Whenever I say the name of this car, I expect two things: someone will make a crack about Keanu knowing Kung Fu or similar or that Duran Duran will jump out from behind something and start doing a bastardized rendition of The Reflex.  These are the things that go on in my head from moment to moment.

I bought this car today.   It’s a 2009 Toyota Matrix and she’s red and I like her a lot.  I’m also quite proud of my haggling. I brought mikey with me because I didn’t want to get bamboozled. Not that I couldn’t hack it myself, but car salespeople are professional manipulators (no offense to any car-slingin’ readers I might have) and there is safety in numbers. I would have brought GFI, too, but she’s in Panama getting tan.

I’m honestly surprised it only took 3.5 hours. Normally a car purchase is an all-day affair, but this was a cakewalk.  I went in knowing what I wanted and I have to say, the folks at Mossy Toyota, especially Theresa, were really helpful.  She had all the cars and/or colors I said I was interested in, with the appropriate features, ready for me to test drive when I got there.  And when I refused to budge from my deposit amount (I had a number, people, and I wasn’t paying a penny more!), she and her GM were more than willing to get it down to my number without changing my monthly rate.

I did end up leaving with a higher monthly than I’d planned, but not by that much. I also managed to get a quote and purchase my car insurance online myself while I waited so I didn’t have to use their 30-day highfalutin oh-my-god-that’s-expensive temporary insurance.  Though, since e-surance didn’t have the 2009 models in their system yet, I did end up having to get on the horn with someone. But I daresay, even Justin at e-surance was pleasant and made parting with my money as smooth as possible.  And my payments were less than I thought because someone out there thinks I’m a good driver. 

Anyway, for those interested in the specs and whatnot, I’ll direct you to the Matrix S trim and specs, but those interested in the bling and how cute it is, it’s got a 6-speaker, 6-CD changer stereo that plays my iPod and has access for satellite radio.  There are plugs all over the place for hooking up laptops and charging phones and all that jazz. The inside is a dark black/charcoal sporty interior, which will soon be “F-Touched” (which I’ll refrain from making a crack about) with a Teflon-like coating, as will the outside, to prevent me from being charged for every ding, nick and spill. 

I love the wee spoiler… you know, for all those aerodynamics I require and the cornucopia of cup holders and console storage and room to sleep twelve.  OK, not really twelve, but you could fold down all the seats and perhaps fit a Yeti longways through the trunk.  The front seat even folds completely in half presenting a flat, almost rubber-ized surface so you can make it a desk and you can easily wipe out the hatchback/trunk area because it’s not carpeted.  It’s like a Honda Element like that. I can’t tell you how relieved I am that all that time I spend running on the beach won’t be as messy when I come home.  Yeah.

Hey, I could run on the beach!  You don’t know! 

It’s very roomy… roomier than I thought.  I liked the Corolla, which I also test drove, but I felt like the World Tallest Woman inside.  If I really sat up straight, I think my head would have hit the ceiling and there’s just something very “clown car” about that. And I don’t like clowns.  So that was out.

I was pretty much sold when I drove this red one, but like I said, I had a number in mind and I just refuse to put myself in a financially precarious position… at least not any more than one can be when they’re self employed and living in America’s Finest City.  But I did feel very grown-up today, as it was the first time I’ve ever been taken seriously in a major purchase.  This was the first time I bought a car that 1) someone wasn’t helping me buy 2) I wasn’t 18 and being taken advantage of or 3) my financial and credit situation wasn’t so bad (meaning I’m no longer 24 years old) that it was the only car I could get.  This was the first time I bought a car on my terms, the car I wanted at the price I wanted to pay for it.

She needs a name, but I’ve not decided on that yet. I need to drive her a few more times before it comes to me.  As much anxiety as having a new car payment gives me (and I’ll get over that as soon as I finish this glass of wine), I really, really love my new car.