Jenna Buys a Car

[Jenna1561]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post a little (well, maybe not so little, LOL) something about my recent car shopping experience.

Last Saturday, I went to a dealership to purchase a new car. No Big Deal, I've purchased many autos in my life, but this time I went as Jenna. I wore a pair of linen slacks (white with navy pinstripes), a royal blue sleeveless button-up top, and a pair of black ballet flats.

I was greeted by a young salesman who introduced himself as "Ben" and I said, "You can call me Jenna." We then looked at several models and finally test drove one. I decided to buy that one. So we talk a little about price (ARGHH - the part I always despise about auto shopping) and finally settle on a price and trade-in value.

So, now we're inside starting the paperwork, and he writes "Jenna" as the first name on his worsheet and asks my last name. I give him my last name and say, "You'll need to change the first name to "John" as that's my legal name. He sits silently for about the longest second I can remember and then he asks, "But you still want me to call you Jenna?" Of course, I said, "yes, please."

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, about another 90 minutes, he is friendly, polite, and professional. We make small talk about my family, my job his fiance and education; he never asked about why I was presenting as a woman and he always addressed and referred to me in the feminine.

He must have briefed the Finance Manager, because when we sat down to sign the paperwork, he addressed me as Jenna and never batted an eye. He was also professional, but not as chatty.

So, I have a new car and a major Jenna accomplishment. As we have always said, sales people and companies want to make a sale. No matter what they may think, they are going to be professional and courteous. The bigger the price, the more courteous they will be. I know many of us have had some bad shopping experiences, but those are usually due to people with poor skills and knowledge in the wrong job field. I had a great time buying my new car and yes I was a little apprehensive at first, but was treated as a woman through the entire experience. O.K., maybe it didn't get me the best deal - but I had fun.


Jenna

[Sharon]

Very cool, Jenna! :happy:

It's too easy to say the salesman and finance manager were so accepting of you simply because they wanted to make a sale. I would prefer to think that they were just being respectful.

Yeah, I have rose-colored glasses sometimes, but it makes for a nicer view.

And what kind of car did you buy?

[Shelly Preston]

Congratulations Jenna

It sounds like you were treated very well

I hope as Sharon said it was for all the right reasons

[Joy Carter]

Well good for you Jenna. You just stuck another blow for our acceptance. I'm sure you bought an automatic. We all know girls can't drive a stick.:heehee:

[Alice B]

That is more than cool. What an exhibition of self worth and strength. Had to be a great experience. Enjoy the new car as it will always be special for you.:hugs:

[uknowhoo]

:yrtw:

OMG Jenna, that is way too cool!!! I'm seriously impressed... and delighted you had such a pleasant experience!!

:hugs:

[JennMW]

Thats Great Jenna, but WHAT kind of car did you buy? ;)

[AmberTG]

We want to know what kind of car you bought! :-)

[Jenna1561]

Thank you all for your replies. I bought a silver 2007 Honda Fit with the Sport trim package and yes it is an automatic. I really did have a great time buying it and it really is Jenna's car, not "his." He would have bought a Hummer or a BIG SUV. This is a nice small car that will get great gas mileage (30/36 MPG) and still hold LOTS of packages from my shopping trips. And being small it really is maneuverable in the crowded mall parking lots. :happy:


Jenna

PS

Sharon and Shelly, I agree with you, I truly believe both were respectful because it was their nature, not because a sale was riding on their behavior. As a little side note, the saleman phoned me today, addressing me as Jenna, just to ask how I liked the auto and if everything was what I had hoped. Then, not 2 hours later, I saw him at the mall, then he saw me, came over to me said "Hi" and hoped I was enjoying driving my new car. He is a very sweet and nice young man, I wish him and his fiance well.


Jenna

[AmberTG]

You know, sometimes things just turn out so well! It's really nice to read about a good experience in real life. And you bought a "girl car"! Good for you! I'm glad it worked out so well.

(actually, I know girls that drive all different kinds of vehicles, a local favorite here are the smaller SUVs)

[melissaK]

Oh, and they smell so good when they are new . . . So, do you have acessorizing/personalizing plans?

[Jenna1561]

I'm not much into adding accessories to an auto, other than the obigatory air freshner, all I've added is a box of tissues. and of course a connection for my iPod.

The car is silver with a black interior. Any suggestions?


Jenna

[Jenna1561]

Kehleyr,

I like standards too. And while the Fit has a 5-speed automatic transmission, it also has shift paddles on the steering wheel, which enable shifting (clutchless) up and down through the 5 gears. It's kind of interesting and I'm still learning how to really use it.

