Nobody asked me, but...: New ride

Monday, November 27, 2006

New ride

Well, it's Monday. When I last posted, I spoke of the new vehicle... SUV, really. Yes, it is a beaut. I will have to manage a photo or three, but in the meantime it will suffice to say it's dark red and my much-better-half looks great driving it. I am too lazy to link to any sites with photos, so use your imagination.

So after I posted from a hotel lobby, instead of going to the Mall I decided to grab some complimentary juice and coffee, courtesy of Courtyard. No one asks if you're a guest or not, so why not?

Later on, after a crazy 30 minutes of she and I trying to meet each other, we converged on the bank. They've recently upgraded their software interface; the CSR changes the date of the load closure to Saturday's date, and the system responds that the loan now requires an officer approval, due to the change. Huh? The CSR indicates the date of closure, and that needs approval? Several phone calls, and at least one pleading from the branch manager later and the check is cut.

Off we go, back north. Head to the dealer, and we give the Highlander the last once-over before signing on the lines. Hey... where's the cig lighter? Now, neither of us smokes. And I believe the last time I actually used a cig lighter to ignite anything involved an M-80 about 17 years ago (hint: only fools try this while being seated in the passenger seat). And while most new cars and trucks offer the outlet for 12 volt appliances, and a cap over the receptacle in place of a lighter, the Highlander lacked either a cap or insert.

For the price I was paying, I am damned well going to get either a cap or a lighter; the open hole (illuminated, no less!) was just not right on the dash board.

Would you believe they tried to tell me that's what it is supposed to be? Here I am about to hand over a sizable certified check, and this idiot of a salesman is trying to tell me it's supposed to be that way. I went through three other vehicles in the showroom and found 2 caps and one lighter; I told him either he gets me one or I'll take one from the floor. Again he hems and haws.

I pulled the sticker off the window to show him that a lighter was, in fact, listed as an included accessory. Suddenly, he finds one. Asshat.

And now I am supposed to return to this dealer for service, right?

So now I am driving the much-better-half's 'old' 2001 Rav-4 (117,000 miles); the '92 Blazer, my former commuting vehicle, gets weekend and deep snow duty. Why another Toyota? I can't knock the pricing, the safety or reliability. I still have my 1990 Corolla which currently read 320,000 on the odometer. Truthfully, it's registration has expired due to a cracked windshield, so it will be towed before too long.