A New Car - In Theory Anyway

Using the Ford website - I determined the car, with invoice prices, I want to purchase.

Via email and phone (Sanford Ford) - worked with the sales person (Sheila C) to find the car / color / options in stock in the region.

We worked from the invoice prices and added a profit of $500.

SC found the exact car / configuration (almost) at another dealership in the region (NC / SC / VA).

Ford Focus - SES - 4 door, Liquid Grey, with Safety Package (ABS and door airbags) and moonroof.

Unfortunately it has the 6 CD changer option, which I don't want - but - there seem to be no Focuses available regionally with the hole in the roof (moon roof) without the 6 CD changer. CD changer adds $348 (invoice) to the price. What a waste of money.

Oh well, What the hell.

Since it's late (after 8 PM) - she will have to confirm the transfer of the car from the other dealership in the morning.

But - in theory - I've bought the car.

She'll call me in the AM. No problem, 7:30 is not too early. Early? I'm at my office at 7 AM!

While I'm spending more $ than the plain Jane used Focus I was going to buy from Hertz - I will get the moonroof and, far more importantly, the Safety Package which has the ABS and airbags in the passenger doors.

The real selling point is that Ford is offering a $3000 rebate on the Focus through this weekend.

That covers about half the difference in price from the 2006 new car compared to the price of the 2005 used Hertz car.

This will only be the second New car I've ever purchased in my life. The first was a 1987 Taurus.

I hope this happens.


On the other hand - if it doesn't . . . . . . . . .

My dream car has always been a 5 Series BMW

PS - Article in today's News and Observer

Article about Hertz Car Sales closing - locally and nationwide.

Say What?

2 weekends ago, I test drove rental return cars at Hertz Car Sales in Raleigh. I decided to get the Ford Focus (see earlier post). Per discussions with the sales person (Drew B) - it was decided that I would get the car this week (since I was / would be out of town all last week).

Saturday, Drew called, let me know that Hertz could offer me a discount coupon of $300 off the 10,995 price of the Ford Focus. They had silver, beige, and red cars available.

Great.

I need to come by after work to buy the car.

Drew works the day shift Monday - could I buy the car Tuesday when he'll be there after 5 PM?

Sure thing.

So, today (Tuesday) - I make sure that I've got enough in the checking account to buy the car (+ tags, taxes, etc.). Call my insurance agent to see about adding the new car to my coverage. No problem. I'm covered if I buy a car - even after hours - she enters the make, model, appx mileage, etcetera - just call her in the next few days with the VIN. In any event, I can drive the car home - I'll have insurance coverage.

After work - drive to Hertz Car Sales.

As soon as I walk in the doors (with check book in hand) - something is amiss.

There's no people there.

Guy come up (turns out - the sales manager) - can I help you?

Yes - I'm here to see Drew B to purchase a car.

Sorry - Hertz Car Sales is Out of Business.

What?

Yep - as of business day today - Hertz Car Sales is Out of Business.

They got the call late yesterday.

Hertz Car Sales nationwide is shut down. All employees fired except for a few to handle shutting down.

No - they can't sell me the car (But it's the Red one, Right There!!!!).

Nope, no liquidation sales, no honoring commitments - nada.

Out of Business.

The Sales Manager and 1 other guy were the only ones left to help shut down the building.

We sat down and talked for a little while.

Sales Manager said it was so sudden - a phone call. No warning. Nothing - just tell everybody they're no longer employed. His wife is very worried. etc.

Jeez - those poor folks.

Just like that. No warning, no opportunity to make a few sales of left inventory, no severance, no nothing.

You're unemployed. As of RIGHT NOW.

On the way home, I called Drew B to let him know that I appreciated his straightforward style. He was a great sales person. He represented his company with integrity.

Drew seemed appreciative of my condolences - but the bottom line is - it doesn't help him at all as far as a job / income is concerned. It's just words.

Damn.

He deserves way better.


Stopped by the Ford Dealership on the way home and picked up a brochures for the Ford Focus and the Ford Fusion.

I don't want to have to deal with trying to compare apples to oranges to find a different used / program vehicle. I hate dealing with that.

So - I guess I'm going to have to think about purchasing a new vehicle.

This is gonna cost me $ thousands more for a new car.

Or the fact that if I purchase a used Focus, I won't have the knowledge that it was well maintained like the Hertz program cars.

In fact - now that I think about it -

Hertz has dealt in BAD FAITH with me.

Not the sales person (Drew B) - he had honesty and integrity.

Hertz - by not honoring a verbal commitment - has dealt with me in VERY BAD FAITH.

Elizabeth City State University

This week we have been working at Elizabeth City State University. It is a pleasant campus with a mixture of old and newer buildings. Unfortunately, it is evident that ECSU has lagged behind in funding for repairs and renovations of their older buildings. We had our work cut out for us since so many buildings are in need of significant repairs.

Blimp Hanger

There is an airship manufacturing facility in Elizabeth City that is just a couple of miles from the ECSU campus. Since it was so close, we stopped by on our way out of town.

Originally the facility was a Naval Air Station and 2 huge blimp hangers were built. One was constructed of wood. Built in 1942 it was one of the largest buildings, in volume, in the world and was, by far, the largest wood building in the world. Sadly, sparks from a welders torch caused a fire in 1995 and the building burned to the ground.

