INCLUDE_DATA

  • Why Car Shopping Changes How I Look at My Marriage

    January 14, 2008

    Posted in: challenges, compromise, marriage

    After a year of persistent nagging, Brian has finally taken my dear sweet Beast of a car to the mechanic for inspection. Yes, that’s right, I’ve been driving a car illegaly for a year now. I know I could have easily taken the car in myself but I was trying to make a point.

    Sadly, my car did not survive the inspection.

    I drive, I mean, I drove a 1992 Buick Park Avenue that was luxary back in the day. I affectionately refer to my pimped out old man car as “The Beast”. I thought it was clever when I was in college because then I could be “Beauty in The Beast”. Haha. I loved this car though. Originally the car belonged to my grandfather until three years ago when we took his license away and he gave me the car.

    The thought of getting rid of this car pains me. But the idea of spending two thousand dollars just to pass inspection pains me more. Brian, however, is rejoicing. He has long hated the Beast and I suspect he now feels liberated from seeing it parked out side of our house. I’m just sad. I had great plans to still be driving the car when I had kids.

    Now I find myself car shopping with my husband which is a very interesting and surprising experience. So far, the process is really highlighting the difference between Brian and myself.

    • Brian likes to go into a sales situation knowing more about the product than the sales person whereas I think that’s a waste of my time. I like to go to numerous places, see what they tell me and then make a decision. I can’t be an expert on everything, nor do I want to be an expert.
    • Brian and I share an opinion that a car is a poor investment. Its one of the reasons why we will never own a new car. But I still find we are on opposite ends of the car buying spectrum. Brian believes in buying the cheapest car possible. I believe that’s throwing more money down the drain. If I have to have a car payment, I was to invest in a vehicle that will last until my first child is in elementary school, which is about eight years from now.
    • Brian is looking for a car that will get me from Point A to Point B and that he will want to drive on the weekends. I’m looking for a car that could be filled with strollers and kids in a few years from now.
    • Brian wants a Mitsubishi. I don’t.
    • Brian is okay buying a car from a discount auto mall. I think a reputable car broker is essential to the car buying process.
    • I think this is an important decision but it needs to be made quickly. Brian wants to take his time. Probably because he’s busy trying to be an expert in car buying. Grrrr.

    For now we are still trying to duke out what car shopping will look like for us. And the compromising is tough. I’m half tempted to get our pastor, Todd, involved and call it marital counseling because I’m not sure we have the language to effectively compromise and communicate on this.

    • Leave A Comment

    Mail (will not be published) (required)