Puppy Hauler

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

My search for the ultimate "puppy hauler" continues and frankly my dear - I no longer give a d*#m.  This SUV shopping is for the men, how uninteresting can anything be.  I am just so over trying to figure all of this out.  These people speak a language that I do not know.  What the heck is a V8 FFV engine?  RSC?  Cargo (puppy?) Management?  SNYC?  Would someone pleeeez just sell me a vehicle?  I do want 4 wheel drive so that I can zoom up to Michigan if need be in the winters - well try to find 4x4 in Florida - aren't any.  So I am at yet another dealership today and they give me the trade in value on my present car.  Older model, very low miles, looks like new and I had done my homework and sorta had a ball park - they come back 2,500 lower - what the heck?  Well, seems that when someone backed into me with their trailer hitch going through my bumper - Car Facts says it is an accident.  Hey, I wasn't even moving.  So they knocked 2,000 off for the wreck.  Wreck?  The truck was in reverse at about 3 miles an hour.  It happened at Christmas one year - the cop was trying not to laugh as I had a red reindeer nose on the grill and antlers on the windows.  Jeeez.  Just shoot me.  Rooney - mommy just wants a puppy friendly SUV for you, sorry buddy.

[Phoebe's Mom]

I will be facing this come June when my lease is up (in July).  I dread, dread, dread it--got that?  I need a children/puppy hauler that can handle multiple sports equipment and backpacks that look like my children are going extreme camping instead of to school.  I actually had one salesman--sorry, guys--tell me to come back 'with the decision maker' (!!!) when I was ready.  I almost went for his throat.  I can so relate, Jane!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Grrrrrrrr, that guy would be toast!  I did call one dealership today and after 2 times the receptionist couldn't get a salesperson on the phone (she said they were straggling in) - I hung up and went on to the next dealership.  I guess they didn't want to sell a car today.  I have looked at EVERYTHING.  I'm choosing the Ford Expedition - the ONLY SUV that I can find that I can leave running and lock, very important here in FL with a puppy.  I'd rather have my teeth pulled - NO - I'd rather give birth again - I hate this.  LMAO!

[Dori & Rua]

I agree with Jane...the guy would be toast.  What a jerk! 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Many years ago, my then 5-year-old daughter and I walked into a dealership with cash, ready to buy a car on the spot.  A table full of sales guys sat nearby, drinking coffee and chatting.  I looked at them with an expectant look in my eye.  Not one got off his butt to help.  I refused to plead for help, so we left, went to another dealership and drove off with a new car!  Decision maker - indeed!!!!

[BG and Gavin]

I have always maintained that it is far easier to buy a house than to buy a car.  Good luck - I don't envy you!

[Dori & Rua]

Hey...if you can drive that thing to Michigan, you can come to Omaha with Rooney for a visit!  We are ONLY a little under 1600 miles.  Can't remember where in Michigan you go, but you could come to Omaha for a visit, and then drive to Michigan.  Just let me know when you are coming.  I have 2 guest rooms and we are a dog-friendly house!  :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

The last 3 vehicles that we have purchased, I have done all of the negotiating from the comfort and convenience of my Den/Computer.  By the time we got to the dealership, all the figures we done and agreed to.  All that had to be done was just test drive the particular car we were to take away and write the check.  What I have found works (if you don't want to try to sell your car to a private buyer), the next best thing I've found is CARMAX.  They will give you an offer to purchase and you don't have to buy from them.  Their offer has always far exceeded the dealer trade in.  I've always been a little uncomfortable with trying to sell to someone privately in this day and age as you just never know who you are selling to and you don't want to get in the car with them for a test drive or give them your keys.  We've sold 2 through CARMAX, and the last one we did sell privately.    I have always used the web to research vehicles, make a decision on what I want, then send an e-mail to everyone of those dealers in my area and ask for a quote.   I take the best offer and start negotiating from there.  If I end up with a salesman I don't like, I start playing him off of another salesman.   I always make them communicate with me via e-mail so that I have everything in writing.  I've never had a problem once I got to the dealership ...... The only reason I would go to a dealership before this process would be if I didn't know what type car I wanted and I say wanted to drive the Honda version and then the Toyota version and then the Mazda.  Beyond that, I would do it on line.  I once had a big ole car salesmen that wanted my drivers license and all my information.  I kept telling him he didn't need it because we were not purchasing that day.  That I just needed a ballpark price because we were trying to decide if we were buying a car or truck.  He kept saying he had to have my info.  He finally said "Lady, you cannot dictate the process" ..... I look him straight in the face and said you wanna bet, and walked off!  That was the last time I ever went to a car dealership without negotiating 1st.   I also like to look at the forums on Edmunds.com for whatever type car I'm looking at, and look to see what others in my area have paid for a particular vehicle.  Sometimes it pays to negotiate with a dealer a little ways away because they might have some extra incentives.  I know it can be frustrating, but I just sort of approach it like a game.  There's more than one dealership and if one doesn't want to work with you, another will.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

How about you handle this for me?  LOL.  I"m taking your tips and will update you later!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

LOL Jane ..... That's the same thing my DH says!  It might be even more fun if I were spending someone else's money!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are hired!!!! Start a group - doodle negotiator - not for doodles just for doodle owners who are too wimpy to do it themselves (like me).  For the last car we bought, I took my son, the 'born salesman.'  He negotiated the whole deal while my dh and I sat and bit our tongues because we would have paid the original list price.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sherri, You're good.  You're Hired.

Jane Good Luck.  I am sure that whatever you get, Rooney will love it.  Make sure Rooney and future sibs can see out of the window.   Even dogs who like to ride in cars get car sick.  Starlit hates my little 5 speed.  She lets me know down the back of my neck.  Ewww. So let Rooney guide you.  I have such different priorities.   I might want my car to match my doodle. You know, Bronze and White might be good.

As for 4-wheel drive.  Fly to Michigan and then rent a 4 wheel drive.   Up here we might use that feature 10-15 days out of 365.    Or just stay the hell out of Michigan in the cold!  Yeah, that might be better   :)

Good Luck with that new car that matches Rooney

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Make sure Rooney and future sibs can see out of the window.

That's funny Joanne ..... we did take Lucy and Sophie when we bought the Van because I wanted to make sure they could jump in and out of the back ok before we bought it!  Of course my plan that they were going to have all that space in the back with their dog beds went bust because they wanted to sit in the seat right behind us!