I am never...

...going to a car dealership again. Ever. I mean it. I'll drive my little Plymouth until I can't drive it anymore and then I'll walk everywhere, or learn to ride a bike.

First of all, the salesman was fine, though he had me start signing papers before I was ready to sign papers. I loved the test drive - the Honda Fit is an awesome car for a little car.

Then I had to go talk to the finance lady. That's where everything went downhill. First of all, I'm pretty sure she included a bunch of stuff in the financing that I don't want, but she wouldn't show me an exact financed amount and how it broke out. She kept talking about extended warranties, and credit protection, and gap insurance. And while I definitely want gap insurance, I don't necessarily want it from Honda. What if my insurance company can give me a better rate? And I don't want the extended warranty. After 3 years, I'd rather take my chances, or purchase an extended warranty then.

So the numbers I was seeing were a whole lot more than I was anticipating, and I based that on a much higher interest rate than what was showing there (we're talking about $100 more a month). I could technically afford that payment, but I don't want to commit to something that is going to stretch me to the financial breaking point without some serious thought and consideration. I told the woman (and I use that term to be polite - I'd like to use something stronger), that I wasn't going to sign any finance papers today, that I really need to think about whether or not I can take on that much additional debt and still be secure enough to live. It's not like I was buying a cheeseburger at McDonald's, after all.

Well, that's when she started pressuring me. She started saying things like "What difference will a few more days make to your decision" and "What will change if you walk out of here with nothing and think about it" and "Look, you know you need a car - your's is useless. This is the best you are going to do. Just sign."

Well, I don't do well, when I am being pressured. I told her that I didn't appreciate the hard sell and that I was planning to go somewhere else. I also kinda started crying involuntarily. She left and went to get the salesman, who said that they didn't mean to pressure me, and that of course I could take some time to make a decision.

I felt so condescended to with the financing lady. I know I have blemishes on my credit report. That's what happens when you have medical bills and make $9 an hour. And I know I've never financed a car before. But that is no reason to treat me like I am stupid or a child. I am an adult. It is my money and my life. If I need time to make a decision that big, I need time. And frankly, if they want me to ever be a customer, they need to respect that.

I swear, I'd rather just keep putting the money in my piece of crap that to do that again. It was miserable, and I hated every second of it.

And I hate myself for being so weak as to cry in there because I felt pressured. This is why I should never do anything ever.