tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post2812849286234438045..comments2024-03-24T16:50:00.727-05:00Comments on Maria Zannini blogspot: Prudent Penny: Car Buying TipsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-69802393223275113642011-03-27T08:42:30.467-05:002011-03-27T08:42:30.467-05:00Hi CherylAnn, and welcome!
Cool. Zannini is not t...Hi CherylAnn, and welcome!<br /><br />Cool. Zannini is not too common a name. We're originally from Chicago. Don't know if any of the cousins moved east. In a fit of mad practicality, we chose the nice sunny clime of the south.<br /><br />Nice to meet you!Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-43323949107158886572011-03-27T08:32:39.847-05:002011-03-27T08:32:39.847-05:00Hi Maria. New follower here, nice to meet you.
...Hi Maria. New follower here, nice to meet you. <br />Great post, excellent tips. Especially about the price of the car. That's how my husband & I do it too. <br /><br />Side note, I have family with same last name as you. Got any relatives in NH? :)CherylAnne Hamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02324135447961686703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-28880736874769716442011-03-26T05:01:37.113-05:002011-03-26T05:01:37.113-05:00I'd go with you, Lynn. I usually play bad cop ...I'd go with you, Lynn. I usually play bad cop to my husband's good cop.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-37128113465914611162011-03-25T22:16:05.175-05:002011-03-25T22:16:05.175-05:00I do love my red Prius, but my mom and I are terri...I do love my red Prius, but my mom and I are terrible about negotiating >.< Next time I'll need to practice so I don't just cave to the salespeople!Andrea Coulterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13478845861604754432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-23855767407699885072011-03-25T20:02:47.304-05:002011-03-25T20:02:47.304-05:00Jackie: It's so empowering when you buy it by ...Jackie: It's so empowering when you buy it by yourself.<br /><br />And amen about long trips in small cars. Greg has a little economy car he drives because he drives so far for work and it is terrible for long trips. I hate it.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-30656223694930606492011-03-25T19:05:37.132-05:002011-03-25T19:05:37.132-05:00My favorite vehicle was my 1993 extended cab Ford ...My favorite vehicle was my 1993 extended cab Ford Ranger... It was the only vehicle I bought myself with my own paycheck!<br /><br />Sad to say it bit the dust a few years ago when the AC went out after spending the money to put a new compressor in it once, we sold it when it killed the compressor we replaced the original with! <br /><br />Now my favorite vehicle is the 2007 Mazda 3 we bought in 2006, that Zoom Zoom commercial on TV is right it really is fun to go Zoom Zoom in!<br /><br />However being a smaller car with no frills of any kind it is also not one to take on longer trips as you get very cramped back muscles after about 3 hours or so of riding in it... Short trips are fun though!Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02181111718630957098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-68023863071596829762011-03-25T14:36:31.187-05:002011-03-25T14:36:31.187-05:00Stacy: My sister gets Consumer Reports so she'...Stacy: My sister gets Consumer Reports so she's one of our stops before we make the big decision. They're excellent. Great tip!!<br /><br />***<br />Barbara: Ref: ...that's not known for exploding.<br /><br />To quote Jayne from Serenity (Firefly): "We're gonna explode? I don't wanna explode." <br /><br />I feel the same way about cars. :)Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-11074023657527248002011-03-25T14:25:30.458-05:002011-03-25T14:25:30.458-05:00I've been driving bigger cars because of anima...I've been driving bigger cars because of animals for years. ^_^ An SUV is the thing to have when all our critters have to go to the vet at once. My favorite is the Toyota 4Runner...that's not known for exploding.Barbara Ann Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01751427987081847906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-22436860227093894372011-03-25T13:35:22.642-05:002011-03-25T13:35:22.642-05:00We always do our research with Consumer Reports, a...We always do our research with Consumer Reports, and the best suggestion they give for car shopping is go at the end of the month. Salesmen are trying to meet their quotas and will do just about anything to sell a car! You just have to find the right salesman (the hungrier, the better).<br /><br />We bought our Toyota Solara convertible at the end of March, on a rainy day. Had no problem getting it for the price we offered.Stacy McKitrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07898731847653710759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-32229298392277835652011-03-25T12:32:48.849-05:002011-03-25T12:32:48.849-05:00Krista: Our first car was an MGB. A lot of our mem...Krista: Our first car was an MGB. A lot of our memories were made in that little car. :) And a free car is the best deal of all.