My day car (minvan) shopping with Mr. A:

1.) Locate available minivan that meets my critera (power locks, power seat, gold or silver to hide dirt). Round up kids and Mr. A to go see it at the dealership.

2.) Two miles from home.  Have an argument with Mr. A over turning around to get the checkbook.  Mr. A claims we can pay the deposit with credit card until we transfer the money to the checking account tomorrow.  I find this claim to be somewhat suspect.  Eventually, we turn around after each of us say “Fine, let’s just stay home then.  I don’t care if we buy a car today!”

3.) Back on the road again, Mr. A claims my insistence on the checkbook indicates I am going to be over-eager at the dealership.  He thinks I am going to fall in love and demand we buy it, thus ruining his negotiating plan.   I roll my eyes.  I don’t care about cars, I just want to make sure this model is bearable and I can see over the dashboard (I am quite short).

4.) We get to the dealer and see the car.  I think it looks ok.  Mr. A starts swooning over collapsible hidden seats and storage space. (!!?!)  He is practically jumping up and down clapping his hands.  “Oooh, look at this!  Look at that!  Isn’t this cool!?!”  I am a little concerned about a tiny spot of rust and demonstrate no excitement.

5.) While I test drive, Mr. A sucks up to the salesman and apparently tells him our entire life story.  Including the fact that we currently only have one car and really need another very soon. M declares her love for the new car and demands to ride in it and take it home.  While Mr. A test drives, I ask where we can find lunch in the little town. I have no questions about the car.

6.) Mr. A tells him we need to think about it.  We go get lunch.

7.) As we are driving back home, the salesman calls and offers free DVD player installation and also to fix the rust, if we take it for the asking price (which was  a pretty good deal).

8.) We knew the asking price was a good deal and figure they might knock a couple hundred more off, so I tell Mr. A to pull into the dealer (we were right in front when he called) and buy it.   Mr. A wants to “think about it and make them think we aren’t interested.”

9.) Finally, after a work obligation, Mr. A calls them at 7:00 pm.  The car is already sold.  I guess they thought we weren’t interested.  Mr. A’s plan worked a little too well.