Though it's not anywhere near the same as clutching and down-shifting around corners or letting the engine whine up to near maximum rpm then hard-shifting to the next gear. Manuals are lotsa fun, but I dislike them in busy stop-n-go traffic and the near parking lot atmosphere of freeways during rush-hour traffic.


Jenna

[Calliope]

Right on, babe! You were in control of the situation every second, that's why the purchase went with ease.

[melissaK]

Silver/blk. A classic combo today! I drive a Prius (Silver ext./Silver int.) so you're close to my color scheme. I know you have a Fit, and its economy, but it IS a COOL Honda - and Honda owners are COOL (this is the company that makes the Element and Ridgeline) - so you can do cool things to the car.

I'm no Chip Foose, but on the girly side, you need soft fuzzy front seat covers. Costco sells a really nice, affordable, med/dark grey sheep skin seat cover (like $35.00 each) that might work well with the silver exterior and black interior - Dark grey can be your accent scheme. Go for a classic basic black kind of car mood.

But dark grey isn't really "cute." So if you want more cuteness you will need to order maybe some red sheep skin covers from somewhere online. Adding red covers would give you a three color car, and a great girl accent color.

Honda brand accessories sells a leather sterring wheel cover in red/silver/or blue I think. Pick the one that mathches your personal color scheme.

Or, swing down the seat cover aisle at PepBoys or Walmart and see what patterns they have in stock. My daughter did a tropical blue/black print pattern in her white car that was pretty girlie - but very cool at the same time.

And maybe a theme matched license plate frame?

I live in the land of sunshine so to me some window tinting is a MUST for both the 'cool' factor and the cool temp factor. I think window tinting is unisex. I favor a med % dark tint on the rear windows and a light % front side window tint, and of course the sunvisor tint strip in med % of even a dark limo tint. My wife likes the rear window a light % tint so its easier to see out at night. $100-$150 will do the whole car in my town.

If you got Honda's 15" alloy wheels, keep 'em they look good. But if you didn't, and you got Honda's 14" hubcapped wheels, you can upgrade to some cool 15" wheels, or maybe be daring with some 16" wheels and a lower profile tire. Overall tire height will stay the same. It will handle better in a turn. And, YOUR Fit will stand out from ALL the other Fit's. Sure you have brand new tires, but a tire shop will give you a few $ trade in for them.

And, modern wheels are mostly spoke, so they have cut-outs that show your brake disc calipers or rear drums in their factory drab color. Even Honda's 15" alloy wheels reveal blah alloy colored disc brake calipers. So stop by Checker/Cragin/Oreilleys'/PepBoys for some high temp brake caliper spray paint in an accent color to match your seat cover color scheme to tie it all together. Get some blue masking tape, an old newspaper and paint them when the wheels are off. A casual Saturday project, or any car customizing shop will do it for you for not too much money.

Oh, and get dealer mud flaps put on too, as soon as they are available. Protect the paint and keep the car looking cleaner between washes.

The front end Bra is a chic thing too - so price one of those. The Fit has a slopey front end and it WILL collect rock chips, so a Bra will have your front hood paint happier too. Don't know if Honda has one in their parts list yet, but an aftermarket company will.

And this is a pricey indulgence, but if you go with the red accent, be sure to get the special U2 edition i-pod in black/red . . . sell your old i-pod to a friend and it won't be so expensive and indulgence. ;^)

Hugs'
'lissa

[Sharon]

We're wandering off the main point of this thread -- Jenna's acceptance. Car talk, and other non-TS talk, belongs in the Lounge. So, unless you have a comment on the real theme of the thread, please do not reply.

[Siobhan Marie]

I would have to agree with Sharon in that we have gone off topic with this.

Jenna honey, I'm so pleased that everything went so well for you and I really hope that you enjoy your new car.

:hugs: Siobhán x

[briannad]

:notworthy::notworthy::notworthy:

That is awesome. Maybe one day.

[Sally24]

I'm not much into adding accessories to an auto, other than the obigatory air freshner, all I've added is a box of tissues. and of course a connection for my iPod.

The car is silver with a black interior. Any suggestions?
Jenna
I always immediately buy some of that plastic channel stuff and fit it to the edges off the doors. If the wind catches your door, it won't scratch the car next to you. Some new models already have it installed but most don't.

Always put some sort of trash container near you and your new car will stay clean and neat (I'm such a pig if there isn't one handy, lol)

I'm always on the road so I put a mini-ice chest behind me to keep my drinks cool and an emergency kit and first aid in the trunk for......you guessed it...EMERGENCIES!

Enjoy that new car smell and congratulations on letting more straights have a T experience!