prosodic: (priest's madonna)
[personal profile] prosodic
We are now down to only one car. Our little creature comforts and conveniences are now being taken away from us one by one. Lance hasn't actually shipped the truck yet (his appointment to do so is at 10 this morning), but he picked it up from the detailer's house last night and drove it to Schinnen to leave it there overnight. It will stay cleaner there than it would have here.

The man who did the detailing on the truck did an absolutely amazing job. Lance's truck was a total mess when he took it in yesterday morning. He got it back looking almost completely brand new. I should have that man clean and detail my car...we could get an extra $500 for it, easily. HAHA.

So we'll be leaving in less than an hour for Schinnen. The inspection should take awhile...they have to check out the truck thoroughly and make sure it meets all the regulations for shipping. I don't expect there to be any problems. The man who cleaned and detailed it specifically prepares all the vehicles he does for shipping back to the States. So he knows what the inspectors are looking for.

Anyway, we'll only have my car, which means I either drive Lance to work everyday and come pick him up, or let him take the car while I stay home. And it also means more wear and tear on Gertie, which is really the last thing Old Gert needs right now.

After the truck is shipped, I have to drop Lance off at work and then take Gertie to the car wash, so I can take photos to put on the sales flyer that Lance will be hanging up in the post office and the Family Support Center.

***


And while I'm on the subject of cars...we're still figuring out what car I am going to get once we're in Washington. I don't think I'm getting the Honda Fit anymore. My main concern with it is the touchy gas pedal, which isn't necessarily a good thing to have whilst driving up and down a steep hill (our house is at the top of a very large and steep hill), especially if the weather conditions aren't ideal. Just the tiniest tap on the gas throws me backwards against my seat.

So now we're looking at the Mazda 3, although I like the sedan and Lance prefers the hatchback. His reasons for liking the hatchback are practical - more cargo space and room for the dog (which was the entire point of considering the Honda Fit anyway), but the rear bucket seats aren't a great feature, particularly if the dog has to be in the backseat. And the hatchback comes in the turquoise color that I've been wanting...the sedan does not.

We also like Subarus now, since that's what we got at Dollar Rent a Car while we were in town. We had a Forester, and it was a great car and also a pretty color (kind of a turquoise color). But those are a bit out of our price range, and it seems that almost everyone we saw in the area drove either a Forester or an Outback.

Anyway, I'm sure we'll figure something out. I was even looking at Nissan Sentras again, but I've owned 3 of them, and Lance thinks it's time for me to move on. Hehe. But the new ones are so pretty and I love the green color they offer this year.

***


I must remember to remind Lance to get tickets tonight for the Thanksgiving dinner at the chow hall. We need to get them ASAP or they'll sell out, and then we won't even have a Thanksgiving this year, on top of possibly not having a Christmas.

Date: 2007-11-05 08:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mactavish.livejournal.com
We plan on a Prius hatchback or a Subaru Forester or Outback for our next car, but used -- we can only afford them used. But I borrowed a Forester for the trip I just took to Yosemite, and it was just a dream. I drive Joe's Prius sometimes, also really nice to drive around. So used cars for us. :)

Date: 2007-11-05 08:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-rockett.livejournal.com
I have a Mazda 3, as does my husband (mine is an 07, his is an 06) and we both LOVE LOVE LOVE them. We both have the sedan version. They're roomy, comfortable, and the defrosters actually WORK which is one of those things about living in Washington.. A lot of cars you turn on the defrosters and unless you burn your nosehairs with the flaming heat that comes from turning the temperature as high as it will go, they don't work.

Not so with either of our Mazdas. They actually function at below "solar flare" temperature.

Also, they get really good gas mileage.

Date: 2007-11-05 08:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] venus-starlet.livejournal.com
Subarus are very Northwest! A lot of people in OR have them as well :)

Date: 2007-11-05 09:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] inateapot.livejournal.com
OOh, can you post the info on the detailing guy? we'll definitely need that when our time to PCS comes...and do you mind me asking what you paid?

...

also, when you were house hunting, how did you decide on your neighborhood? and what made you decide to buy vs rent? I'd be interested in a post on that! I don't mean to be nosy, but we're concerned about the housing market (wherever we end up next year) and I'm curious about how others are deciding.

Date: 2007-11-05 12:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prosodic.livejournal.com
His name is Hans Borger and he lives in Brunssum...his house is really easy to find.

hansborger@hotmail.com

We paid 100 euros for Lance's truck. I'm not sure if he does smaller cars for cheaper. But I will tell you, it was well worth every euro cent. And he and his wife (who is American) are absolutely super people.

And I'll make a post for you detailing the info you want. ;)

Date: 2007-11-05 12:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prosodic.livejournal.com
My brother had a Mazda 3 before he moved to Guam, and he absolutely loved it too. Of course, the defrosters didn't really matter to him much in Florida. ;)

Date: 2007-11-05 12:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prosodic.livejournal.com
Other than the passenger side door lock being a bit wonky (it only unlocked every other time with the remote), the Forester was fabulous. It's just a bigger car than what I normally drive, so it would take some getting used to. I would consider a very late model used one (still under warranty) if I could get it for as much or less than the new ones we're looking at now.

Date: 2007-11-05 04:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] onelargecat.livejournal.com
Heehee...Subarus are also very Colorado. It's like the official car of Boulder practically. :)

Date: 2007-11-05 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prosodic.livejournal.com
I wonder why that is. I suppose the rugged car - rugged terrain aspect of it. But of course, Subarus are not the only rugged cars out there.

Date: 2007-11-05 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] onelargecat.livejournal.com
Rugged car, not an SUV (at least, the Outback, which is what it seems like everyone in Boulder has), plenty of storage space for lugging all your rock climbing/skiing/snowshoeing/camping/whatever gear. Just some guesses...I've never really done any car research.

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