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Big News: We Bought a New Car!

It is an exciting day for me! As the title says, my family bought a new car! We haven't done that since 10 years ago when we bought our 2006 Nissan Sentra. 


There it is, parked on the driveway right after we drove home from the dealership. Isn't the color so nice? The interior is beige, too! It's the perfect color combination. 

Getting that car to be on our driveway, though, was a laborious and drawn-out task. We started car-shopping yesterday morning, when my dad and I test drove the Camry and Accord. 

At first, we headed for the Ford dealer intending to test drive the Taurus and Fusion, but it shunned us by saying that it was "too busy for test drives." There were maybe two other people at the dealership then. Whatever. 

We then headed to a semi-rural Honda dealership in search of an Accord. I was expecting it to be loud and firm-riding in traditional Honda fashion. Instead, it impressed me with its solidity. Unfortunately, the specific Accord we test drove seemed to have an engine issue; it vibrated excessively at idle. 

At the Toyota dealer down the street, we tested the Camry LE. I entered with high expectations of Toyota quietness and isolation. They were mostly met, although road noise was more pronounced than I expected. Unfortunately, the blatant cost-cutting measures Toyota implemented were painfully obvious. The rear headrests were fixed, alloy wheels were't standard, and the rear door panels were completely unpadded. 

This time, I had the privilege of driving the Camry myself. Overall, it was slightly disconcerting. Visibility was excellent, but the controls all exhibited an artificial disconnect. The steering wheels was completely vague, the brakes felt spongy and difficult to modulate, and the gas pedal seemed oddly unresponsive, as if the car was set in an Eco mode all the time. 

Today, we brought my mom to test drive the Camry, Accord and Fusion. Before we even got to the Ford dealer, we were already ready to buy at Honda after re-testing the Camry and Accord. From the driver's perspective, the Accord is simply the more responsive and comfortable car to operate. Three hours of negotiating and running numbers later, we emerged from the Honda dealer with a new 2015 Basque Red Pearl II Honda Accord LX CVT. 

The wonderful Accord continues to impress thus far. Unlike in our 2003 Odyssey, people in the cabin of the new Accord can actually hold conversations without shouting! Granted, the Camry was quieter,  yet we're more than satisfied with our purchase. It's a solid, powerful, spacious, and easy-to-drive machine that I'm sure will serve us many miles without skipping a beat. 

Comments

  1. Congratulations on purchasing a new car. I hope you and your family enjoy many miles of safe driving in it. When buying a car, the process should not involve dealing with an unpleasant dealership. A car dealership should be a partner in helping you drive off the lot with a perfect fit for you at the right price.

    Jeremiah @ Viva Auto Outlet

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  2. I can tell you from experience of owning a 2006 Nissan Sentra that you made a great choice. In the years since I bought this car, I have changed the oil, changed the tires, and that is it. This car runs and runs and runs, it is excellent on gas and I have never had an issue with it starting. But the Accord is also an excellent replacement!

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