A Flu Shot, A Crockpot and a New Car
On Saturday, Oct. 28, my mother and I headed out to get a flu shot and stop by Target to get a crockpot. Little did I know that by the end of the day I would be going home with a new car.
Our local Saturn dealer had sent me a letter saying they were looking for 2003 Ions and would make a good deal on a trade-in for a 2007 Saturn. Since I leased my car and still had seven payments on my four-year lease, I figured I’d hear the pitch, not imaging a deal would be struck.
Several hours after I arrived for my chat with Juan, Mom and I were leaving in a new car without a single penny changing hands. This is my fourth Saturn, and it’s the first time my checkbook never left my handbag. Saturn had incentives in place to pay GMAC four of my final seven payments, plus $750 cash back, plus another $500 bonus for purchasing a Saturn demo with 5,000 miles on it. Car dealers just love to fatten their sales figures at the end of the year by offering great deals. Giddy with the anticipation of that new car smell, I didn’t even find out until the final papers were signed that all 2007 GMAC cars come with a free year of OnStar technology, plus 30 free minutes of hands-free calling. I’m so old school I don’t have a cell phone and one of my biggest road rage complaints is seeing people chatting on the phone while driving and not paying attention. However, my mom and I have said more than once we would like to have a phone for emergencies while in the car. When we got a flat tire about six months ago, we had to wait until a nice older gentleman stopped to help us change the tire on a busy highway. Now we have a button to push for roadside assistance or a serious accident. And, if mom is running late again, she can call me from the car to tell me. Of course I’m still amazed when I hit the blue OnStar button 
and suddenly somebody is talking to me through the radio! Programming the speed dial feature is so easy even a caveman can do it—or my mom for that matter—although she insists she will pull over and stop before she uses OnStar. Also, when you first get the service, they offer 100 minutes (no long distance, no roaming) for just $15.99.
I was so psyched about the OnStar I didn’t grill Juan about the extras. However, since the car was a demo, it had more bells and whistles that I usually get. I love the travel package (compass, temperature gauge, auto dimming mirror) plus this will be my first car with power windows and mirrors and cruise control. The alarm and keyless entry earned me a discount on my insurance. Sally the dolphin (picture above) is thrilled with her new home and her responsibility to guard the OnStar buttons on the mirror.
I think I’ll call my friend Sharon in Toronto on the way home.
Later