INSIDE OUT

So, we've known that adding a new child to our family would force us to spend money. Before four children, three children didn't cost us that much money, if any at all thanks to self-employment and Canada's amazing taxes.

So, a previous post of mine spoke of Mazdas and anything else BUT minivans! We refuse to be a gas-guzzling anything if we can help it. But, we have to drive four kids around and need a vehicle larger than a 5-seat capacity.

Well, crossovers have become popular with the rising cost of oil. We, of course, need to buy a vehicle that will not only be logical in fuel-cost, but, because of our move here and no savings left, we will also have to get a loan. We hate to pay interest on anything!

So, kids at the grandparents, it was an excellent opportunity to test-drive some vehicles. My first trip was to Kia. They have a crossover vehicle, called the Rondo. Similar, but smaller and therefore more gas efficient, to the Mazda CX 9. Of course, the sales person was a great smooth-talker. But, more than that, I loved that Rondo. Going from a 1998 car with NO stereo, to a brand new vehicle 10 years its junior, with an AMAZING stereo system, was not hard to fall in love with. I told him I had to check with my husband and he suggested I take it home to him to test drive for the whole weekend!

We had some friends flying in for the weekend. This would save them money on having to rent a vehicle and we could all go sight-seeing in the same car... all for nothing.. well, until it happened.

Hosting dinner at our house, things could get quite distracting. VERY long-story-short, Michelle walks in the house to say, "ummm, I don't want to alarm you but, you might want to come and look at this". From the door of my house, I saw it. One long white mark on the hood of our "borrowed" Kia Rondo.

I'm not one to cry over spilled milk. This was no exception. B handled himself very well! I was very impressed with his ability to talk with our son (who admitted quite proudly that he had scratched the car with a rock). But, it didn't stop there. On the side of the car, was a series of scratches that made our hearts sink just a little deeper.

Our middle child, bless his heart, excitedly proclaimed that he, also, scratched our car with a rock. I think he just wanted to be like his older brother but, in the end, we really don't know what happened. As, of course, anything else with young children. It all happened so fast. Interestingly, they've NEVER scratched our Nissan. Why the new car? We talked with them about not going near this car! We were very clear on this matter. I may never understand.

So, we envisioned the cost to repair the scratch to be in the thousands. We called our insurance company to find out if vandals, by way of our own children, are covered. It was. Through our house insurance. Phew. It would raise our insurance by 20% yearly, which in our case, was less than $40 annually. But, it only covered it up to $1000.

We decided to do research. How much would it cost to buy a crossover used? How much would it cost to buy a used minivan? How much interest would it be to borrow from the bank? How much extra fuel would it cost for the fuel of a minivan?

We could have bought a used minivan for a couple of thousand dollars. We would have had to borrow from the bank. We would have had to pay interest. We would have approximately $175.00 extra to pay in fuel per month. We would have no warranty. How many repairs would we have over the next 5 years? Would it have even lasted as long? How safe would it be?

To buy a better minivan for over 100,000km would cost approximately $13-14,000. The cost of extra fuel alone for our family, compared to a crossover, after 5 years is approximately $10,000.

Buying a used crossover was not better. With having to pay interest from a bank loan, it would come out to the same price as a new crossover. Here's why:

The Kia Rondo, which we LOVE, was offering 0% financing. Perfect! No interest! It came with a 5 year warranty with roadside assistance! It also came with a lifetime warranty on engine and transmission. The fuel consumption was amazing!! It had great reviews. We decided that what we needed was a bigger vehicle, what we wanted was to protect our family in both finances and safety. What we got was the best deal for our family.

So without further ado, we have bought ourselves a Kia Rondo! We pick it up tomorrow!
http://www.kia.ca/cars/details/rondo?gclid=COC02JmYs5UCFQQiIgodxA7uQQ

We are simpletons. Ever since we've been married we have had no T. V. minimal furniture/toys/new clothes/new much of anything! When it comes to this buy, we are confident that it is the best choice financially and logistically. Emotionally, we are in love. I feel bad, driving around in a new car. I never imagined I would ever be able to, much less it work out to be somewhat equal to a used vehicle!! With the new baby on the way, a scratch, which in the end only would have cost $500.00 to fix, and a thank you card to our son in another 10 years while we hope to be driving the same car, we are very scared and excited all at the same time.

This is our story.