Car shopping. More fun than a trip to the dentist. Maybe.

Buying a new car isn't as fun as I remember.

Britt and I have been together since 1998. When we met, I was still driving the Toyota 4WD pickup I had picked out for my 16th birthday. He was driving a BMW 5 series. After we had dated a few months we swapped cars. He loved my truck. What 18 year old girl wouldn't love his car?

We married in January 1999. One day in June, we went to lunch in a neighboring town. We were not in the market for a vehicle. Nevertheless, on our way home we stopped at a car dealership because we saw a 4-Runner we liked. We bought it on the spot.

Oh to be young and impulsive....

Six months later we had a baby. My lifting Cam in his car seat into the 4-Runner proved to be difficult. In March 2000, we sold it and bought a Honda Accord from my grandmother. I loved it. Britt, well, he didn't.

A mere 8 months later, Britt bought me a Lexus 300ES and sold my Accord. He didn't even ask me. I had nothing to do with the decision making process. Much like the purchase of the 4-Runner.

Then we had to go to the beach for a wedding in April 2002. I was 9 months pregnant with Carlie. Cam was 27 months old. We realized there was no way were were ever going to fit 2 children and all their stuff in that car for a road trip! We barely fit one! But nothing else was ever said about buying another car.
Finally, Carlie arrived in May, along with an invitation for Britt's grandmother's 80th Birthday Party. In Arkansas. A week before the trip, Britt pulled into the driveway in a champagne colored Yukon. He got out and asked if I like it. I told him I did. He replied "It's a good thing. It's yours!"

Noticing a pattern?

By the time he came home in a Ford Expedition, 2 years later, after going to get his oil changed. I was less than shocked!

But after he completed the trade of my Yukon for the Expedition, he and I had a "come to Jesus" meeting. I told him that I was driving that car until the wheels fell off!!!! Under no circumstances was he allowed to trade or sell my car!

Shockingly, he obliged. I drove that Expedition for 5 years. I had plans to drive it for another 3. I wanted to drive it until Carlie turned 10. Then I'd buy something to drive for another 5 years. By that time Carlie would be 15 and I'd buy a car to drive for a year and give to Carlie.

Some thieves in Atlanta had other ideas!

So here we are. Car shopping. A task that I have never really done. I picked out my 1st car, but I was 16 years old! We didn't shop for the 4-Runner. It was an impulse buy. But atleast I was there! I chose the Accord. But it was my grandmother's. No dealerships. No shopping around. The rest of them Britt bought with my input. But now he asks what car I want.

I have no idea!

Here is what I do know:

• I do not want a van.
• One day I want a car, but I think I need something bigger for now. My kids still have lots of "stuff" that needs hauling around.
• I do not want something as big as my Expedition was. I'm only a smidgen over 5 feet tall. So it was always hard to park and make right hand turns in that tank!
• Heated seats are a must!
• I'd love to have 2nd row captains chairs.
• DVD is a plus, but not necessary. My kids are old enough to travel without it now.

That leaves me with crossover SUVs, I guess.

I've looked at a few online. GMC's Acadia. Volvo's XC90. Range Rover. BMW's X5. Just to name a few. I've got to drive them, I guess.

Any suggestions? Any cars you just love?

I still have 2 weeks to shop before my insurance company will even process my claim. They have a 20 day waiting period for stolen vehicles. They wait to see if the car is recovered before they send you a check!

I think I like this process better when Britt just shows up with a vehicle and tells me it's mine!