These photos, from the web, are the remaining hanger, or more properly, Air Dock.

A photo just can't capture how large this place is. It's huge. It's hard to image building such a giant free space structure.

I'm glad we stopped by.

Home

Got home around 1700.

Tired.

JN came out; had grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade tomato soup; watched basketball (BC lost in overtime) and Son of the Bride. An Argentina film which is very good. If you want a happy movie to watch, this is a good choice.

While it's fun to get to see NC's various college campuses in detail, and sights such as the blimp hanger, it's also good to get back home.

Commuter Car

The air conditioner on my Contour has suffered a massive coronary. The compressor is shot. Replacing it would also require replacing all the other AC components as well. The repair would cost more than the value of the car.

It's too bad. The car drives and runs great even with 170K miles. But, in the hot and humid south - I have to have AC.

Yesterday I went to Hertz Car Sales here in Raleigh.

I test drove a Ford Focus, Ford Mustang, Toyota, Pontiac Grand Am and a Honda.

I was already decided to treat myself to a Mustang. As my friends have told me - don't be totally practical - get something I'll enjoy. So, going in, the Mustang was it.

Until I drove one.

The Mustang drives fine and looks great on the outside. But the interior configuration made me change my mind. The Mustang is claustrophobic, poor instrument layout (it's actually difficult to see the instruments - get in one - you'll see what I mean), difficult entry and exit. And the finish materials give it a 'cheap' feel. I was very disappointed as I really had my mind set on one.

The Toyota, Pontiac and Honda were all fine. The Pontiac, with a 6 cyl engine was the best buy of these three.

The Ford Focus is the overall winner. Great interior design. Felt very solid and the fit and finish were well above what one would expect in such an inexpensive car. Handling was surprisingly sporty. The car is slightly under powered. But, I guess that fits in the overall design as an economical car. Overall - it's the clear choice.

Hertz only sells rental fleet cars with a set no haggle price (trade ins are sent to auction). So, I'm ready to buy, and guess what? The salesman asks me if I can wait a couple of weeks. Well, sure, but why? He said that towards the end of each quarter - Hertz often allows additional incentives to move inventory. So - he's going to call me in the next couple of weeks if that happens. I might save a few hundred dollars. If not - I'll still get the Focus - just at the end of March instead of now.

This will be the second vehicle I've bought from Hertz in Raleigh. Plus - I sent my nephew and his wife there when they needed a car. I highly recommend them.

Ask for Drew.

Quick Entry

Sunday evening.

JN came over today. We just finished pork chops and au gratin potatoes - from the stash I got for my birthday from my siblings and siblings-in-laws.

The potatoes were great!

Thanks again guys.

Watched the ACC Tournament Championship game. It was a great game. Looking forward to the start of March Madness.

NC State, due to our late season losing streak - drew a 10th seed.

Lower than we should be - but what we deserve for our late season performance.

That's it for now.

I have to get up early for an out of town work trip tomorrow.

Answering Machine

My new answering machine has quit working. It's only 2 months old. Last week it's screen gave me the message that the "phone line is not found". Whatever that means. I tried plugging it into other phone jacks and have the same result.

I need to get the manual out and try trouble shooting.

On the other hand - I've not missed getting messages at all.

Sunday Morning

Typical weekend. Did some house cleaning. Got a haircut and the car's oil changed yesterday, which I intended to do last weekend but ran out of time. Got home in the early afternoon and watched basketball.

Today, actually in just a few minutes, I need to purchase a rod and hanger to install some stained glass in my bathroom. I've decided to take down the blinds over the tub and I ordered 3 small stained glass panels to hang up instead. That should give adequate privacy while still allowing lots of sunlight into the small room.

JN came over and watched basketball with me. We grilled hamburgers for dinner, from the birthday present my siblings and siblings-in-laws gave me. Those things from Omaha Steaks have just spoiled me.

Basketball

NC State is on a dangerous slide now. We lost, soundly, to Wake Forest yesterday. We have a 3 game losing streak (UNC, Boston College, Wake Forest) ending the regular season and going into next week's ACC Tournament. In the span of 2 weeks we've gone from solid control of second place behind Duke to fourth place. ACC basketball is tough, but we should have won at least 1 if not 2 or all 3 of those games as UNC and BC had to play in our house. And we just simply should have won at Wake Forest. I don't know what the answer is to our slide. I hope Herb Sendek can figure it out.

The UNC at Duke game last night was all it was hyped up to be. I had expected Duke to win by 10 points or more. And it looked that way when the game started out with Duke 13 - UNC 2. But, UNC stayed in the game and by near the end, had a 10 point lead of their own. Then UNC made a couple of errors and suddenly Duke was only 2 points down with a couple of minutes left to play. UNC held on to win a barn burner at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In the ACC, we get to watch NCAA Final Four caliber games almost every week. It's awesome.

Cameron Indoor Stadium is small, old and cramped. The Duke students have made harassing the opponent into an art form. Reports have State's RBC Center the second hardest place for the visiting team to play in behind Cameron - but we're nowhere near as creative as the Duke fans.

We also watched the UNC-Charlotte - George Washington game. UNCC had the game won! But a really really stupid flagarent foul by UNCC with seconds left gave GW the opportunity to win - which they did. GW has just one loss this season - to NC State. JN and I were at that game in the RBC.