Saturday, January 11, 2025

Buy a Car 3 Hours Away


The road to discovering a solid replacement vehicle for my 2015 Ford Focus has been long, arduous, and included a few lessons. 

It started by considering simply replacing it with one of the same, to considering a newer used vehicle, to finally deciding to purchase new.  The plan was to wait until the first of year though, and purchase what was left over from the previous model year.

It was time to have a vehicle that could offroad a little though.  For those that know me, I subjected that Focus to conditions I probably should not have.   I was proud of that little car.  It made it through some sketchy dirt and gravel roads, straddling deep ruts without getting stuck, without a scratch, and with only front wheel drive and just under 6 inches of ground clearance.  Refer to Gunner Pool Road to Steele Falls Trailhead in Arkansas or North of Cotopaxi in Colorado or Evans Mountain Road back in Arkansas just to name a few.


After a thorough review of potential replacement vehicles, I narrowed my list down to what I perceived to be the best candidates; the three models were the Jeep Compass Trailhawk, Subaru Outback, or Subaru Crosstrek.   An afternoon of test driving revealed the best candidate to be the Crosstrek.  I just need to figure out which trim level next.  


I thought I might want a Wilderness edition, because of slightly higher ground clearance (about 7/10 inch) and a heavier frame that enabled a higher towing capacity (3500 lbs. versus 1500). The unfortunate part, gas mileage drops almost 5 mpg, and I am very partial to awesome gas mileage.


Now I was down to Base, Premium, Sport or Limited.  A test drive of the 2.0L versus the 2.5L narrowed my decision down to the Sport or Limited.  To get most of the options available on the Limited brought the Sport up to almost the same price, so I decided just to go with the Limited.  While I liked the yellow highlights on the car, I did not like them in the car, and leather seemed a nice choice.  The only thing left to do was decide on color, map out availability, and wait for day one of the new year.


I worked with Van Subaru in the test drives, in spite of everything I had heard in the past about them.  They were close and they had what I wanted.  I was paying cash. They did not have much room to be a jerk.

The first salesman was super nice and laid back but left their employment to pursue other adventures.  In reality, they probably fired him for being too helpful or he left because they were too rude.  The salesman that took over for him was also really kind and only pushed a little, thankfully.  

There is nothing I hate more than a pushy salesman.  No means no.  No does not mean maybe, and it certainly does not mean hustle, badger, or insult me.  

Further visits and encounters with other salesman in my investigations at Van Subaru began to make me question whether I was working with the right folks.  Snotty little remarks about my interests, choices, and timeline were definitely unwelcome.


Consequently, I spent some time on the Subaru web site and building out my own and finding every vehicle available within a 200-mile radius. I could actually buy this car anywhere.  It did not need to be at Van Subaru, from a group of folks with no manners. Logging all of this into a spreadsheet, I broke each down by cost, options, available discounts, etc.

The first of the year came and I contacted the salesman Van Subaru by phone. He was not available, so his "Sales Director" hijacked the deal.  This probably would not have been so bad except he was a completely different character.

He was a stereotypical car salesman, pushy and annoying.  Making matters worse, he talked all over the top of me, tried to gaslight me over the phone, and abruptly ended our call without so much as a good-bye.  


Throughout the conversation, I discovered that the car I wanted was not "in stock," but was in "inventory." Either way, because it was not in stock, it did not qualify for the $4000 off they were offering on all 2024 Subaru Crosstreks.  That made no sense.  Seems like a little "bait and switch" to me.  Either you have a car in stock, or you do not. Semantics are little more than game really, especially for salesman.

When I called back a few minutes later, the Sales Director said that he thought there was nothing else to discuss.  I explained that I actually had a couple more questions.  There was stunned silence for a few seconds.  He might have known that already had he not decided all by himself that the conversation was over.  

It turns out the car was in a shared inventory with Reliable Subaru in Springfield.  He could make a deal with me, but I would have to pay another $700 to have it delivered.  When I suggested that I would just go pick it up myself, he said they could not allow that.  I said I would just work with Reliable then and he said I was welcome to do exactly that.  

Through the entire conversation, his attitude seemed to be that I am somehow doing this dealership a favor buying a car.  The two salesman I worked with initially were friendly and helpful.  Others the in equation and this Sales Director were not.  

Calling Reliable Subaru, I discovered quickly he got to them before I did. Their price for the same vehicle was miraculously $700 higher.  Imagine that.

These are only a few highlights from the review I left on Google Maps, which received a "Response from the owner," to give them a call to for "the opportunity to turn [my] experience around."   

I called.  The person was to have called me back.  They did not. Instead, the "Sales Director" emailed me with no better response than to try to justify himself and his actions.  

