My First Car Buying Experience
Anna and I have been shopping for a car for the last couple of weeks. I have found right away that we fell in love with, however, due to dealer incompetence we chose not to buy at that time (story to come later in the blog).
First off, there are a couple of websites that you must read through before you consider buying a new car.
The first is:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com
This guy knows his stuff. He is honest, straightforward, and thorough. This website is a must read for anyone considering buying a car. There is so much info in there will not only save you money, but will also save you from being scammed by a devious dealer.
The second is:
http://warrantydirect.com
This is a reputable company that was recommend by the previous website as a site to receive extended warranties for just about any car out there regardless of age. They provide quick, easy to understand quoted on warranties, and what these warranties include. They even followed up with me by phone explaining in great detail what is covered, what is not covered, what is recommended, and why. This company is heads and shoulder above anyone else in the industry.
So, how did I get to this point? As many of you know, I love cars. I receive three car publications (magazines for the normal people) each month, and I read them from cover to cover. Other the last two years I have been looking at cars, observing the market, and figuring out what is a good deal out there.
Anna, after doing our taxes, gave me the okay to buy a new car. My gay, purple, Dodge Neon has about 145,000 miles on it. It is a great car, but we really need something with a bit more space, and a few less miles on it. So what happens? The moment I start to really consider buying a car, a deal I cannot pass up shows up, a 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon. No, it is not just any Passat, it is the top of the line, eight cylinder, 270 horsepower model with just 60,000 miles on it. It has every option available for this car. Retail new: $40,000, retail, retail used: $24,000, selling now for: $12,000. It is an amazing deal. Obviously it is something I need to take a look at.
So, yeah, I am a bit concerned. How could it be such a good deal? I am not sure. I read Carfax report, and it looks like it was involved in a minor fender-bender a few years ago, but that was it. The fender-bender did not cause the airbags to go off, nor did it cause enough damage to require a police investigation.
I continue the research. There are a few W8’s out there for sale right now. Why there are so cheap is a still a mystery to me.
Anna and I decide to go to the deal. We called the salesman up I have been talking for a couple days to confirm the test-drive, and he tells me the car is being test-driven right now. Anna and I are already on our way. We are a bit bummed, but there were other cars we wanted to drive anyway. In the back of our minds we are thinking that this is a sales ploy to instill a sense of urgency onto the customer to buy the car. However, when we get to the dealership, we find out that what the salesman said was legitimate. There was a couple there wanting to buy the same car Anna and I wanted!
We end up stalling for an hour or so test driving other cars. The Volkswagen GTI with a VR6 engine in is a ton of fun to drive by the way. It wasn’t quite the car Anna and I need right now, but it was a hell-of-a-lot of fun to drive!
After hanging out for an hour we finally get our chance to drive the Passat. Let me tell you, it was amazing. Better than I thought possible. It was quieter going 80 mph than my Neon going 20 mph. It has all the upgrades we want (power seats with two driver memory, heated seats, multi-disc CD player, moonroof, and it is a wagon). We feel in love with it in less than five minutes of driving.
We decided we wanted to buy it. We walk in, and tell the salesperson, “SOLD”! He sits us down, and disappears. He was dealing with the another couple at the same time. Fine, but then he sends over this other guy. Nice looking guy. New at his job. He proceeds to tell us how high-tech of a car we are getting. All of this I already knew because of my research, but he felt it was needed to tell us it all again. Finally, he tells us that the engine in that car cost $27,000 and has been discontinued by Volkswagen. Not to worry though, they have us covered. For a small fee of just $4500 they will provide us with a bumper-to-bumper warranty. They $12,000 car becomes a $16,500 car. We start to feel doubt. We start to feel uncomfortable, so we backed out. After being more than willing to buy the car; we leave the dealership sans new car.
This, however, is a miracle in disguise. It gave Anna and I a chance to research and understand all that is going on. I found the above websites, and found that not only was I being other priced on the warranty, but I was also being quoted for an inferior warranty. We also had the chance to look around just to verify that the purchase we were making was the best we could find (and yes, it is the best deal out there right now for us). By taking the extra time Anna and I have saved $2000 on the warranty, but we also were give the peace of mind that this is the right car for us (not that we own the car yet). We were also locked into a loan that is 2% lower than the loans quoted to us by the dealer. In the end, we saved a bunch, and are much more excited about the purchase we are about to make.
