As Families Expand so do Cars.

    And our car has certainly expanded.  After much consideration and deliberation which is how we make most of our decisions, Erin and I decided on a new car.  For more extensive background on our deliberation click  here for my first post on the topic of cars.
    Erin and I knew we wanted and somewhat needed a new car.  We've both driven the same two cars since we were married almost 7 years ago.  However, our days of having a car payment were long gone and boy is it nice not to have a car payment.  We also have made a conscious decision not to have more than one car payment at a time, and with my Honda being both just a two door vehicle and approaching 14 years old with over 150,000 miles it was the logical one to replace.

   Of course until recently, I had not had a full-time job and our budget was not always in the black, so the idea of purchasing even a new used car was a ways in the distance.  However, I was able to pick up full-time work at school with the addition of an extra class, so of course I immediately began obsessing over a new car.  Having looked at a few cars, eliminating most due to space considerations we finally settled on a Dodge Charger.
   Originally, Chargers were not really part of the consideration, but then we traveled to Arizona last summer and our rental was a Charger.  Erin and I both enjoyed the space of the Charger, and despite being a full-size car it didn't feel gigantic when driving it.  I thought a Dodge Magnum would be more stylish and sporty with it being a wagon, and many also come with rack on top which would help transport our bikes that we pretend to ride regularly.  But, after driving both, I decided the Charger was more comfortable to sit in, it had more head room and I could actually sit up straighter rather than having to lounge in my forced "G" posture.

Plenty of trunk space, even with a stroller.

V-8 Hemi, w/ aprox. 350 HP, cold-air intake and a strut bar.

   After browsing the internet for Chargers and looking at options, models and trim packages I quickly began to become very picky.  I didn't just want a base level boring Charger like the rental we drove in Arizona.  I wanted something with a spoiler, and possibly navigation and of course some good looking rims to fill up those big wheel wells.  Oh, and then there were our mileage and price requirements to consider.  We wanted a 2008 or newer, and wanted less than average miles.  After all,  our goal was to purchase a car that would last us at least the 7 years our current cars have lasted.  We want to pay off this car and then have it last long enough for us to pay off another car that Erin would drive.  This way we only have one car payment at a time.
   Well we looked at a few Chargers in the Portland area, but nothing really met our requirements.  I found a red one that I thought was great, but Erin could just imagine the speeding tickets rolling in, with me at the wheel of a bright red Charger.  To make a long story short, we had planned a trip to Seattle for President's day weekend and there happened to be a Charger in Bothell.  It had all the options and mileage requirements I was looking for and wasn't red which was important to Erin.  The price was right, and we were able to make a deal that weekend and drive it home.

   

 

   The new car is great!  It is a blast to drive, has every option I could imagine (well except for a sunroof which is a big drawback, but you can't have EVERYTHING you want)  and I have even received a few compliments on it from random strangers.  Oh, and there is plenty of room in it for a carseat, and I can even ride in the passenger seat and keep the carseat behind me.  The only drawback is the gas mileage which to date has not been stellar.
   It's a 2008 Dodge Charger R/T with 41,000 miles on it.  It has the road and track package which brings with it, upgraded seats and suspension among other options.  It has a navigation with a dvd player and Boston Acoustic speakers that are good enough that I won't need to upgrade the stereo package.  Of course it has a V-8 Hemi, with somewhere around 350 horsepower.  The previous owner upgrades to a cold-air intake and installed a strut bar, and it all sits on 20" wheels.
    The Honda is already sold and I am planning a road trip as we speak.  Anyone want to join us for a trip to Yellowstone in August?  If not Yellowstone how about San Francisco?  I'll race you.