My New Car

Well the day is finally here... I'm getting my new car. This will be the first time that I purchased a brand new car. All my cars in the past were used and at least over five years old. I called my buddy Stephen up, he use to be my boss at High Noon and while I was working there he said if I ever went out to buy a new car (I was talking about it even back then) that he wanted to go with me as he's awesome at haggling. Since I am a sucker I knew I would need his help.

We meet up at Galpin Ford around 2:15pm. Stephen brought his brother Scott along to help out as well. So we went right to the Ford Fiesta and found the ones I saw online. I liked the lime squeeze color but wanted to see it in person. When I saw it I knew it was the color for me. But I did go and check out the Ruby Red as planned but it was more Red then Burgundy and I didn't like it much. As we were outside.. salesman Eric approached asked if he could help us. We told him I was there to buy a car, I showed him the one I liked, it had a moon/sun roof, which I did not expect to get. It was an extra $750 but I've always wanted a moon/sun roof and I figured if I'm spending this much money for a new car I might as well get everything I want.

The car was sitting outside in front of the lobby area,  I loved the color, and it had everything I wanted and more so all that was left was the test drive. We went to start it up and the battery was dead, which I guess is common since these cars can sit for months without starting. So we quickly gave it a jump and we were on our way. After driving a Jeep Wrangler for 10 years anything would be better and I loved it.

So I got back to the dealer and we started the negotiations. First of all my friend Joyce mentioned that her father worked for Ford and is no retired but he gets an employee discount for friends and family and that she would contact him to see if he could get me a discount. This was a few days ago and I spoke with Art (Joyce's Dad) and sure enough he got me a X-Plan discount. So haggling on the price wasn't going to be happening. It's a set price, no more and no less... but even thought that was set there were plenty of other things to haggle. 

I'm not going into great details about my deal.. but here are some highlights; The X-Plan discount wasn't as much as I was hoping, as the Fiesta doesn't have a large mark up, I got about $400 off, which is better then nothing and I'm very thankful to Joyce, Art and Bobbi. The base price of the Fiesta is about $16,200 and I got a few add on's, like automatic transmission, and power moon/sun roof. I also got Equipment Group 201A which included SE appearance package, 15" Aluminum wheels, Ambient interior lighting, Sirus Satellite Radio, and Leather wrapped steering wheel. These additions cost an additional $3000.  It also came with keyless entry and Lojack (really didn't have a choice on getting these since they were part of the car. So that was an additional $1000.  I also have Ford Sync.. Needless to say that the price went higher and higher.

I found out that my FICO credit score was 856, my jaw dropped when I saw that.. I knew I had good credit but I didn't realized how good it was. They said that, that was the highest they seen a while. They did offered me 0% financing and at first I was going to take it, but they were also offering $1500 cash back and if you did the math it turns out that I'll be paying less a month with the 2.99% financial charge. As the $1500 actually covers the money I'll be paying in finance charge.

I was hoping to get my payments down below $300 a month. After all was said and done I did 60 months (5 years) at 2.99% with $3000 down and a rebate of $1500 so my payments were at $321 a month which is a bit higher then I wanted but I did get everything I wanted, including the sun/moon roof which really put me over. I was happy with the payment amount and agreed to the deal.

Next was the fiance paperwork guy. Stephen and his brother went out to grab some food (we had been there for over three hours). I sat down with a very nice guy and started signing my life away. There were two more plans that they wanted to offer me. One was 5 years of maintenance on the vehicle and the other was an extended bumper to bumper warranty. I already had a three year bumper to bumper warranty included in the price, but I really wanted to get the full 5 years 100,000 miles warranty. So I bit the bullet and added an additional $1300 to my total which pushed up my monthly payments to $352 month. As I mentioned it's a bit more then I wanted to pay but I am extremely happy with the final result and with the car. I signed the paperwork and the deal was done.

I asked if my buddy Stephen would drive me back to Enterprise rental car in Santa Clarita so I could drop off the car. The place was closed and also closed on Sunday but I'd just leave the car there and then go in Monday AM and close it out. So he was nice enough to help me out. About an hour and half later (we also grabbed some dinner), we made it back to the dealer where Stephen dropped me off. Before we parted ways I was talking names for my car, first one that popped in my head was "Yoda" but then seeing the color in person, "Kermit" also came to mind. Stephen's suggestion was Jose Cuervo because it's a Fiesta and the color is called lime squeeze.. I mean it's a very clever name but I'm a geek so I think I'm going to go with Yoda but I'll put the question up on twitter and see what my friends think.. I'm leaning toward Yoda.

I made my way back to Eric's office where he called to have my car brought around. Eric went over things in the car with me and a half hour later I was speeding along the freeway heading home in my new 2013 Ford Fiesta.

