A New Car! (said in a gameshow voice)

I lived through everyone who has ever taken an exam's worst nightmare.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I got into a car accident (totaling my vehicle) ON THE WAY to the exam.   Panicked, I call Adam, and my mom, but no one answers, so after giving over my information, I placed a plea on Facebook to find someone to drive me to the exam.   The Wiece's came through, and Crystal got me to my exam on time.  Sore neck, wrist bruised and swollen, I painstakingly took my exam, pushing thoughts of the accident aside, and tried my hardest to concentrate on the material.  Not sure how - but I ended up passing. (I mean, I wasn't even passing my practice exam!)  My mom and Adam both showed up to pick me up after the exam, and we went to dinner, then Adam took me to the urgent care, in case I had other injuries "You've got a lot of adrenaline going on, you wouldn't even know if you were hurt".  (BTW, not true.  I already couldn't touch my wrist or turn my head.) 

 

 My poor baby, super clean, super loved, no car payments.  I wasn't quite ready to give her up yet.  I loved this car so much.   Fortunately, we got a nice $6k settlement check from the insurance company, a bit more than I thought I'd get, since it has 236k miles on it, but because mom had it detailed the week prior, it was in  impeccable shape. 

A few days later, I found a new car.  Adam and I walked some lots after hours, (nice not having the kids around for this part) and decided that even though I liked a few other

 

vehicles, safety, reliability, and the options that we want (tow package, 3 rows, tinted windows, etc) the Pilot would be the best option.  This makes me so happy.  I looked at a few online, went to test drive one (left within 5 minutes because of the exterior condition) and then decided on a whim, to drive past the little lot in Twinsburg, because online it said they had a Pilot.   They did.  It was nice.   I looked at it.  Drove it.  Bought it.  Right out from under another lady looking at it, but who wanted to use her credit union and not put a deposit down to hold it.  Oops, her bad.  My car.   So, here's to my new (to me) 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L!   seriously!  Leather, sunroof, Bluetooth, power everything!  So excited, aside from now having a car loan, =(  .    

We pick the boys up on Friday. Hopefully they approve.   I'm totally missing them, and can't wait to see them.  I'm sure they'll be little assholes for the first week (based off of another friend who's kids were gone for a whole month), but I'll be glad to get some hugs and kisses!!)   I also have a surprise for them later.  I want to put in DVD players -  but shhhhh.  I don't want them to know until they're in - hopefully this month or next.

The Answer is..... Drum Roll Please.....

..... something that we weren't originally looking at!  *Sound the trumpets!*  I'm excited! 

We drove the Focus again Monday.  It worked MUCH better than what it did the first time.   The guy still blamed Adam on not knowing how to drive stick right, but I was there, Adam drove it exactly the same way the second time, AND he ALWAYS drives a manual, so he knows what he's doing. Aside from being cramped as Hell, it's a very nice ride.  That being said, I have no desire to ride in a car with my knees in my chest.  (They did not hit the dashboard when Adam configured the car-seat differently, but were about 1/4" away, and when Adam slammed on the brakes for a quick changing red light, I hit the dash.) I like the car - really like it for two, maybe three people, but it's not family friendly.

I realized that the only reason we're getting another car is so that the four of us can go on trips together without always  using my vehicle.  He doesn't need one to go to work and back (for now he uses a work vehicle), he doesn't need one to hold all 4 of us, because he has the Jeep if he really  needs to take both kids somewhere without me being around, and if I'm around we have my car, although it's not ideal to only drive my car around, all of the vehicles work just fine.  

Now, Adam has finally come to the realization that's he's being extremely unrealistic.  Thank goodness.  I understanding him wanting a specific type of vehicle because it's cool, but at this point in our life, it's just not going to happen - we have kids, and they are the reason for the new vehicle, after all. 

Here's his opinions of any results that may come up in vehicle searches:

Versa - Ugly
Matrix - Cheaply made
Focus hatch - Too small
Fit - Too small
3 hatch- Too small
5 hatch- Too big
Accord hatch- Too big
Ford C - Ugly/$$
Elantra hatch - Ugly - but will test drive
Soul - Ugly
Fiesta - Too Small
Mini- Too Small/$$
Fiat - Won't consider
Scions - Ugly/Small, varies
GMC - Won't consider
Chevy - Won't consider
Subaru - Bad gas mileage/$$
BMW/Audi- Maintenance issues
Anything else - no, no, no, no

So now, he's considering a Honda Civic.  It's still (fairly) small, but not ridiculous, it's reliable, good gas mileage, four doors and should* fit all 4 of us.  Goodness, I sure hope it does, because it's what I've been pushing him towards for months now.  He'd ALWAYS liked the Civic, until the hatch's came out, and that's what he's wanted since then.  So off we go to search AutoTrader for an affordable Civic.  Wish us luck!