Is how you will spend the entire year. Which if its true, does not bode well for my car situation :(

Christmas Night I left my Aunt's (In Bel Air) and went to my car... there was some condensation on the windows, so I lowered them all, and raised them... except the drivers side window did not go back up :( The family pulled on it for a while, but no luck. It was down for the count. I drove to Perry Hall and crashed at my Parents... (couldn't leave my car overnight on my parking lot with a wide open window... what with all the recent crime!).

The next morning I got up at 6am, and drove back to Odenton, with a wide open window, in sub-freezing temps! (This is probably part of the reason I have a head cold :P) Quick shower and off to the dealer... I was there shortly before 8am...First in line!

They got my info, and I headed off to the waiting room with my book. About 2 hours later they came to the conclusion that it was a bad motor (covered by warranty!) but they didn't have the part in stock... and said it would probably be ready Tuesday. So they gave me a rental.... but Enterprise has some wierd "No Fault" clause where my Geico insurance won't cover me if someone else hits me ...And they want to charge me $20 a day for it... I declined becasue I knew it would be at least $100 total and I was only mainly planning to drive to the train station for work.

So I get through the weekend... head back to work... No Word from dealer on Monday. Tuesday arrives... no word by noon (and after some minor drama at work I decided if my car was ready I was going to leave at 1:30 to catch a 2:20 MARC train). So I called... and was on hold for ever (which I took as a bad sign, I figured they forgot to order the part). The service guy finally came back and said the part was not in yet, and they would get back to me.

So Wednesday arrives and I decided I would give them until noon again, because if I didn't get my car back I was going to have to change my plans (to be not going out because I wouldn't take the chance of having the rental get hit with all the New Years crazies on the road). Dealer called around 11:30 - The part had come in ... and they installed it the day before, but now they needed another part (window regulator - this helps the window go up and down). And this part is on Backorder... but they added a red flag for me to its at the top of the list (though I suspect anyone that needs this part is without a driveable car - so not sure of how much it will help). Luckily after I went and canceled my New Year's Eve plans, a good friend said she would pick me up.. YAY!

Friday Arrives... no word from dealer.. So I called at 2pm. Service guy said they needed to call the factory and he would get back to me. So around 5 the dealer calls me back... said the factory didn't really have any info for them... and they needed to call back on Monday (then went on to blame the Holidays for throwing them off).

So now I have no idea when I may get my car back.... and if I had taken the extra insurance coverage I would be at $220 thru this weekend :(

The results of Car Shopping 2007 are in!

With the Car Window Situation gradually deteriorating I decided it was now or never to take the plunge so that I could get the best trade in value for Fritz II. I hadn't used the windows at all since the 2nd incident, so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

Saturday morning, off I went to the local VW dealer to pursue a Eos...I had 2 2007 models in mind... a black and a white. I looked at the white first, but it was on the lawn, so then I looked at the black and test-drove it. It was a 3.2L V6 (the white was also). Ride was great! Very smooth. The white model was upgraded with a Dynaudio Premium Sound System (definitely a good thisng for top-down driving!), a Technology Package, and Sport Package. The black model was upgraded with a Dynaudio Premium Sound System, Sport Package, navigation system and ipod adapter in center console. (Both Models had an ipod an ipod /mp3 auxillary jack in the glove box.

So the I had to make the big decision, what model do I try to make a deal on ... it took me a while... but in the end I went with the black. The balck version looks better in person than the white (I thought), and I was totally down with the Navigation system (great for Pearl Jam related road trips) and ipod adapter in the center console.

So then we haggeled back and for for awhile ( I had my price research from Edmunds) and came to a final # that I was happy with (it was under what edmunds said "others" were paying), and I got more for Fritz II that I thought I would get.

So now I am the proud owner of a new 2007 Eos, in Black Uni with Cornsilk Beige interior :)

Moment of silence for Fritz II

As a freind suggested I now need a name for the new car...Fritz III doesn't seem to fit...

possibly ... Dieter??!

Welcome to the first installment of Car Shopping 2007!

I am ready to replace my current car - Fritz, a Navy Blue 2001 VW Cabrio (technically Fritz II, Original Fritz was a Silver Suede 1996 VW Golf). Well I thought I was ready last summer, but after looking at a Pontiac Solstice that had ZERO trunk space, with the top up, I decided I could wait since my daily car commute had decreased by almost 99%.


This morning I went to look at the Volkswagen Eos . Trunk space is excellent with the top up, top down has a good chunk of trunk space also. There is also a full size backseat. iPod adapter is hidden in the center console. Since the Eos is a hard top it also has a sunroof! I would get it in either Candy White or Paprika Red.

I didn't test drive because I am still about 2 months away from an actual purchase... and I get really nervous driving cars that I do not own. :P