I want to thank Stephen and Scott for coming with me and helping negotiate the best possible deal I could get. Overall it was a pretty okay experience.

My Gimpy Life Podcast Episode 10

Download from iTunes ow.ly/hmTh8 or Listen, get direct download from mygimpylifepodcast.com

Show Notes:

Now that My Gimpy Life season one series has come to an end. There will be no more companioncasts, but that doesn't mean the podcast is over... far from it.

In this episode I sit down with the lovely Teal Sherer herself as we talk about the possibilities of Season Two and the Season One's two wins at the IAWTV Awards (International Academy of Web Television Awards)

Please take note that this podcast is going on hiatus for the time being. Soon the Season two starts picking up I'll be back with more behind the scenes goodness.

Thank you all who have downloaded and continue to spread the word about this great webseries and it's companioncast.

thanks & enjoy,

Kenny

MASH 4077 Podcast Episode 47

Download from itunes http://tinyurl.com/MASH4077itunes or listen, get a direct download http://bit.ly/eXCRxT

Show Notes

Kenny Mittleider from Knights of the Guild, Alien Nation: The Newcomers Podcast & Confessions of a Fanboy Podcast, Simon Meddings from Waffle On Podcast, & Al Kessel from Tales from the Mouse House, Fast Forward & Just Because Podcast discuss one of the most successful and longest running television series in history.. M*A*S*H

THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR ANNIVERSARY EPISODE!!!!!!

Today we cover Season 2, Episode #23 - Mail Call
47th Episode Overall
Directed by Alan Alda
Written by Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks
Production code K423
Original air date February 23, 1974

Set during the Korean War in the 1950’s

Plot Summary: Margaret talks marriage to Frank while Hawkeye tries to trick him into a phony stock investment , Klinger tries to convince Col. Blake that a 'death in the family' letter came for him (Klinger) in the mail bag, and a drunk Trapper tries to go AWOL to be with his family.

Hope you enjoy it, Kenny, Meds & Al

I Love Scifi & Fantasy

So I was listening to one of my favorite podcast Turning into Sci Fi TV this morning and they mentioned something about why they love Sci fi and it got me thinking. So I posed this question on Facebook and Twitter, "SciFi & Fantasy lovers, Do you enjoy it because you can escape into their world or escape from this world?"

Well I got several responses and most of them said it depends on the story but both can be true. And I agree with that. I love scifi and fantasy for the fact that I can escape into these magical world. Now I did get a few comments about how escaping into a scifi and fantasy world to escape this world is not a healthy thing and I have to say that I don't agree with that. I think there are times when you need to escape this world and scifi and fantasy is the perfect way to do that. I don't find it unhealthy wanting to get away from the woes of the world and travel to another world or universe.

But what do you think? Do you enjoy it because you can escape into their world or escape from this world?

Felicia Day on Supernatural

So I finally had some free time and watched my friend Felicia in the latest episode of Supernatural. She appeared last season as Charlie and won over everyone so they asked her back for another episode.

I watched the first season of Supernatural but haven't seen it since. Lucky for me the Felicia stories tend to be stand alone episodes and you really don't need to know to much background on the on going story.

Again with this episode you didn't have to know much of the on going story, which is great. This episode is called LARPing and the Real Girl. The boys investigate some mysterious deaths, which leads them to a LARPing community and guess who is their Queen.. yep, the real Queen of geek Felicia Day. I have always wanted to LARP and will one of these days. But it was a fun look into this world. It was awesome seeing Dean go all geek and really get into the LARPing. Felicia's character of Charlie was just as great as she was in the first time. She's the perfect geek and very likable, as are most of Felicia's characters. I heard a rumor that she'll be coming back for a third time later this season.. I can't wait. Great job Felicia!!!

Car Rentals and Good News??

So I was up at 6:30am, though I couldn't call the car rental place until 8am. So I jumped on the computer and started editing my next Knights of the Guild podcast. At 8am I called Enterprise and told them that I had a reservation today and that I needed to be picked up. They asked where I live and I told them. They then said.. "oh we don't pick up from that city". I said excuse me? It's only 10 miles and you are the closest one to me. The apologized but said they could not pick me up. I said okay I guess you don't want my business I'll see if I can find another car rental place and hung up. I called around to Hertz, Avis and other rental places and they all said they don't do picks up, so I'm back to square one. Sometimes living in a very rural area can be a huge negative. Well around 9:30 my phone rings and it's Enterprise saying, "oh I have a driver coming in at 11am, I can send him then if that works for you". I was desperate and said yep that would be great.

I had about an hour and a half to kill so I continued working on my next Knights of the Guild podcast until my avid started acting up again and finally just stopped working all together.. gonna have to try and figure out this problem soon.

