CarMax= Maximum Ripoff

CarMax is like going to Walmart. They offer a huge selection of used cars at very low prices. Yesterday I discovered how they are able to do this. Like most of big businesses and car dealerships, they could care less about your situation. They are all about making the biggest profit they can. I knew that going in. 

My pops and I walk into this huge building. Immediately we are greeted by a man who steps towards us, away from the pack of men standing around wearing blue polo shirts. They all look bored. 

I cut to the chase and tell the man I just want an appraisal on  my car. He still shakes my hand and is very friendly. We walk out to my car, I give him my key, and he puts a marker on top of my car. I think to myself "There is no way they are going to offer me what it's worth." My Dad 

We wait 20 minutes and I give it all up to Carlos our salesperson. I tell him I am selling my car to pay my debt down and ride my bike more. He relates to me. Turns out he rides his bike to work everyday, to sell cars. Ha!

The appraisal was complete. Before he revealed the ridiculous number he said "Oh, and I really like you guys. I am afraid to show you the number." 

Offer: $9,000

What a joke! Time for craigslist.

http://www.citycarshare.org/

When you join, you'll get an electronic key that opens any car you reserve. Take a wagon to Trader Joe's for an hour. Head to Marin in a MINI for the day. Or pick up a truck and help a friend move across the Bay. Once you're done, just return the car to its original location. That's it. Is it any surprise we've been named Best of the Bay by SF Weekly four times?

You can select from handy trucks, environmentally-friendly hybrids, MINI convertibles. And average trips cost about $6.50 per hour, when you add hours and miles together. Rates always include gas, maintenance, roadside service, and the best insurance you can get — up to $1 million per incident. To drive, you must have 2 years of driving experience, a valid US driver's license, and a relatively clean driving record.

Wow! They make it so easy!

Carmax tomorrow

I enjoyed the drive south on the 101, even though it was raining. It's time to list the reasons and ways I will be adjusting to living a car-free life:

a. I live 1.5 miles away from BART
b. BART is a bus ride exactly 1 block from my apartment.
c. Where I work is a bus ride away from BART, which drops me off two blocks away from work.
d. I will be in great shape riding my bike and walking more.
e. I will save at least $400 a month without my car.
f. I can apply the $400 to my debt every month
g. I will be more environmentally conscious and friendly
h. I live 3 blocks from Trader Joes, Walgreens and a host of restaurants and shops
i. I live within 1.5 miles of services like City Car Share and Zip Car, which allow you to rent cars at low hourly rates.
j. I will be able to read more and enjoy my commute.
k. I can carpool with my friend Katy to work if needed.
l. I will be able to reduce my debt twice as fast.
m. I will probably buy less crap out of convenience as I will have to figure out how to get things home and will have to be more planful about my purchases.
n. I will appreciate the weather more.

And there are probably more reasons that I will add as I think of them over the next six months.

Tomorrow I will be washing my car and taking it down to carmax in Duarte to get an appraisal from them. It will be interesting to have considering I plan to put my car on the market next week. I think they will give me an appraisal of at least $13000. Apparently it gets a little complicated trying to sell a car when you don't own it, but it can definitely be done.

It's going to happen.

Oh, the Possibilities

I left my apartment at 08:26am and pulled up to work at 09:21am. That's 55minutes I spent in my car. Route taken: 580 South to 238 West, to 880 South to Stevenson Exit.

What I did: Looked at the rear ends of cars, listened to NPR and Jazz 91.

When I have taken BART it has taken me about 45minutes from door step to door step... That's 90 minutes of free time.

I could be: reading, journaling, catching up on the phone, listening to music, watching the scenery pass me by.

http://www.bikeroute.com/whycar.php

Found this inspiring.

Weather Permitting

Yesterday night it was very cold, and rainy. 45 degrees cold. Wearing gloves in my car cold.

I hopped into my beautiful Mazda 3, with the heater blasting my feet and windsheild and turned on some tunes. I drove cautiously as it was raining a lot, but nonetheless enjoying the ride.

Suddenly it occured to me that next month I will probably miss my car and the convenience of being able to drive to South Hayward in terrible weather. I gasped " This is going to suck on a bike!"

Tyler, fearless biker for over 3 years, assured me "Yes, it will suck...But, it will feel so good, so self-righteous to suffer just a little bit to do something good for the environment."

Yes, it does feel good and I know it will. I will just be uncomfortable at times.

He added "Humans can withstand a lot. You will be surprised."

I hope so.