My New (Used) Van

We knew getting another vehicle was in our future, but we hadn't decided when we'd get one. While we were in Florida, we joked several times about trading off the Expedition and buying a van to drive back.  On the drive home, the check engine light came on, and our jokes soon became reality.  Kevin and I both felt like we should go ahead and start looking for another vehicle.  I had said I wanted a Tahoe, but after driving the Expedition the last several months, I knew I didn't want the big gas bills that come with the V8.  I decided I wanted another van.  I loved the blue Honda van I had last year so that's what we started searching for.
Our search lasted a couple weeks.  We started out looking at local car lots and Craigslist, but nothing fit our criteria (Honday Odyssey // 2011-? // Black // DVD player a major plus). About two weeks ago, I was doing laundry and Kevin came in the bedroom to tell me he found "the one".  It was in Clarksville, Tennessee on Craigslist and was everything we had said we wanted.  He showed me, I liked it, and Kevin called the owner.  The owner is in the military and his family was planning a big move to the mountains.  They needed a 4 wheel drive vehicle and he said they hoped to sell it before they moved.  All that sounded like it was in our favor.

The picture we saw on Craigslist

While Kevin was on the phone, we talked about driving down the next day to get it - but we got stuck on the price.  At that point the owner didn't want to come off his asking price at all.  I was doing online searches that told me it was worth less than he was asking, so I didn't want to give them their full asking price.  This conversation went back and forth for a couple days.  Two Saturdays ago, he texted to tell us they had another offer that was about what we offered, and he said if we'd come up a little, they'd come down a little, and they'd sell it to us.  Kevin and I talked and decided a few hundred dollars shouldn't keep us from getting the van if it's what we wanted.  We also went ahead and came up on our price because the van had brand new Goodyear tires that were put on a month ago, and came with the aftermarket rubber floor mats, and had the towing package.  They upgraded several things, and it seemed like a good buy.

Kevin called the owners and told him we were going to get a loan as soon as he got off the phone (this was like 11am) and we'd come get the van that evening.  I was a little skeptical about buying a van we hadn't seen in person, but the owners kept telling us it was so clean and it such great condition.  We took them at their word, got the loan, and drove 2 hours to Clarksville.

When we pulled up, the van looked great.  The owners showed us two tiny dings that were hardly noticeable, and then showed us the inside.  It was in "like new" condition like they had said.  Most of the vans we looked at previously were beat up because obviously families with kids use them.  This family had 2 kids that were older, so they weren't very hard on the interior.  I don't even think the 3rd row was used much at all.  They told us they had several people calling daily about the van (which I really do believe that), but they both really liked us and wanted us to get the van. 

We took it for a test drive knowing we were buying it.  We got back to their house, signed a bill of sale, gave them a check, got the title, and we headed home.  The van is SO NICE!  I laugh at the old Haley that said she'd never drive a minivan.  It's the nicest vehicle I've ever owned and I love it.  I'm planning on driving it for 100,000 miles and then I'll probably look for another one!  I told Kevin at this point in my life, I could see me driving a mini van forever!  And I'd be just fine with that :)

Kevin needed a drink for the road, so we pulled over to get that and a picture with the new van!

The next day, I drank a "Jamaican Me Happy" while I watched Kevin and the kids wash it :)

P.S.  We said no food or drinks allowed in the van, and so far so good!  The kids have been really following that rule because they love the new van too and want to keep it looking as good as it does.