Recently I found myself facing an unpleasant prospect: I had to buy a car.
Yes, our family was in need of a new-to-us car.
I don’t know about you, but the whole car buying scene makes me uncomfortable. There are 8 million articles on the internet about how to do it, but in the end you just have to suck it up and try your best with salespeople, trade-ins, sticker prices, “True Market Value”, bells and whistles, financing, and so on.
I started 6 weeks ago and still cringe every time I think of the salesman who called me, “The Wife.”
As in: “Well, what does The Wife want?” and “We want to take care of The Wife.”
Needless to say I did not buy a car from this salesman. Shocking, right?
As I thought about, and went through, the process of buying a car, I decided there were many, many things I’d rather be doing than buying one. 
I’ve culled the list down to my Top 10 and present here the 10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Buy a Car:
- Change a diaper blow-out. In a public restroom. When I’m out of baby wipes and a spare outfit.
- Climb Mt. Everest.
- Train to climb Mt. Everest.
- Go to PTA meetings for both of my kids’ schools.
- “Reply All” to a group email or text about who is bringing what type of snack to the next soccer practice.
- Chaperone another overnight middle school field trip.
- De-lice my kids.
- Scoop the cat box with my bare hands.
- Go bathing suit shopping.
- Binge watch episodes of Caillou.
Gratefully, I’m happy to report that the car buying process is complete. With luck, routine maintenance, and a lot of on-time car payments, I shouldn’t have to buy a car in the near future. Knock on wood!
How do you feel about the car buying process? Or is there something you dread doing, like exercising or spring cleaning, but you just have to do it anyway?
I would have lost it with the sales person ? Too many choices for me. Especially finding a 6 seater for my family. Glad you got it all done! And I would change 10 blowout nappies !! ?
One Messy mama recently posted…Guest Post – White Camellias – The Hot List
So right about all the choices! That was made a bit easier with buying a used car as I simply wanted one in the best condition, but all the “trim levels” and extras still made my head spin. I could care less about 20″ wheels vs. 17″ wheels.
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…The Beauty of Ordinary Moments
BAHAHAHAHA!!! Your list is hilarious!!!
Shopping for a car is a hideous pursuit. That one tops my list too. Among other things? Gosh… being stuck in traffic is probably my worst nightmare. The ugly me comes out in an out of body hulk-like rage. Add that to going out to BUY that car? Shoot me now. LOL
Chris Carter recently posted…The Best Way To Manage Your To Do List
Ha ha ha, Chris! I personally love how I yell curse words over the *Christian* radio station I’m listening to when someone does me wrong in traffic. 🙂 Yes, Lord, I DO need you!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Buy a Car
The “reply all” on school emails kills me! One person in the class of 30 kids needs to tell the teacher “Yes, Mackenzie will be there” or “No, Mackenzie will not be there” and then everyone else sees it and thinks, “Oh, my response should be ‘reply all,’ too then!” And before you know it, you’ve got 30 emails about which kids will be at the class party and you didn’t need to know any of it.
Jenny @ Unremarkable Files recently posted…Trauma, Guilt, and Time: How I Finally Came To Terms with My C-Section
I’m glad you can relate to that one. I know it drives me crazy!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Buy a Car
I absolutely loathe the car purchasing process. I instantly get in a foul mood when I have to step inside a car dealership. Luckily, my vehicle is paid off and in good running condition. Knock on wood it stays that way. I do not want to go through car buying anytime soon.
Terra Heck recently posted…Wordful Wednesday – Logan’s Prom
I agree, Terra. May your car have a long, happy life ahead of it!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Buy a Car
I hate buying a new car! It is horrible every dang time, but at the end you walk away with a big loan and a fancy new car 🙂 Let’s start a reply all email strain with 100 bloggers. That should be fun!
Jen recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link- Up # 5
Okay, you go first in that reply all email chain!
If there’s one thing that’ll set me off it’s “The Wife.” Say it to me and you’re done. Toast. I’m somewhat alright with “the dog” but “the wife?” NO. Your list of alternatives to buying a car is brilliant. Brilliant. The reply all comment got me remembering about the time a father of one of my daughter’s soccer team mates (still with me?) got all riled up about the coach. He sent out a blistering email to everyone but the coach and the majority of parents answered in kind. I stayed away. Far. Far away. Well, long story short, some goof added the coach’s name to the now lengthy email and hit “reply all.” Coach read it. All of it. “Why didn’t you just come to me and tell me you were upset?” is the mildest version of his response …
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted…If I Only Had The Chance To Meet Erma
I think some brilliant publisher or editor or mom should assemble a “Reply all” anthology. The stories, like yours, are just priceless!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Buy a Car
I always feel like I’m in the 1950s when we buy a car – at least when you are called “the wife,” the salesman is acknowledging your existence! When my husband bought his most recent car, I walked out of the dealership and went home. It was that bad.
Oh, reply all…how I loathe thee.
Dana recently posted…Ten books you may have missed
My husband was so lovely about it all. He apologized on behalf of men as soon as we had left! I consider it a victory that he was so aware it bothered me AND he apologized for men.
LOL this cracked me up. Buying a car is one of those stressful moments, but there are some you listed that I’d rather not do!
Julie S @ Fab Working Mom Life recently posted…10 Books I’ve Been Reading Lately
Ha! Car buying can be very frustrating! My husband is in sales (NOT car sales) and I remember many years ago when we were looking at minivans for the first time. The car salesman told my husband the he didn’t have to negotiate on the price because that particular model was in such high demand. Well, telling a sales guy like my husband that you refuse to negotiate on the price of a car is pretty much equivalent to calling me “The Wife.” 🙂
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons recently posted…#TuesdayTen Photo Stream
OMGoodness you hate car shopping! I really hate kid’s science projects and with the exception of #1 and #9 (I wear rubber gloves to touch meat) I’d rather do all those things that do a science project.
That salesman needs another tactic – that “wife” business – SMH!
Hee hee. My kids hate science projects, too. We did the science fair I think one time per kid and that was enough for them and me!
I just remember that the last time we bought a car, it took FOREVER to get all the paperwork finished! It was horrible! We just wanted to buy the darn car! I definitely would not have bought a car from a salesman if he called me “the wife.”
Ginny Marie recently posted…Ten Walks I Have Taken
Ugh. It did take forever this time, too! And yes, you just want to get the car and GO!
Ugh! I shouldn’t have ready this! We desperately need to replace the 1997 pickup my husband is driving, but I’m not looking forward to the shopping part.
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…The Do’s and Don’ts of Teacher Appreciation
I don’t know how to make it any better, sorry. I guess take solace in the fact that others have suffered?!
I’m cyclist to work 26 years old woman. Recently I found out I am now pregnant.
yes first child, no clue whatsoever but sure i felt tired all the time.
everyone in my family suggested me to get a car, at the same time i feel like i really need the ride.
and i never imagine my whole life own one! and yeah i dont know jack about all this paper work and these agents and loans terms, all driving me nuts.
yes, like you, i feel uncomfortable with all the process of getting one.
I was thinking secondhand car, but then this and that, so much drama.
new car? whoa.. thats too expensive!
so yeah these are 10 things i’d rather do than buy a car
1) sleep
2) develop my long time abandoned hobbies
3) read
4) collecting cash for water birth
5) yoga
6) looking for grass to put my feet on
7) take care of my skin
8) look for inner peace
9) talk to the unborn child
10) collecting cash to travel