Why Shopping For A Car Is Hard

[1] Because buying a car takes money, and sometimes a pretty big pile of it.
[2] Because there is a scale of almost infinitely divisible gradations of 'pro' and 'con' when it comes to cars. For example, the engine on this car seems to be in great shape, and the brakes are good, and the clutch is smooth. But the paint on the car is teal green. Or another example: this car has a sunroof. And that car doesn't. But that car is cheaper.
[3] Something about the act of selling a car transmogrifies a fine, upstanding, moral person into a deceiver and a shader of truths. Is it so hard just to give me the straight, honest answer? The first time?
[4] This is where it comes back again to money. When dealing in cars, everyone wants to buy for less than it's worth, and sell for more. It gets exhausting to face this dilemma again and again.
[5] Here, in our town, what you drive tells people what they should think of you. It is a constant struggle to do what we can to forget this bit of hellish conventional wisdom.
[6] How do you know who to trust? And when do you trust your own senses? This seems like a good deal to me, but...

After a week of obsession, we finally bought a nice, little green car to replace the even littler green car that got smashed up a couple weeks ago. All in all it was a good trade although a bit traumatic for everyone involved. We're all still getting acquainted but I think it's going to be a good thing. Jen has started calling it "my car" instead of "the car" which is great because it means that maybe she's reached the acceptance stage of grieving over that little green car that they hauled off to the junkyard.