A little God story for you. Before I went to bed the day before the test drive, I asked God to give me an escape if something about the car purchased didn’t feel comfortable. He answered that prayer. Anna and I were ready to buy a car without doing all the proper researcher, but do to our desire to see a friend in Burnsville, and Anna need for food, we were able to leave the dealership before making a big mistake. Thank you, God.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Book of Galatians
The Book of Galatians
It was cold today. Really cold. –12 degrees, plus a nice bit of wind-chill, so church was cancelled this morning. Instead of church, people meet together at each other’s homes. Anna and I were a bit sick yesterdays, so we decided to take it easy again today. I decided to read the book of Galatians. You know, it is Sunday morning, I should be at church I might as well do something “spiritual” right? It has been a long time since I have just picked up the Bible just to read it. I sometimes listen to it on the radio, and often discuss it with my friends. However, as of late, I have not been reading. Not like I probably should be at least, but this is another story for another time.
Anyway, I read the book of Galatians from the New Living Translation of the Bible. I like the New Living Translation. Most people use the NIV. It is what I grew up reading, and used at college. A couple years ago I asked for the New Living Translation for Christmas. I want something more readable, less complex, and that is exactly what this translation is. If you find the NIV to be difficult to read and understand, try the NLT version.
Paul is writing to a group of gentiles that he had preached to and converted sometime earlier. Paul really sounds like a whiner in the first few chapters. “I” this and “I” that is all he seemed to talk about. How annoying, but it got better.
After the introduction Paul jumps in the meat of the message (chapters 3 and on). My intentions when I opened my Bible this morning was to read a chapter or two and reflect on those chapters, but as I read I found the message to be more and more compelling. I ended up reading the how thing.
Paul discusses following the law in the form of circumcision. (For those of you who don’t know what circumcision is, it is the cutting off of the foreskin of a male child. The Jews used circumcision as an outward sign of devotion to God. Gentiles of that day, however, saw it as a horrific mutilation of ones body, and for obvious reason did not partake in the practice.) The book of Galatians was written around 49 AD, only 16 years after the resurrection of Christ. People were still figuring out what it meant to be Christ-followers. They weren’t even called Christians at this time, instead they known as the followers of “The Way”. So, what is going at this time was defining what following Christ meant. Did it mean that a gentile had to convert to Judaism, and there by follow Jewish laws and traditions? Or, was being a Christ follower something totally something different?
Paul quickly answers that question. We are saved through faith in Christ, period. There is no need to be bound to the law, and therefore, no need to become Jewish. We are therefore free from the law, and by correlation, free from sinful cravings. Those who follow their sinful cravings end up in: “sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasures, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins.” As opposed to those who’s lives are controlled by the Holy Spirit live in: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
How does living by the law lead to sinful cravings? Paul transitions quickly without explaining himself very well, but it is pretty easy to understand. When you follow the law you need to bind yourself to the law, and thereby loosing your bind with Christ. When you loose touch with Christ, your sinful nature creeps back into your life.
It is interesting to look through the list of sinfulness. When I was reading this book I was wondering how could apply this to my life, how does it apply to the church, and is it outdated? I was actually really struggling with the relevancy of the text. I have never been taught that I need to convert to Judaism, so how does this apply to me and us today? However, when I went through the sin list it became evident how it applies today. When we look at Christianity today we can see all the rules and laws that you need to follow in order to be “Christian”. We could list the things we see, but that isn’t the point. We can see what happens when a person outward devoted to Christ (following the right rules), as opposed to inwardly following Christ. When we look at the followers list, it is not a list of actions or things we do, it is a list of what we are. You do not do love, you are loving. You do not do patience, you are patient. You do not do faithfulness, you are faithful. You do not do self-control, you are self-controlled.
So, following Christ is more about who you are, not what you do. You can say all the right things, do all the right tasks, but in the end if you are not loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled you are not following Christ. One thing that I have learned while being Christian, it is easier do Christianity, than it is to be a Christian. I picked up a book recently called “Simplexity”. It is about how simple things are often the most complex. It is simple to get to heaven, follow Christ. But, as many of you know, it is much easier said then done.
So yeah, read Galatians. It is short and to the point.
