netmouse | (no subject)

so over the weekend and this morning we test drove and looked at a bunch of different cars - honda, volvo, saturn, subaru and some others. I think Bill's going to get a subaru impreza WRX. I'm pleased. It's a fun car. And since we waited until the end of the year, they now have sale and financing incentives on the 2002 WRX.

I had trouble sleeping last night and eventually got up at 6:30 to try and make progress on the program. it looks like taking the toastmaster out might kill two program items, but that's probably okay. taking Nick Pollota out didn't kill anything. I guess he mostly went for the more popular items. I've had a tension headache since early yesterday evening that I think is connected to not having this done, so I'm looking forward to finishing it. How the program is done and who has been on it in previous years definitely neesd better documentation. Probably we should assemble a folder of past years' programs to pass on from program head to program head, and the first thing I should have done before we set the program this year was read last year's program.

On the positive side for yesterday evening, Mary came over and took Bill grocery shopping at the Merchant of Vino and they made this gourmet dinner - yellowfin tuna steaks with a wasabi sauce, linguini with a marsala sauce (that came out a touch too sweet, but still good), and green beans with garlic. Herbed brie and camembert for appetiser. We told Mary she could call up and tell us what she wants to cook for us anytime. :)

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Thanks for your comments. Bill and I haven't forgotten about the possible discounts you offered before. But we're looking at a range of 24 to 25 for the Impreza and the Volvo S80 which Bill was looking at is in the 30 - 34 range. Besides, Bill has issues with the fact that controls like the throttle aren't actual mechanical controls in the s80. He's looking for a four-door sedan that has good pickup and power, four-wheel drive and ABS, plus good safety features and a comfortable seat/ride. he's not interested in an SUV or truck.

I'm still looking and am yet considering something like the volvo S70 or S60. The honda civic is so much cheaper and more environmentally friendly.. but actually with discounts like you're talking about they're more like 3,000 apart in price. We're aiming to replace Bill's car immediately and mine sometime in the next two months. If know anyone selling a used S70 or S60 there at work, please let me know.

I just checked the B-Lot (management lease vehicles) and there aren't any S70 or 60's. There are 3 S80's for $26-28,000, with 11-30,000 miles, and 2 V70 SE's for about $22,000, both with about 17,000 miles. I bought my car from the B-Lot with 7,000 miles on it, you can't test drive them, but you can start them and crawl around in them to check them out, and they come with whatever's left on their regular new-car warranty, plus you can add on an extended warranty (price negotiable with your dealer).

For X-Plan (Non-Ford Employees): add 3% to the Employee Vehicle Discount Table and multiply that percentage by the A-Plan price. This translates to 3% of the A-Plan price being added to the B-Plan price. Your best bet is to get a PIN from me and go by the lot before 8am, they put out different cars at least once a day, and usually the best cars are tagged by people waiting in line for them to open. (tagging a car means flipping the tag to say sold, that holds it for you for 3 days).

The last year for the S70 was 2000, are you sure you don't mean V70, C70, or XC70? B-Lot only has 2002 models right now.

Yes, I'm aware that the last year for the S-70 was 2000. The S-60 replaced it so far as I know - that's why I aksed you to keep an ear out for someone selling it used. Our dealer here in Ann Arbor had a couple nice looking ones for between 11 and $16,000. (with between 31,000 and 84,000 miles on them). We're not really planning to buy two new cars this year (I still don't have a job...) Civics are almost in that price range new, and a couple/few years used they go down to about 9.

I'm hoping you might know someone who bought one of the small volvos with the employee discount who is now interested in unloading it in favor of a couple years' newer car. Buying direct from a person I won't get certification or warranty but it'll probably be a couple/few thou cheaper than from the dealer.

I looked around, nobody I can think of has one, but I'll keep my eyes open. Someone has a 96 Volvo E-class sedan for about $9000 on the employee connection.

From what I've seen of the Volvo models, the S-60 is the one I would be most interested in getting, myself, and the closest thing to what I'm driving now.