Further convincing me I was dealing with a shady group of folks was the evidence in my spreadsheet.  They were the only dealership continually manipulating their prices up and down throughout the two months of my research.

I was done with Van Subaru.  I had plenty of options still.  I did not need them.  They were not the only game in town. I decided that never would I buy a car from this place, much less take my car for service there.  I should have believed all that I had heard.  I should have read more of the reviews and have now.


After talking with a few others, I finally struck a deal with Baxter Subaru in La Vista, Nebraska.  The salesman I worked with online and over the phone was conscientious, courteous, helpful and already had the car priced at exactly what I wanted to pay for it.  At no point was he pushy, and I did not feel like I was getting hustled.  These guys will never known how much I appreciate that.  

I drove three hours to pick up my new car.  The sales staff were friendly and accommodating, helping me get back on the road quickly for a 530 appointment at birthday party that evening.  This is definitely how car buying should be; collaborative and cooperative.

The only problem I have now is ongoing maintenance.  That seems mostly resolved though, learning that Olathe Subaru is owned by the same folks.  With a little luck, I will be able to depend on them for my needs. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Gifts I Care About



It seems that a few folks got a little upset this holiday season, believe that I somehow cherished something given to me more than anything else.    That could not be farther from the truth.  There are very few material things that I value, so I went around the house and took a few photos of them.  None of them are expensive gifts, but they are the things I care most about.







Friday, December 20, 2024

Colleague Misses Me Already


A co-worker / client, also known as my birthday buddy, said the funniest thing at lunch today.  He said he would miss me the most if I left and is not quite sure what he would do if I were to go elsewhere.

This came out of the blue, and seemingly for no reason at all.  Sort of.  My boss is leaving and he will him and said as much.  He also said he would miss me more.

I was shocked and could only think to stammer, "Thank you."

It makes me a little sad that this would upset him so much, knowing that it would likely, deeply trouble this person.

At the same time, it is good to hear that at least one person cares that much.

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Be That Person


I saw this sign on someone's desk today and the profoundness of this statement, in relation to current activities almost made me laugh.  That problem child I am constantly dealing with needs this reminder.

In other news, I only just learned that I will be passed up for a role that I had my sights on. That rejection is easy enough to deal with.  It is an internal position.  What is not easy to deal with is the fact that the hiring manager has let two other people know, but that I have not been officially told.

There is nothing worse than learning this kind of thing second hand.

I need to leave.

This is all so disappointing.



Tuesday, December 17, 2024

To Teach or Not to Teach


That is the question ...

"Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them”
- William Shakespeare

I am continually confronted by my own thoughts, "I was happy teaching.   I enjoyed doing what I was doing.  I was proud of what I was doing.  I had no drama.  I was motivated to go to work every day.  I looked forward to going to work every day, even when expecting the worst day, or after the worst day.  When I was asked, "what do you do," I typically responded enthusiastically, "I am a teacher!"

Let's review where I am.

Am I happy doing what I do now?
It is a job.  There is a level of solitude and associated indifference.  I am a cog in a machine.
Do I enjoy doing what I am doing?
It passes the time and pays the bills.  It is not rewarding. I am a cog in a machine.
Am I proud of what I do?  
There is a level of personal pride in accomplishment, but no longer with my role in the organization, society, or what I am contributing to the bigger picture.  It is not something where I proudly state my role.   I am a cog in a machine.
Is there drama?  
There was not, until two new people from a former sweat shop (Cerner) joined the organization.  Now we have drama.  Now we have politics.  Now we have gaslighting.  Now we have finger-pointing.  Now we have blame.  Now we have people minimizing the efforts of others to make their own efforts look more appealing.
Am I motivated to go to work every day?  
Only because I feel personally responsible.  It is becoming increasingly difficult to wake up every day.  This is a sure sign, for me, that this is no longer a fit.
Do I look forward to going to work every day?  
Yes, in that I can complete tasks and enjoy the company of some of those that I work with.  No, in that I do not enjoy the recent drama, politics, etc.  I also do not enjoy communicating and teaching those that refuse to learn for themselves, or generating analysis that mostly only serves to find fault with others.   Expecting the worst day, I would rather sleep in.  After the worst day, I would rather sleep forever.
When asked, "what do you do," now I respond that I am simply a bean counter and nothing more.

Some of the decision comes down to money and retirement.  Teacher compensation is awful.  However, my current compensation is not a whole lot better.  It does afford a higher level of existence. Or does it?  Is it really worth trading personal happiness for a few tens of thousands of dollars?

Add to all of this, I noted this morning that they again posted a role that I had hoped to take on, which was nearly promised to me in the beginning.  It has become increasingly apparent that I am not needed or wanted in such a role.  It is the same as ever.  Stay where you are and do what you do.  That is sufficient to their needs.  It is not sufficient to my own.

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