Oh how unpredictable car buying can be!  Yesterday I went with my mom to the Toyota dealership, set on choosing a Camry.  I, of course, wanted the hybrid, but since it’s quite pricey and it doesn’t make sense financially to get it over the LE, I had my reservations.  After all, I was out to make a responsible decision for me, my parents, our (mostly their) money, and the environment.  I wish I liked a Prius enough to get one, but I just can’t get over the odd shape and look.  Plus, I don’t want to have to deal with some bar thing blocking my vision in the rearview mirror.

So to humor me, the salesman (I’ll call him “Cary”) let me drive that around first.  I loved how silent it was and the little whoosh sound whenever you brake wasn’t too distracting.  Next up was the Camry LE, which was solid and nice, but didn’t thrill me.  The gas pedal on this one was far more responsive and it took me a few seconds to readjust.  We kept looking around at different models and Cary decided that I should drive the Camry S as well, just for kicks.  The sound system in that one is far superior and it comes with fun seats that make it cool and sporty.

After those runs, I still had no clear choice of preferred vehicle.  The hybrid was my dream, but too much money for its worth.  The LE was generic and a bit boring, but was the S worth an extra 2K?  The only thing I really liked on the S was the special fabric they use for the seats.  That certainly isn’t worth the extra money.  So, in an effort to satisfy my whim, we went looking for a silver hybrid with a moonroof (the one perk I reaaally wanted).  As we were driving up the parking structure, Cary casually mentioned the Corolla as he pointed out a Corolla S.  I was surprised that it looked quite nice, since I’d always been adverse to Corollas, thinking they were too small.  They are quite a bit cheaper though, so perhaps I should have thought of them earlier.  Saving money doesn’t hurt!

Since it looked pretty nice, I decided to try it out too.  Turns out they’ve changed the Corolla a lot in the past couple of years and the Corolla S was not only roomy enough, it came with the seats I liked!  So stylish.  🙂  On the test drive, I felt a difference immediately, which was due to a smaller engine.  It’s louder and vroom vrooms a little when I accelerate, but otherwise it handled just like a Camry.  I felt more comfortable in it and it even made me feel cool, what with bluetooth and a fancy 6 CD changer with JBL speakers.  It has ample cargo space in the trunk and backseats that can be laid down for extra room.  I didn’t care much for the skirt or spoiler, but I guess they don’t hurt.  Oh, and of course it had my moonroof.

The same look of mine! As for the actual one, pictures to come...

You know the one thing I wanted that didn’t change?  The color.  Funny, since I went in thinking I’d get a silver Camry, but wanting to check out color options.  Instead the thing I didn’t think would change did and the thing I thought would probably change didn’t.  Life works out in odd ways, doesn’t it?  So my mom and I were happy and energized after taking the Corolla S for a spin.  We went home to update my dad on the new direction we were looking.  Then began lots of researching online for prices and I called up our insurance company to ask for quotes.  Then today, I got quotes from two more companies, compared, decided to stay with AAA, and in the mid-afternoon, it was back to the dealership.  After many hours of pounding through numbers and paperwork, we finally came upon an agreed price and sealed the deal.  I settled my insurance, they washed and gassed up the car, and I was on my way.  🙂