I got the Mustang!

(Oops, I'm a day late posting the story. What can I say? I was too busy driving).

Around 6:00pm on Saturday, I begin calling all the local dealerships to see if they have any used Mustang GTs. Most of them just say "no". Most of the GM (chevy/pontiac) dealerships say "No, but have you driven a camaro/firebird ...". I hit Town North Import's website and see a red 1996 Mustang GT in my price range. The website doesn't have all the details, so I try to call them. I repeatedly get sent to voice-mail limbo. So, I decide to drive down there and look at it in person. Upon closer inspection, it is in nice condition. It has all the options expect leather and 17" wheels and it is a 5spd. The car is unlocked, so I open it. The stench of smoke wafts up and assails my nose. The ashtray cover is broken. I close the door and inspect the exterior of the car. To my novice eye, it has never been in a wreck. The seams all match and the frame rails are perfectly straight.

After talking with a salesperson, I end up taking it for a testdrive. I like it. It doesn't have the power of a Cobra (obiously), but it is very nice. I especially like the "power everything" and the Mach 460 sound system. I spend the rest of the night haggling the "no haggle" price. The salesperson makes a copy of my license at two seperate times. The second time he manages to lose it. So, at about 9:45pm (the dealership closed at 9:00pm), I end up driving home with no license.

First thing Monday morning, I arrive at the dealership (30 minutes before they officially open). The doors are open, so I go in, talk with the manager, and rumage for my license. I eventually find it on someone else's desk. (My salesperson probably just left it on the copier).

The rest of the story is pretty boring, as it involves me waiting (and waiting, and waiting). I finally get in to see the "finance guy". We do all the paperwork and such. Of all of the people I dealt with, he was the coolest. He managed to finance in a 3yr/36,000 mile warranty, and only bump my payments up $5.

I got all the paperwork done, and got the keys to my new, prepped car by noon. They manged to cover up the smoke smell well. The sun has come out and dried off the wet roads. (It rained earlier in the morning). Not knowing how much time the whole process would take, I took the day off from work. That left only one thing to do.

Drive.