A day in a car.... about a car!

Yesterday we worked and relaxed a bit knowing today we needed to get serious about buying a car.  Our rental car needed to be returned on Friday before 3:00PM so time was a tickin.
 
Rhonda developed a little cough last night and when she woke it was worse.  She insisted we plunder on toward our big car purchase.  For those of you who are wondering why we are purchasing a car.... it is simply good sense.  The best deal we could find for a rental would have been $3500 for our stay.  We could rent a car during the first 4 weekdays for $112 so this gave us some time to purchase.
 
We had been looking at Craigslist for weeks preparing ourselves and limited our purchase price to $3500.  The Toyota Van we wanted sold yesterday so we went south one hour to lahue to drive a 1999 VW bug and look at some lots. We also had our eye on a Blue 1997 GMC Jimmy and yellow 2000 Nissan xterra.  
 
We got to the bug at 11:00 and took it for a spin.  Pretty beat up and the gear linkage was loose - drive and neutral were kind of fluid.  Of course paint was oxidized.  Ran ok and tires were good.  Worried  bit about bike rack adaptability.  Asking price $2500.  Got a text On the Jimmy and she needed to keep it for a while but wanted to give us a deal on camping gear LOL. Went to lunch - had crappy pizza slice - Rhonda was not feeling well and I actually thought for a minute we might have our first spat.  I asked her to take some advil which made everything better and prepared us for the rest of the day.
 
Got a text from the guy with the Toyota van.  I guess the buyers wife said no so it was still available.  He was on his way from Kappa to Lahue and we decided to meet at the WalMart.  We did and drove the piece of crap he called a car held together with duct tape.  Blacked out on the dash was a ABS and check engine light.  The spare tire was in the back seat cause he broke the thingy that held it underneath. Distraught and discouraged we went to car lots which only carried cars in the $5000 plus price range. We drove over to the Nissan xterra parked at the sellers work and checked it out and decided  because it was listed for $3500 we would try for the VW bug.  We called and left a couple messages.  Seller no where to be found.  We drove to their home again and the car and owners were gone.  We went shopping wasted more time and got a text from the owner of the Xterra.  Called and asked if we were happy with the way it drove would she take $2800.  We landed on $3000.  Drove to Kappa and bought it for $3000.  HAs a few rattles and the drivers side window needs love to come back up.  We bought her bikes for $50 while we were at it.  Pics to follow.

Decided to drive back down south to Lahue to return car so we could avoid the trip tomorrow.  We headed off with phones near dead in both cars.  After getting stuck going the wrong way on the street we lost each other.  Trying to call realized Rhonda's phone was dead and had no way to contact her.  Drove around a bit and didn't see her decided to head to airport and hope for the best.  Amazingly she caught up to me and we both made it to the car return.  Started back for home and realized the house key was still on the rental car key... Eyeyiiiiyiiii!  Turned back around to get the key.... We did finally make it home with our new car!  What a day!!!  Thank you Lord!!!