August 07, 2009

Clunker on Down to the Dealership

posted by Leann Sweeney

Something amazing happened this past week, a landmark in my thirty-eight year marriage. But perhaps I should set the table. Miss Right Brain married Mr. Left Brain and that's where the trouble all began those many years ago back in Syracuse New York. He's an engineer while I like to do things like paint and sew and, oh yeah, write books. Admittedly I was a nurse and thus had a little left brain in me, but it kept dwindling through the years until there's not much there. But believe me, the husband has more than compensated for my loss of brain matter.

Engineer Left brain people do not do anything in a hurry. Engineers are programmed to look for flaws, to think through decisions looking for all the trouble spots. They take their time and analyze, for that is what they are paid to do. This is a good thing. But though I could leave behind thoughts of dying patients in the hospital, the husband has never been able to leave his engineer mentality at the office. I've tried hard over the years to convince him that we do not live in a chemical plant that might explode if one of us makes a mistake. Deaf ears, I'm afraid.

The big decisions, and by big I mean anything that costs more than say, three hundred dollars, must be analyzed, researched and stewed over. The stewing can actually go on for months. And so it was when the big green 1996 Chevy truck with a gazillion miles on it started to fall apart. Transmission problems, rattles, radiators, brakes, air-conditioning, you name it, Big Green suffered from it. But buying a car--that must be used of course because of the depreciation when you drive a new vehicle off the lot, which of course would be a tremendous waste of money and a totally stupid thing to do--oh, buying a car is huge.

Old green truck The husband has been seeking a replacement for his truck for, I want to say, at least six months. All the shopping has been done online. Getting out and actually looking at vehicles would mean coming face to face with you know who--a USED car dealer. Remember, the way of the engineer is that all vehicles ideally are purchased used and at an astronomical and stupendous bargain basement price. And we all know you can never get that bargain from a used car dealer. They are out to cheat you. You see where the problems lie in this logic? You see why it takes a very very long time to make a car purchase?

But President Obama, in all his wisdom, must have asked the question: Can this marriage be saved? See, the right brained person at our house has no problem researching a purchase and making a rather quick decision. I must say, I have often been looked down upon for my thought process. It might--and I say MIGHT--be flawed. Anyway, back to Obama and his worthy think tank. Cashforclunkers Ah, the Cash for Clunkers Program, I love you. Because the left brain in our house realized he might be able to get that bargain after all. The formula? Trade in the clunker for a new car (program rules are, you must buy NEW) and buy it for for the right brain person who hardly drives anywhere. Then the left brain person drives my car to work (and saves mucho money on gas)--a car that is no spring chicken with 114,000 miles on it. Get thee to the car dealership, woman. Before the government money runs out.

How long did it take me to choose the car I wanted ? (After good research, mind you--the husband even gave me print-outs of the cars I should look at.) About thirty minutes. That's what a right brain can do, given half a chance. 

I now have a beautiful new 2009 Hyundai Sonata, for which I am immensely grateful. It was a bargain, yes. The clunker is off the road, yes. And the husband now has months or perhaps years to find that perfect USED truck.

Leann Sweeney
By Leann Sweeney
Aug 7, 2009 9:00:46 AM | Leann's posts

8 Comments

Michelle

Nice! Glad you were able to get a new car!

Posted by: Michelle | August 07, 2009 at 09:26 AM

Mare

LOL. I love reading your blogs. It's like peering in the windows at my house. Doug's not an engineer, but he is a carpenter who also happens to be a Capricorn. I no longer move furniture with him. While I may be spatially challenged, I know what will fit on a wall, or through a door, and what will not. My car went the way of all things in May. In April he found me a Mercury Marquis, 2002 with only 35,000 miles on it. Mind you it came out of the factory at 17 mpg. We drove to Lake George, NY - 3 highway hours from our house and used 3/4 of a tank of gas while I can't make it through 2 weeks of driving a mile and a half to schol on $40. Aren't men grand? LOL

Posted by: Mare | August 07, 2009 at 10:42 AM

Dru

LOL! I'm glad you got a brand new car.

Posted by: Dru | August 07, 2009 at 10:47 AM

Dennis

From another Mr Left Brain (my wife can attest to that) - the time was right. I guess our relationship is similar to the one you and yours have. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) we do not have a clunker to trade in - and it looks like that will be gone.

Posted by: Dennis | August 07, 2009 at 10:52 AM

Bill Crider

Yay for the right brain!

Posted by: Bill Crider | August 07, 2009 at 03:09 PM

hampshire

Lovely post .... i like your posting..

Posted by: hampshire | August 08, 2009 at 06:35 AM

Sheila Connolly

Congratulations on a major victory! My husband (a biological scientist) shares some of your husband's traits, but probably for different reasons. One, his mother taught him from an early age that he had to think about whether he really, really wanted something (like a toy), which usually meant going away for a day. Surprise: the desired item was usually long gone by the time he came back. Two, he is convinced that the universe (or at least most men) are out to rip him off--this applies particularly to auto dealers and mechanics.

We have bought (stopping to count) five cars in our 33 years together. The first was a Chevette, based on his father's recommendation (and the low price)--it was a piece of junk. The second was a Honda that I got at cost because I was in a night-school class with a dealer. The third was another Honda (new), the fourth a third Honda (used) for our daughter (only one owner! A little old lady!), which is still going. Me, I bought me a VW Beetle, which gets great mileage. But they're all getting old, so a new-car decision looms on the horizon. I wish I could say I was looking forward to it.

Posted by: Sheila Connolly | August 08, 2009 at 08:36 AM

Paul Lamb

Congratulations! Everyone I know who's used that program has been delighted with it.

Posted by: Paul Lamb | August 09, 2009 at 07:59 AM

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Five women, five weekdays, many surprises.

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