Bought the car

I've been too busy driving around in my new Aveo to post here. Also, I have been busy babysitting my grandchildren when I am not working or driving around. I have had a few little glitches with the car, though. The sunroof would not work for me, despite it working for the salesman. I had to take the car in for repair to that and also for a replacement chip or fuse for the air Conditioner, defogger switch. Then the trunk refused to close completely. Oh well, I still think the bells and whistles are worth having.

Some were thrown in for $1,000 extra and if we were wiling to pay that (mom and I) they would meet us halfway between the asking price and the price of the car we wanted which didn't have a sunroof or power windows.

It didn't take my six and four-year-old grandchildren any time at all to discover the power windows and open them, but I outsmarted them by closing them from the front seat. There is a safetly latch to prevent kids from opening the back doors, which the salesman locked for me.

The rear seats fold down to make extra trunk space for bringing home extra long or large packages. So far I haven't had to use them, but that is a handy feature.

I have enjoyed playing my music full blast on the highway between Courtenay and Campbell River and will be doing so for the next while as I babysit every Friday afternoon and evening for David and Belinda.

It's getting late and my new Chatelaine magazine is beckoning. So Ciao for now.

Window Shopping for a New Car

I went to visit the local GM Dealer to talk turkey about the prospects of purchasing the low-end Chev Aveo which was advertised at approx. $12,000. The ad I saw online led me to believe that air conditioning was now standard. (Or was it the salesman I spoke with on the phone yesterday who led me to believe that? I am not sure.) Today I discovered that air conditioning is an option and it costs $1,500. Also I learned that the advertised car for $12,000 (Canadian) was standard gearshift and if I wanted automatic gearshift that would add $950 to the cost of the car. I was happy to learn that radio/CD players are now standard equipment, however.

So, the total of the car with the specs I want, is bumped up to $16,000 not including GST, and PST taxes. There is one additional tax that I don't understand. I think it was called the HST. Also, there is a QST and I am hoping that is a Quebec tax only applicable to buyers from Quebec.

Time will tell if I decide I can afford this car or not. The three-year warranty and roadside assistance is very attractive and the fact that other than oil changes, I can expect no maintenance costs. My current car is costing me close to $800/yr for repairs and maintenance. Also gas mileage will be better.

It's fun to look.

I got a reply from Catherine Bell NDP MP

Catherine Bell sent me a personal reply, stating that the solution was to expand unionization and I told her I thought it was simply too late for that approach.