What's this all about?

First born is in the market for a new work vehicle. Well, not a new one, but newer than the '87 and '90 she has been patching up on a regular basis. Although she has been paying two mechanics very frequently, she claims to have an aversion to monthly payments. Personally, I would not buy any used vehicle that cost more than $700 cash.

She, however, after a recent windfall, is prepared to pay $10,000 and no more. With that in mind, yesterday she traveled to the capitol city with one of the above mentioned mechanics to investigate two Ford Excursion diesels, the 2000-02 models of which "everyone" says are some of the best SUVs.

They were to be found at a very unusual used car lot. The salesman introduced himself as someone who is retired and just filling in since the mechanic "left." When she asked, he said there was no Carfax for the 2001, because they "cost money," but when pressed, a copy magically appeared in a folder full of others. One can look, but he did not volunteer to make a copy.

The mechanic found enough glitches to label the 2001 questionable, even though it was priced below blue book, but one could talk to the owner in the next few minutes about financing. There would be no negotiations of the price, however. They never do that. They take all the fun out of buying a used car. I believe if first born had waved nine one-thousand-dollar bills in his face, he would have said he needed the other few hundred dollars he had mentioned. Then the owner said he had to go, so decide now. The pressure offended her; she said goodbye. He didn't try to stop her. What kind of used car salesman is that?

The other Excursion was a 2000 with higher mileage, but a price significantly above blue book. That was puzzling, but she simply didn't bother to look at it because it cost more that the $10,000 she has budgeted, and it is black. Women. . . .