<br /><br />***<br />Cathy: The Subaru is a great SUV. I had an Isuzu Trooper at one time. Loved that SUV, but parts were so hard to get back then. I hated to let it go. As trucks go, I'm very utilitarian. It's only when I want to go fast that I require a sports car. ;-) (We lead foots need to unite.)<br /><br />***<br />Joanna: LOL! You smart thing, you. Fixing your mom's car. I know where the oil goes. That's the extent of my car knowledge. If it requires a wrench, I leave it to Greg.<br /><br />***<br />Linda: I did not know convertibles were cheaper in winter. That makes sense. And I hear you on dealing with the manager. I hate all that consulting. I know why they do it, but it wastes my time. <br /><br />An excellent tip!Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-34660082864964571662011-03-25T12:24:09.504-05:002011-03-25T12:24:09.504-05:00Joanne: I prefer used cars. To save that much mone...Joanne: I prefer used cars. To save that much money, I can just pretend it has a new car smell. :)<br /><br />Mike: I know your daughter is tall, so I imagine the rest of you are too. Sports cars aren't made for tall people. Magnum PI always looked silly scrunching himself into that itty bitty Ferrari.<br /><br />Angelina: Good for you, Angelina!! That's exactly what I'm talking about. I'll bet it felt good to be so empowered too.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-24534137730887065752011-03-25T12:18:45.260-05:002011-03-25T12:18:45.260-05:00I have to say our best purchasing experience came ...I have to say our best purchasing experience came from our local Saab dealer. None of this 'sales guy running back and forth to the manager' nonsense; we dealt with a manager and he was empowered to deal. By the way - if you want a convertable (I do love my rag tops), by it in the winter. It's the off season so prices are always better then.Linda Leszczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15117080878321152684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-64771788148594377732011-03-25T11:23:09.968-05:002011-03-25T11:23:09.968-05:00Hello Danica Zannini!
I used to fix my extremely g...Hello Danica Zannini!<br />I used to fix my extremely girly mum's car and I love to drive fast. So guess how much i love this post? Since am a brit I have an affinity for teeny cars but I still like a bit of muscle too.Joanna St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06180782095853911283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-71160658494163603752011-03-25T11:14:06.006-05:002011-03-25T11:14:06.006-05:00I would *love* to have a sportier car (I'm dro...I would *love* to have a sportier car (I'm drooling over Kim's '67 Mustang, even if it did break down all the time :P ) but we are a practical people. Plus, I have a bit of a heavy foot : )<br /><br />Recently, our minivan became more costly than it was worth. It was giving us problems and we had decided to go car shopping later in the summer. But while Husband was in the Big City to get it fixed, it die on him 3 times in as many days. Yeah, AFTER it was repaired for a different problem. He called to say he was buying a car ahead of schedule and what did I want. We had been doing casual homework on vehicles, so we were mostly prepared. He bought a Subaru Outback--the quintessential AK vehicle that isn't a snow machine or dog sled--that I absolutely love. It was our first new vehicle since the van, 13 years ago.<br /><br />We also have a full-size extra cab pickup for wood hauling and other manly duties. The Subaru is mine ; )Cathy in AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08667978358875270260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-48156642228409889582011-03-25T11:02:09.868-05:002011-03-25T11:02:09.868-05:00The only cars I've owned are the Pimp Mobile (...The only cars I've owned are the Pimp Mobile ($800 Olds Tornado) and a 1965 MG midget, completely original (which I lost in my divorce).<br /><br />We have a Jeep right now...given to us by The Engineer's parents. I like how cheap that was ;)Krista D. Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13735832053631141449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-43099592848426403742011-03-25T10:17:57.043-05:002011-03-25T10:17:57.043-05:00Great advise, Maria. Perfect timing too as my husb...Great advise, Maria. Perfect timing too as my husband is looking to buy a car. That’s one thing I’m good at is car buying. When I was nineteen and fed up with not having a reliable car, I convinced my parents to take me to a car dealer so I could get myself a newer car. I did my homework and went in mid-January (perfect time to buy), I picked out a car that at that point was only two years old and had less than 25,000 miles on it. Had my mom, the careless driver in the family, test drive it. Then when the dealer told me the price (which I think was $8,000), I told him that I really like the car but refuse to spend more than a penny over $4,000. That day, I drove out of the dealership with my own set of wheels.Angelina Rainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16953868243120764347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-65965444681308748232011-03-25T10:13:15.365-05:002011-03-25T10:13:15.365-05:00We have a Mitshubisi lancer, and it is a durable w...We have a Mitshubisi lancer, and it is a durable workhorse, never giving us a moment of trouble. It has one flaw, the kind of flaw that 'test drives' never show up - unless the test drive is over a hundred miles long. It's dammned uncomfortable. It may be because the seats are fairly low, it may be just the seats. But after a long journey the entire Keyton family suffer from sore bottoms and backsMike Keytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116528233058221536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-81638118268920946582011-03-25T08:38:13.515-05:002011-03-25T08:38:13.515-05:00The last two cars we bought were for our daughters...The last two cars we bought were for our daughters. They were used, and we by far saved thousands by purchasing through private parties rather than a used car at a dealer. One was from an estate, and one from an elderly couple eliminating one of their vehicles. Both cars were in excellent condition, and the factory warranty was still in force for several months on both. So we did okay.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-5509548966098814882011-03-25T08:34:11.730-05:002011-03-25T08:34:11.730-05:00Welcome, Deborah! Yes, we talk about all sorts of ...Welcome, Deborah! Yes, we talk about all sorts of things here. <br /><br />I hear you on keeping cars until they're dead. Actually, my husband keeps them running until it starts to get costly, then it's off to car heaven--or the dealer.<br /><br />Your mice have very good taste. :grin: I wouldn't mind a BMW convertible either.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-72800856056552062432011-03-25T08:27:51.123-05:002011-03-25T08:27:51.123-05:00We're not car people, really. Once we get a ca...We're not car people, really. Once we get a car we tend to drive it till it goes no more, and if we're particularly fond of it, we'll just keep on keeping it, like our 1991 BMW convertible. It had mice in the trunk a few years ago.<br /><br />Found you on the follow list, and liek the way you write about all sorts of subjects as well as writing and books.Deborahhttp://www.deborah-lawrenson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-25948741557573139002011-03-25T08:20:53.419-05:002011-03-25T08:20:53.419-05:00Kim: That's okay. I understood. LOLKim: That's okay. I understood. LOLMaria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-86259359642900909742011-03-25T08:20:12.672-05:002011-03-25T08:20:12.672-05:00Kim: Wouldn't it be fun if we went car shoppin...Kim: Wouldn't it be fun if we went car shopping together. LOL.<br /><br />I LOVE your father-in-law!! Reminds me of mine.Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-70028271374269221472011-03-25T08:17:58.800-05:002011-03-25T08:17:58.800-05:00**sigh** My father in law almost walked away OVER ...**sigh** My father in law almost walked away OVER $.039. Not of. Need. More. Coffee. **facepalm**Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06481162819559141780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-79487546096391024322011-03-25T08:17:33.425-05:002011-03-25T08:17:33.425-05:00Sarah: Yes! Big trunks are mandatory. At least Yvi...Sarah: Yes! Big trunks are mandatory. At least Yvie doesn't take up much room. You could drive a Mini Cooper and she'd still be comfortable. :grin:Maria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3023439581304993308.post-88013652542322289852011-03-25T08:16:48.699-05:002011-03-25T08:16:48.699-05:00We all still laugh about the time my father-in-law...We all still laugh about the time my father-in-law came thisclose to walking out on a car deal of $0.39. He was paying cash and haggled over the thirty-nine cents until the salesman caved. He just didn't want to pay change. :D<br /><br />I hate buying new cars (although nothing beats new-car smell), but I love when the salespeople see me and think, "Woman = stupid about cars." The joke's on them when the jaws drop as I talk circles around them (I LOVE cars. My first car was a 1967 Ford Mustang that used to break down all the time. Once upon a time, I could rebuild a car from the tires up. :D)<br /><br />My favorite car is a tie between that Mustang (I still have the pony grill from it, though the car's long since died) and my '78 Pontiac Grand Prix. If it's fast and muscle-y, it's my kind of car. To this day, nothing beats a good old American muscle car. Someday, when the kidlets are grown, I WILL have another Mustang. Someday. :DKimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06481162819559141780noreply@blogger.com