You may recall I got a new car a couple months ago from Zimbrick Eastside..it’s a Hyundai Elantra and I love it!

In fact, Friday was my three month anniversary with my new vehicle, and I celebrate by eating an entire cake while sitting in the front seat.

Okay, that’s not true. What I did do was go to get the car’s first oil change, which was FREE! I thought this was a special perk for me, but it turns out every one who buys a car at Zimbrick Eastside gets their first oil change free.

I was really impressed with how clean everything is in the service department at Zimbrick Eastside Hyundai.  Instead of driving into a dirty old garage like at some places, you pull into what seems more like an extension of the vehicle showroom. And the waiting area was great too..with a TV, complimentary snacks and bottled water..and a play area for the kids as well.

I like knowing that the folks working on my car are Hyundai certified technicians.  And the multi-point inspection i is extensive, covering fluid levels, air filter, lights, hoses, shocks, battery, tires brakes, and more.

Another great thing about getting your oil changed there? Free car wash…and they even vacuumed the floors. Sweet.

I did it! I got my new car…and I love it. It’s the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

Jonathan Suttin drove me over the Zimbrick Eastside to pick it up, and he said it was too nice of a car for me! I beg to differ.

I want to tell you I loved this car the first time I took a test drive. The brochure says “It’s a shape inspired by nature, and refined by science.” I just say it’s a SWEET lookin’ car, which also happened to get fantastic mileage, is fun to drive and was right in my price range. And every one I met at Zimbrick Eastside was incredibly nice, and were great at giving me the information I need. I have high praise for Gerald Ayers, who really made sure this was the car I wanted, answered all my questions, and really made the whole process fun. Car buying fun? At Zimbrick Eastside it sure is!

Admittedly, I was a little sad to see my old car go (we’d been together for 12 years!) But it didn’t take long for me to get over the heartbreak.

I love the way it handles..how quiet it is..and I really like the color. It’s kind of like a chameleon car…it changes color depending on the lighting. Sometime’s it’s silver, other times it’s a purple color that’s almost periwinkle. (Officially, it’s called sky blue metallic).

I wonder if it’s kind of like a mood ring..changing with my moods? I’ll keep you posted on that.

2011 Hyundai Elantra

Jonathan approves!

In the back seat where he belongs

Me, with Jonathan and Gerald from Zimbrick

The last few times I bought a car, I have to be honest with you,  when I went into the finance office my head was swimming with lots of information about all the extras they offer you.

And when I met with Jeff Klade in Financial Services at Zimbrick Eastside, I told him that. In the past I’ve purchased stuff I didn’t really need because it was all so confusing.

He assured me that a lot of things have changed since the last time I bought a car (12 years ago), and say the warranties and other extras are a lot different.

He explained the different packages that they offer, including one that basically doubles the manufacturers warranty. One of the packages that I’m considering offers extra coverage for tires and wheel damage..and from other damage that may happen if you smash into something in the road.

He answered all my questions..and my head wasn’t swimming this time around!

Another great thing about the financing folks at Zimbrick Eastside..they do all the legwork for you when it comes to getting a loan. They’ll find the one that best fits your financial circumstances..and how long of a loan you would like. And Jeff told me something crazy that I never knew..that back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, people who sold cars would help you pick out a car..and then drive you around to different banks to find you the best loan.  It’s a lot easier now. With the touch of a few keys on the keyboard..they search for the best lender, and wa la! They find one that provides you the best rate. And that  only counts as one credit search on your credit report, which is very important.

Now I’m no expert on auto loans or warranties, but I feel a lot more comfortable now than I did before…and I’m getting closer to finding the right deal..and the right car, for me!

Kitty with Jeff Klade from Zimbrick Eastside

So if you’ve been following my quest for a new car, you know there are a heck of a lot of choices at Zimbrick Eastside. And now I’ve checked out even more!

This week I paid another visit to Denise Tretter at Zimbrick Eastside Nissan, where I got behind the wheel of a Subaru Outback. It’s a 2005, but only has 70,000 miles..and if you know anything about Subarus..this vehicle is just getting started. It was the Outback L.L. Bean edition…which means it’s extra outdoorsy, and stylin’ too!

The next car we checked out was a Nissan Certified Pre-Owned Altima. The  Altima’s just been crowned “best selling sedan” in America..and with good reason.  The one I looked at was a 2008, and it had all the upscale features at a reasonable price. Even push-button start and a huge panoramic sunroof!

And because it’s certified, it comes with an amazing warranty..84 months, and 100,000 miles and it covers 603 components. Plus you  get 24 hour roadside assistance, and the deductible is jut $50. You can even upgrade that warranty so it covers 1,468 components. (I never knew cars had that many parts!)

