Jen,
I was not that brave but thank you for having gusto on my behalf.
Lee,
I was very happy with my Internet only car buying experiences - which helps if you have already taken a test drive (or better yet start the negotiations online then test drive).
The "white ketchup" is. a. SCREAM.
Hopefully I'll be driving my current car another 4-5 years until I can get out from under more debt, but I'm thinking I might buy a Mini Cooper the next time around. My only reservation is that I've had plenty of firsthand experience with how durable and safe Chevy's compact models are.
I work in a wealthy suburb of Chicago, so Mercedes are a dime a dozen. Lots of Lexus, Audi, etc. A fair number of Bentleys, Masaratis and Nisan Leafs. Plus the occasional Tesla Model S.
Have you seen the yellow Lamborghini yet? I used to see it a couple times a year up there.
In terms of new cars, I'm enjoying my Cruze.
My buying experience with my first and only brand-new car was shockingly easy, at least my sister thought so. I decided what features I wanted, narrowed the choices down to three, checked out the prices locally and what discounts I could get, test-drove the cheapest one, liked it, bought it on the spot. Happy with it ever since.
My next car will almost definitely be a minivan, because I am a mom and need a mom car.
Accomplishments for the day: Got up early, spent a few hours working at Panera (not for Panera, AT Panera), bought a house, and am now eating spanikopita from the Middle Eastern grocery.
And tomorrow, we get to sleep in.
I just cannot with the minivan. Crossover, yes. Station wagon, also yes. minivan, cannot.
clearly just my issue, nothing practical.
It's the extra seats that's the issue - with a family of 4, 5 seats isn't enough to give anyone else a ride. (Technically there's a center seat in the back, but anyone small enough to squeeze in there should really be in a booster seat.)