I have been driving around, going on little day trips, plugging along in my 8 year old Jeep, exploring. I began to notice little things that can lead up to bigger things, so I started hunting for a new (new to me) vehicle. I mean, I just put on the new tires and that little snot of a car was ungrateful. I could live with the robot acting up, but when you press the gas, it’s supposed to go, not think about it.

While purchasing a new car is not some new territory, but I had not gone through the process in Colorado. Let me tell you, there is a big difference.

I have purchased cars in Missouri, California, Texas, and now Colorado. Some states it’s a straight forward transaction. You find the car, you drive the car, the salesperson introduces you to the sales manager. They scribble some numbers on a piece of paper, they take your keys and come back to you and scribble a new number. You pretend to be offended (maybe the offended part is real), you tell them thanks for their time, you make like you’re gonna leave, they ask what it would take to get you in that car to drive home right then and then the big dance starts. Eventually you sign some papers and get some keys and in 3 weeks you pick up your plates at the dealership.

In other states, you get the key, you get some papers and then in 3 weeks you take a day off from work and stand in line to get a number to wait for them to call you at 2 PM for the appointment you made online for 9 AM. Then you have to pay the sales tax, the registration fee, and the tag fee. Then you have to find someone with the proper screwdriver because your car has weird screws that are not a flat head or Phillips head. Guess which state group Colorado falls in?

Ding, Ding, Ding! You guessed it!

I found a Jeep in a reasonable price range, it was at a Land Rover dealership. I called to make an appointment and the sales person offered to pull not only the Jeep but various Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles as well. My thought was DUDE! I’m looking at a used Jeep. Those SUVs are at least $70,000 out of my price range! I know it’s their job, but there were some pretty big context clues, and he missed them.

The place I found MY Jeep was very nice. I made an appointment and the sales guy was very nice, and genuinely polite. Even when I put my reading glasses in my purse and put my phone away and reached for the car key. 😉🤣

Actually the whole process was pretty easy. The hardest part was the dealership having the most uncomfortable chairs in the world. Worse than the ones in the Children’s ER when my kiddos were babies.

The windshield was clean, but bugs happen.

The most important thing, the grandbaby approved, after she made sure her sparkle sunglasses and blanket and books weren’t left in the old car.

This was the last car purchase of my 50s, I was thinking about it and in my 50s I have purchased 4 different vehicles, including this one. I think that is more than enough, don’t you?

The goal is 60 new things before I turn 60 and I have 41 more to go and I can’t wait!