Help! I have a dilemma.
In the spring, Brian intends to begin using my Chevy Aveo to do his landscaping estimates. This means I’ll need a new car.
I keep waffling back and forth and back and forth and back and forth…
Well, I’m torn.
Two options:
1) Go with a practical family car that gets great gas mileage. No, we don’t have a family; neither are we feeling a sense of urgency in the matter. But it is a future possibility, so it would make sense to have the right car for that.
2) Go with the Chevy SSR, the car of my dreams, that I’ve been wanting for at least six years now. This sweet piece of metal is a pickup truck and convertible in one. Additionally, two out of the four years that the SSR was made, it was made with a Corvette engine.
Brian took me to a Mazda dealership to try out a Mazda CX7. Have you ever seen a pair of jeans that looked cool enough in your hands, but the second you tried them on, they were clearly all wrong? That’s how the CX7 felt once I got inside of it. So I “tried on” another… and another. No luck. Then I sat inside a Mazda 5.
I did not see this coming.
Square Piece felt the most comfortable in what can only be described as a mini-mini van. (Or, since it’s a Mazda, I like to call it a mini-mini zoom zoom.)
Of course.
However several years ago I test drove an SSR and felt just as snug as a bug in a rug.
Waffling commencing:
Chevy doesn’t make SSRs anymore. What I would spend on one today would cost a approximately $5,000 more than a brand new, souped-up family car.
The SSR also has worse gas mileage.
That said, I live close enough to work that I could walk if I wanted to. As mentioned in O Holy Whoops, my commute is all of four minutes. And we’d still have the Aveo for longer trips.
The family car would have better gas mileage. I’d be able to fit more than one passenger, like my sibs.
But what if we never have a family? What if I can’t get pregnant? Or what if we don’t adopt for another seven years? How weird is it to be a couple, with no kids, driving a mini-mini zoom zoom for seven years?
What if I DO have a family sooner than later and this is my last chance to ever have a fun car? It’s not like Brian and I take extravagant vacations! Should my car be the vacation?
Will I regret it if I don’t get the SSR? Am I too practical? Am I self-indulgent, but really good at hiding that… from even myself?
Will I have to budget for all the speeding tickets I’m sure to get?
What if I could save the gas money and the slightly higher car payment difference and use it to help others who are hurting right under my nose?
Is my treasure on earth or is it in heaven?
Will the SSR cause marital strife as I freak out over sodas, wrappers and receipts being left behind after Brian borrows it?
Momma’s voice is ringing in my ears, “Did you pray about it?”
- What would you do?
- What would you tell your hairstylist to do?
- What would you tell your daughter to do?
- What would you tell your mom to do?
I’ve been polling my clients. We’re 50/50 right now. *sigh*
I just have no idea.
im pretty sure its momma AND sherri’s voice ringing in your ear as i said the exact same thing to you last night! haha. and i still think you should go with the SSR.
Walk, ride a bike, Segway, or cheap car. Are you kidding? Why add a car payment for something you don’t need. You are SO LUCKY not to have to drive to work. Take advantage of it any way you can. Sock away $350 (or more) a month, and buy one in -cash- or mostly cash in a few years.
So funny home recuperating after surgery. Me being a car person thanks to my dad. Have rebuilt cars gone to junk yards and been to every car deal my dad made. Anyway I ve been watching the MECUM car autions on cable and they had a 2010 ssr purple just like your picture that sold for 50000. They talked about how versitile it was. A converitble hard top and a truck. Okay my advise why not enjoy the car you want. Proirities will change when additions to the family come along. Besides carmax is just down the street.
Kennera’s idea is ideal, walk, save money … but EVEN BETTER … buy the mini-mini zoom zoom for ME! and I’ll let you have my Hyundai 🙂 which you can drive til it dies on you and then walk. 🙂
I have an opinion all right, and I’d totally give it to you if you straight up asked my opinion……but I’m gonna NOT give you an opinion so that you can have one less opinion and maybe that will encourage you to pray about it more and ponder opinions less. Not at all what you asked for I know! But MAYBE it will help. Your mom had a pretty good idea. 🙂
You know which one I think you should get. Don’t disappoint me.
Oh, Ian. You and your mini vans… 😉 (PS – I read it to Brian and he said something about you driving an “f*#%ing James Bond car.”)
Comparing the SSR to the mini mini zoom zoom isn’t fair. It’s the known present versus the unknown future, immediate gratification versus delayed reward. I’d try to find the happy medium. Keep looking at other models and see if you can find something snazzy that doesn’t exactly exude family mobile but isn’t going to result in a high monthly car payment. Time is on your side- we have a few months until spring. Good luck!
Thanks, Erika! I know, you’re right, it’s not a fair comparison.
I’m too practical to answer this question… However, the SSR is pretty sweeeet. 🙂
If you get the SSR, which is totally sweet, what would you allow to go in the back? Just groceries? Or a load of mulch…bricks…? How about helping a friend move?
These are things I think about…
If you would be crazy about what can go in the “practical, truck part” of the vehicle, maybe it might be more “practical” for something less special.