You’d be amazed at some of the great used cars they have at Zimbrick Eastside. Why not go pay Denise a visit and see for yourself?

2008 Altima (left); 2005 Subaru outback (right)

So my quest for a new car has me checking out some pre-owned vehicles at Zimbrick Eastside.

I met up once again with Gerald Ayers at Zimbrick Eastside Hyundai..and he had some cool cars to show me.  I took a pre-owned Hyundai Certified Pre-owned Hyundai Elantra Touring out for a test ride. It only had 30-thousand miles on it..which means I would have 70-thousand miles left on the factory warranty. Incredible! And you wouldn’t believe all the extra hoops they have to go through to make sure it meets Hyundai’s strict expectations.  They inspect the body, the brakes, the belts, hoses,  wheel bearings..you name it!

Did you know Zimbrick Hyundai Eastside has other makes and models of used cars on the lot? Gerald showed me an all-wheel drive Subaru Forester.. which looked great, but was a little too big for me. He also put me behind the wheel of a Toyota Solara convertible! It was too cold to drive very far with the top down..but we went for a cruise and I was impressed that the top is a hard top..the back window was glass (not scratchy plastic), and that it even has front wheel drive. This is a convertible that could be driven year-round.

I got a chance to meet Zimbrick Eastside’s  Sales Manager David Masar, who showed me where the used cars are all rigorously checked out by their mechanics to make sure they meet their high expectations. He also explained that all used cars, even the ones that aren’t Hyundai certified come with a 3-month 3-thousand mile warranty. And a full tank of gas!

The Toyota Solara–sweet!

Dave Masar explaining the awesome warranties

Getting cars up to spec!

With my new pal, Andy Hammond

I have to admit, I never thought I was a Buick person..but I could be changing my tune!

I paid a visit to Andy Hammond at Zimbrick Eastside, and when he told me he was going to show me a Buick Regal, I thought to myself  “isn’t that the kind of car grandpas drive?”

Then I saw the car and thought..that would have to be one really cool grandpa. This car had style! Sitting behind the wheel, I thought I could get used to this! Andy showed me all the cool features..and even let me peek under the hood. I immediately recognized the Variable Valve Timing intercooled turbocharged engine with direct cylinder fuel injection. Actually I had no idea what I was seeing, but it seemed impressive.

This car is really built for safety..and performance. When I hit the road..I loved the smooth ride, and was surprised that there’s even a “Sport” mode if you’re a more active driver.  The Regal also has  just been named the Best Upscale Sedan for the Money by US News and World Report.

Andy also showed me a GMC Terrain–which is bigger than any vehicle I’ve ever owned. It’s an SUV that gets pretty great gas mileage (up to 32 mpg on the highway), and has tons of storage space for all the treasures I find when I’m out going to rummage sales. I took a little drive and then asked Andy..I want to go a little faster..can we go back out on the highway? This vehicle was really fun to drive.  And as some one who has a little trouble backing up vehicles, I liked the rear backup camera (it’s attached right by the license plate).

If you’re looking for a more upscale sedan or a zippy SUV..go see Andy at Zimbrick Eastside Buick.

The GMC Terrain (left) and the Buick Regal

Checking under the hood

Chatting with the Onstar lady

Look who I ran into in the showroom!

Getting the scoop from Denise

My quest for a new car took me this week to Zimbrick Eastside Nissan, where I met with Sales and Leasing Consultant Denise Tretter. We chatted about what I was looking for in a car, and what I liked and didn’t like about the Hyundais I tried last week.  I haven’t encountered a lot of female car salespeople so Denise was a breath of fresh air…and very knowledgeable about all the cars and their features.

She had four different cars for me to try..the Sentra, Versa, Cube, and Juke. I liked each of them, for different reasons. All were great on warranty and safety…but they were all so different from each other.

I tried out the Sentra first. It has the Nissan Intelligent Key, which means if the key’s in your pocket or purse, you can open the door by pushing a button. To start they car? Just turn the ignition with the “key” nearby. Very cool. I was also impressed with the best cup holder I’ve seen yet..it’s adjustable! The Sentra’s ride was also very smooth.

Next I hopped into the Nissan Versa. It’s a station wagon type hatchback car, which is not too different from my current vehicle in style. But it has an advance suspension so it’s not too bumpy, lots of horsepower and torque to make merging on the highway a breeze.

Next I tried the Cube. They’re relatively new in the U.S., but have been around for a long time in Japan and are very popular.  From the outside I thought it was a little “boxy,” but once I got in I realized that it was kinda fun to see the road from a little higher up.  I loved the Rockford Fosgate stereo system..and Denise took me out to a parking lot where I did a sharp turnaround to illustrate the amazing turning radius. And Denise told me the front of the car was designed after the face of a bulldog. (See pic below.)