Right now, my mom is coming up here to make some meals with us. I am pretty excited. Have a great day!
It was cold today. Really cold. –12 degrees, plus a nice bit of wind-chill, so church was cancelled this morning. Instead of church, people meet together at each other’s homes. Anna and I were a bit sick yesterdays, so we decided to take it easy again today. I decided to read the book of Galatians. You know, it is Sunday morning, I should be at church I might as well do something “spiritual” right? It has been a long time since I have just picked up the Bible just to read it. I sometimes listen to it on the radio, and often discuss it with my friends. However, as of late, I have not been reading. Not like I probably should be at least, but this is another story for another time.
Anyway, I read the book of Galatians from the New Living Translation of the Bible. I like the New Living Translation. Most people use the NIV. It is what I grew up reading, and used at college. A couple years ago I asked for the New Living Translation for Christmas. I want something more readable, less complex, and that is exactly what this translation is. If you find the NIV to be difficult to read and understand, try the NLT version.
Paul is writing to a group of gentiles that he had preached to and converted sometime earlier. Paul really sounds like a whiner in the first few chapters. “I” this and “I” that is all he seemed to talk about. How annoying, but it got better.
After the introduction Paul jumps in the meat of the message (chapters 3 and on). My intentions when I opened my Bible this morning was to read a chapter or two and reflect on those chapters, but as I read I found the message to be more and more compelling. I ended up reading the how thing.
Paul discusses following the law in the form of circumcision. (For those of you who don’t know what circumcision is, it is the cutting off of the foreskin of a male child. The Jews used circumcision as an outward sign of devotion to God. Gentiles of that day, however, saw it as a horrific mutilation of ones body, and for obvious reason did not partake in the practice.) The book of Galatians was written around 49 AD, only 16 years after the resurrection of Christ. People were still figuring out what it meant to be Christ-followers. They weren’t even called Christians at this time, instead they known as the followers of “The Way”. So, what is going at this time was defining what following Christ meant. Did it mean that a gentile had to convert to Judaism, and there by follow Jewish laws and traditions? Or, was being a Christ follower something totally something different?
Paul quickly answers that question. We are saved through faith in Christ, period. There is no need to be bound to the law, and therefore, no need to become Jewish. We are therefore free from the law, and by correlation, free from sinful cravings. Those who follow their sinful cravings end up in: “sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasures, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins.” As opposed to those who’s lives are controlled by the Holy Spirit live in: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
How does living by the law lead to sinful cravings? Paul transitions quickly without explaining himself very well, but it is pretty easy to understand. When you follow the law you need to bind yourself to the law, and thereby loosing your bind with Christ. When you loose touch with Christ, your sinful nature creeps back into your life.
It is interesting to look through the list of sinfulness. When I was reading this book I was wondering how could apply this to my life, how does it apply to the church, and is it outdated? I was actually really struggling with the relevancy of the text. I have never been taught that I need to convert to Judaism, so how does this apply to me and us today? However, when I went through the sin list it became evident how it applies today. When we look at Christianity today we can see all the rules and laws that you need to follow in order to be “Christian”. We could list the things we see, but that isn’t the point. We can see what happens when a person outward devoted to Christ (following the right rules), as opposed to inwardly following Christ. When we look at the followers list, it is not a list of actions or things we do, it is a list of what we are. You do not do love, you are loving. You do not do patience, you are patient. You do not do faithfulness, you are faithful. You do not do self-control, you are self-controlled.
So, following Christ is more about who you are, not what you do. You can say all the right things, do all the right tasks, but in the end if you are not loving, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled you are not following Christ. One thing that I have learned while being Christian, it is easier do Christianity, than it is to be a Christian. I picked up a book recently called “Simplexity”. It is about how simple things are often the most complex. It is simple to get to heaven, follow Christ. But, as many of you know, it is much easier said then done.
So yeah, read Galatians. It is short and to the point.
Right now, my mom is coming up here to make some meals with us. I am pretty excited. Have a great day!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
My First Blog
First blogs are always fun to write. More than likely this blog will be an incoherent blog about my life, my views, and my stories (which means it will probably be boring to read). Stay tuned!
P.S.
If you live in Minnesota and plan on caucusing tonight, here is a great web locator:
http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
P.S.
If you live in Minnesota and plan on caucusing tonight, here is a great web locator:
http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
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