Car Shopping - UGH!

Does anyone else DESPISE car shopping as much as I do? 

Since I had received some extra farm money this year, I decided I wanted to go ahead and get a newer car - who knows, maybe it will be our last one we buy?  We were heading to Jessi's for the weekend anyway so decided to head out Friday morning and shop!

Now anyone that knows me, can verify that I am the ultimate planner, organizer and researcher - and car shopping was no exception!  I was on 3 different sites every day, looking for exactly what I wanted!  We knew we wanted another Ford Explorer - what mileage - what features inside and the color!  I contacted 3 different dealerships in ADVANCE to let them know we were shopping on Friday and even spoke to 2 of the dealerships!  I was prepared...........unfortunately they weren't!

Our first appt. was in Co. Springs - and we waited and waited for our salesman to find the keys to the vehicle (he didn't even think it was there at first until Glenn and I walked outside and saw it!!).  To cut to the chase, the keys were NOWHERE to be found!  The car had all the features we wanted, we just couldn't get inside to see it and drive it!  He made us a great deal on a trade-in and we ended up putting a deposit on the car (with an "out" after we could come back and drive it) and finally got on our way to Denver.

Driving to Denver I got a phone call from appt. #3 telling me one of the vehicles I wanted to see (it was my FIRST choice in color!) was not there - it was at the body shop getting cosmetic work done and wouldn't be available!!  REALLY????  2 days notice and it's not there!!  So we went on to appt. #2 and did have to wait a little while but the gal showed and we really liked her - unfortunately the car had way too much hail damage for us to consider it BUT I loved the inside - and it was a limited - not the XLT that we had left a deposit on......................

We went ahead and went to appt. #3 knowing we couldn't see the car we wanted to but they did have a limited we wanted to check out.  Our salesman was nice but SO SLOW - do they really think we want to visit and wait and wait and wait???????  FINALLY we got to see the car -  unfortunately the outside of the car was not in perfect shape - there were scratches all along one side of it that probably could be buffed out but who knows?  Again, the salesman gave us a great deal on a trade-in but I just wasn't ready to commit to a car with scratches on it!  But I LOVED the interior since it was a limited, not an XLT.

By this time, I was SO READY to be done shopping.................the salesman from appt #3 called later and said he pulled some strings and the car we really wanted to see would be available on Saturday!  So once again we went to the dealership to check out what I thought was the "perfect" car!  And once again we waited.......................

Finally the car was available - we went out to look at it and the outside was gorgeous - the inside - hmmmmmmmm - at that point I KNEW what I wanted which was NOT an XLT but a limited.  At least I had a decision made but there was no car there that I wanted - so it was back to the drawing board!!

After Christmas we went back down to Co Springs and got our deposit back from the car we THOUGHT we wanted (since it was an XLT) and unfortunately they haven't found another car to show us!  Trust me - I know they can't find another limited with my specifications because I know EVERY Ford Explorer Limited within a 100 mile range!!!

We have spoken with a guy we met Sunday evening at our neighbors house and he has a body shop locally and sells cars on the side - we gave him our list of requirements and he is actively trying to find us a car!  Will it happen?   Of course it will - eventually!  So in the meantime Glenn needs to get busy and fix a couple of things on our old car because we will now probably sell it privately!

OH THE PERILS OF CAR SHOPPING!!  I'm glad it doesn't happen very often!