The final car I tried was the Nissan Juke. The brochure calls this a Turbocharged Sport Cross. It’s a crossover vehicle, which means it’s kind of a cross between an SUV and a car. This little car was super fun to drive. It has different modes..so you can get extra boost or torque..or take it easy to get more miles to the gallon.  And it has push-button ignition..which I think I could really get used to.

I think of the four cars I drove, I felt most comfortable with the Versa. It had the highest fuel economy rating as well.

Are you interested in a Nissan? Go see Denise!!

Lots of leg room in the Sentra!

The Versa–snazzy in red!

The Cube–lots of storage, fun design

Does this look like a bulldog's face?

The Juke–for Kitty's wild side. So fun to drive!

Heading into the showroom with Gerald

My search for a new car has taken me to Zimbrick Eastside..where I got a chance to test drive a couple cars that definitely made me remember what driving a new car is like.

I tried two models of the Hyundai Elantra. First Gerald Ayers at Zimbrick Eastside gave me the run-down on the Touring model..which is basically a station wagon and has similar style to my current vehicle. I was really impressed with the features it offered (heated seats, fantastic stereo, telescoping steering wheel), and was very impressed with the safety features.

I had heard the term ABS brakes before..but didn’t know what it meant. So Gerald took me out the road and told me to slam on the brakes in a slushy, snowy area! Wow! It’s like the brakes started doing the work for me. The Elantra also has electronic stability and traction control..to make it much less likely I would get into an accident.

I really liked the car..but Gerald also wanted to show me another Elantra, a sedan that has all the features of the touring model, but has the bonus of being green. No–not the car’s paint job..but this car is super eco-friendly.  According to the sticker in the window..40 miles per gallon. But Gerald says that can go even higher. You have to buy an electronic or hybrid car to get a better eco-rating.

When you drive this car, it even has a little ECO light that comes on if you’re doing a good job driving to optimize your fuel mileage. And yes, I am an eco-warrior!

This little car really has zip and was fun to drive…the ride was super smooth and quiet as well.

The Elantra sedan (front) and Touring model

So many fancy gizmos to check out!

I  and had a blast learning all about both from Gerald. I think I would be happy with either of the cars I tried at Zimbrick Eastside Hyundai, and they were both in my price range.  Gerald gave me all the info I needed (and some I didn’t know I needed)…and even gave me a bottle of water for the ride home.

But my quest continues..next week I’m going to check out the Nissans at Zimbrick Eastside.

Wonder if they'd let me buy this one?

I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that I need a new car. So that means it’s time to do some research!

Jonathan suggested I check out Zimbrick Eastside..so I did! I met with Zimbrick’s Jay Sass so I could get a better idea about what cars and deals are out there. Since Bill Clinton was president when I last bought a car I figured there was a lot I had to learn.

Jay didn’t try to push me toward any particular vehicle–in fact he asked me a lot of questions. He wanted what I’m looking for in a car..first of all..what do I like, and what don’t I like about my current vehicle (aside from the fact all the doors don’t open like they should). He even wanted to know whether I preferred light or dark colors!

That was something I had never really thought about. Since the cars I’ve owned have been red, maroon, blue and maroon..I guess I lean toward the dark side (of car colors).

We chatted about the kinds of features I wanted, how much money I wanted to spend, and whether I wanted to lease or buy.  After listing off the features that I wanted and told him my budget, I asked “is this possible?” And Jay said–”we make automotive dreams come true!”

I like the sound of that!

Next step–checking out some cars at Zimbrick Eastside Hyundai.

Door troubles

You may have heard Jonathan telling me that I need an automotive intervention. Yes, my car is kinda old. And it has what I’d like to call “quirks.”

Yes, I can’t open the passenger door from the outside. The defrost only works on half the rear window, and the rear windshield wiper no longer wipes.  The radio doesn’t light up at night (it used to light up all the time, even when the car was off, which was strange). And the passenger seat is rusted in place.

Oh yeah..sometimes the driver’s side door doesn’t open so I have to crawl in through the back. I’m sure some surveillance camera somewhere has footage of that, and it’s hilarious!

Maybe it is time to upgrade. The last car I bought was when Bill Clinton was still president.

Okay…I guess it’s time to start looking! Jonathan suggests Zimbrick Eastside, so I’m going to go check them out.

I’ve already started to think about what features I’d like. Definitely automatic.. with air conditioning, a nice stereo, and cup holders that are big enough to hold a large soda from a convenience store. Jonathan’s cars have seat warmers..so that would be awesome on cold winter mornings when I drive to work.

And I’m pretty sure I’d like a vehicle with doors that open..from the inside, and outside.