I bought a car the other day.
Not a shiny new one.
Well… it’s mostly shiny and it’s new to me. But it’s definitely a used car.
There was something very new about this experience, however: the way I bought it.
My last two vehicles were leased.
Before that, I always bought my cars from a dealer (or direct from Ford, when I worked there).
This time, however, I tried something new.
I bought my car — a minivan — from a private seller on Craigslist.
Why I Needed a New Minivan
You see, a few years ago, I traded my previous minivan in for a Honda Accord.
Some of you may recall that I have four kids.
Funny thing about that… kids grow.
At first, they were fine with the Accord. The novelty of it and all, I guess. Plus, my son, the oldest, is off to college now, so they really aren’t all crammed in there most of the time anyway.
But last year… last year, we drove down to Florida.
Boy, did I miss the minivan then!
And ever since, the complaints from the back have grown louder and stronger. The novelty of owning a car instead of a van has definitely worn off. Now, it’s a constant fight over who has to sit in the middle.
I can’t say I blame them. My girls are growing up fast. Where that back seat looked spacious enough a few years ago, now it just looks cramped.
So when the opportunity arose to trade in the car for another minivan… I jumped.
I know minivans aren’t cool. But until a few more of these kids are off in college, they’re good for my sanity.
Why I Bought My Minivan from a Private Seller
So why did I go the private seller route when I’d never done so before?
One Comment
John, your used car buying story was helpful. It drove home the point of using credibility to put people at ease. The seller was honest, but the process made you feel uneasy. No proof, we need proof.
Julie