a few years ago, we’ve picked a model that is in short supply and disappearing off the lot as soon as they get in (meaning we’re going to be paying MSRP :-(, and we’ll be lucky to not have them add “Extra Dealer Profit”). Luckily, going in with internet or repeat customer pricing often gets rid of that extra.

Today, I’m capturing my thoughts on the most important question. Color. Now, black may be a great color for crossing the Delaware, but it is horrible in the San Fernando Valley in the summer. Red is also a bad color, being a ticket magnet. Thus, I will not get a black or a red car. So, given the remaining options, here is my current thinking on colors and priorities:

Read More …

1. My wife took some photos when she cleaned out the car today. You can findthem in my Scrapbook Gallery. They are all annotated, if you click on them.
2. I learned a bit more about what happened. There were about 10 teens in a pickup truck. The neighbor heard them talking and went outside, and they ran to the truck and drove slowly off. They had already tilted the car on it side. He noted they were all white. He didn’t get the license plate.

So that’s what I know.