Element Chronicles: Epilogue

The New New Ride

We have bought a lot of cars that we needed to part with, due to various circumstances.

The PT, which we sold in October (just last year!), was starting to have some major mechanical problems.

The Vibe, which we sold in March (just this year!), was not a good long-term solution - sadly - and wasn't comfortable.

The Beetle, which we sold yesterday, had a seriously checkered past and potentially was unreliable.

And yes, all of that happened in a nine-month period. Good god.

We really don't like buying cars. Really.

There are quite a few things I think I've learned from this entire process.

• First, Certified Pre-Owned is meaningless unless you're getting, say, a BMW (or even a Honda). A dealer took us for a ride with a supposedly CPOed car that really wasn't; it was really just a used car with a warranty. There is a huge difference.
• Second, slimy dealers are plentiful.
• Third, always check the Carfax - always, always, always - but remember it might not tell the whole story.
• Fourth, go with your gut. We dealt with 8 Elements total, and 2 of them gave off a really weird vibe. It's best we didn't go with either one of those.
• Fifth, and this is one I learned elsewhere, be ready to walk at any time. You're in control. It's a nasty game for sure, but you can feel free to walk out at any point.
• Sixth, bring a snack and some water.
• Seventh, be sure to get floor mats.