May 10, 2008    Just two weeks ago I decided it was time to get another car.  I loved my Hyundai Santa Fe, but I no longer needed the cargo space and I wanted to drive a car like a regular person again.  For the past 15 years I’d driven a van or SUV.  I wanted something that got good gas mileage.  My last foray into an auto dealership had left me not wanting to repeat the experience – do you know the feeling?  Then I was reminded that doesn’t have to be my experience this time.  I was reminded that I can prepave what I want my future experience to be.  I can envision it and replay it in my head and feel as though I was in the situation already, and “practice” it into being.

I had a couple of days off and wanted to do the job quickly.  I decided between a Honda Civic hybrid and a Toyota Prius hybrid.  I knew to go to www.carfax.com to check out any used vechile I was interested in.  As I was researching online, I came across Greenwise Motors in Melbourne. They carry only “green” vehicles and are focusing on hybrids.  I got a good feeling about them as I reviewed their used car inventory online.  I went in to see them and ended up having the first enjoyable car buying experience of my life.  They had a gently used 2007 Toyota Prius hybrid fairly priced and gave me a generous trade in for my vehicle.  I would recommend anyone to go see Richard and Gina at Greenwise and tell them what you are looking for.  They are fair, honest, enjoyable, believe in their work and talk to you like you’re family.

I’d taken advantage of my giant email list to send a notice out ahead of time to friends asking advice about buying a car.  The best advice I received was to arrange for financing ahead of time with the Space Coast Credit Union.  They gave me scads of information ahead of time about car values for my car and for the Civic and Prius.  They helped me make the decisions that worked my deal.  I closed later the same day and drove the new car home.  I was delighted when I stopped by the next day, to have their detailer tell me what clean condition my traded in car was.  He said he can tell the new buyer that “a lady drove this car.”

Wow, it felt good to hear that!  Hearing that makes me want to keep this one clean, too.

I actually began saving money the moment I bought the car.  It was almost time for an oil change with my Santa Fe, and I was going to buy new tires.  My car payment was due in 2 days.  Now my new payment is not due for 45 days, I don’t need an oil change and my tires are almost new.  I got gas a few days later and filled the 11.9 gallon tank for $30.  I’m told by other Prius owners I‘ll get over 40mpg.  I’m stoked!

So it felt pretty good to realize that even with something as historically annoying to me as going into a car dealership and negotiating a car purchase, to know that I could consciously and deliberately turn that event around, and turn it into an enjoyable experience, that made me feel powerful.  That made me feel I was stretching my wings and could now fly a little higher, that I was a little stronger for the experience.

And it was another example of the law of attraction at work in my life, being applied in a practical fashion to achieve a specific desire.  Far out!

8-8-12 update:  I’ve averaged 46 mpg consistently the 4 years I’ve had my Prius.  If I drive an entire tank of gas around town, I’ll get 70 mpg.  If I drive an entire tank of gas on the highway going with the flow of traffic, I’ll get 22 mpg.