First favorite color - Lime Squeeze

While I waited I emailed several friends to see if they wanted to go car shopping with me this weekend but unfortunately one is going to be out to town and the other might have plans with a lady he is pursuing. I then remembered that my former boss over at High Noon, Stephen mentioned that he'd go with me to get a new car as he's the king of hagglers. So I emailed him and he was available and willing to help me out. We talked and discussed what kind of car I wanted and all I know is I want great gas mileage but it can't be more then $15,000. I was thinking used (only a few years) but he actually convinced me that I should go new as you get a better finance percentage rate (0 to 1%) and in the long run you play less for the car. He also mentioned that I should be looking at a Ford Fiesta as they are great on mileage (almost 40 miles to the gallon), they are very reliable, tiny and the look very sporty now. So I check it out online and I have to say I am impressed. They also are priced right between $13,000 and $17,000. Oh and they have really awesome colors.. so I think this might be my next car.

So 11am came and I didn't get a call.. I called them at 11:15am and they said oh the guy is just now leaving he should be there shortly. He arrived around noon (it should have taken him only 20 minutes, but I guess he got lost). Anyways it's noon and I'm finally on my way to rent my car.

I get there and of course they didn't have the car I requested (economy), but instead they had a mid-size car (which is two levels up from what I wanted). He said it would normally be about $35 more a day for this car but he would only charge me $2 (so generous of them). I really didn't care as I just wanted to get out of there and get to work.  So I signed the paperwork and headed to work. I stopped by Wienerschnitzel and grabbed some lunch while I drove into work.

Second favorite color - Ruby Red

Once at work it took a few hours just to catch up on everything. But while I was working my friend Joyce contacted me over Facebook and asked if I was going to get a Ford vehicle.  I said I was really considering it and then she said that her Dad is a retired Ford employee and that the employees of Ford get a limited amount of what they call X and Z plans (a kind of employee discount for friends and family). She offered to talk to her dad to see if he would help me out. And guess what.. he is. I talked to him over the phone and gave him some personal information that he needed to to apply for a X plan. I gave him all the info and he said he will contact me tomorrow with my "pin" number that I take to the dealer for the discount (I don't know what kind of discount but he did say it's below what the dealers pay for it), there is also no haggling on the price, it is what it is, no less, no more.  I can also get any other incentives that are offered as well. I was super excited and this kind of sealed the deal that I will be getting a brand new 2013 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback. This will be the first time in my entire life that I have purchased a brand new car.. I can't wait until this weekend. Thanks Joyce for offering me this fantastic discount and thanks to you Dad Art for making it happen.

So what started as a horrible day and what has been a few rough weeks it looks like things are finally turning around. Of course now that I have said that I have jinxed it all and things will fall apart.. luckily for me I don't believe in things like that. :)

Comic Con Tixs & Jeep Woes

So San Diego Comic Con Professional tickets when on sale today at 10am and by 10:15 when I ordered mine they were out of complementary guest tickets. First time in the nine years that I have gone that they ran out that quickly. Of course I could still buy an extra guest pass for $175, which I did but that really screwed up my plans. I normally give my free complementary guest pass to my brother and then buy the extra for my buddy Chris. Well now I had to buy the extra one for my brother and then go to the interwebs to find someone how might be willing to buy their extra one for Chris.. lucky my friend Teresa was more then happy to help out so in the end I got the tickets I intended on getting for me, my brother and Chris.

How much you want to bet that they cut the amount of "free" guest passes and increased the amount of "paid" guest passes for professionals. I remember back in the day when I got my "free" pass and my guest "free" pass and then was able to purchase 4 more guest passes for the low low price of only $25. They have slowed removed the paid guest passes as well as raised the prices to "regular" price. I guess I really can't complain.. at least I'm still able to get my pass for free... but I wonder how much longer that will be.

Work was fine.. crazy busy but I've come to expect that.

When work was over I went to the parking lot and got into my Jeep. When I turned it on there was this strange sound coming from the engine.  I pulled out of the parking lot and as I accelerated the sounds got louder and with a higher pitch. Something was wrong with my Jeep.

As you know if you're a regular reader of my blog I have been having Jeep problems for some time now and even went car shopping earlier this year. Well I think the time has come to retire the Jeep for good. My buddy Chris kept me company on the phone as I slowly made my way home hoping that my jeep would not die in the middle of the freeway.. it was a very long hour but I did manage to limp home. The Jeep was making such a horrible noise as I turned it off, I gave her a pat on the dashboard and thanked her for the many years of enjoyment.

I went inside, jumped on the computer and made a reservation with Enterprise rent-a-car. Will see what tomorrow holds.

Podcasts and Family

Since I didn't get much podcasting done yesterday I was up once again fairly early at 7am. With MASH 4077 finally done and upload I moved onto my next podcast My Gimpy Life. I chose this one next as it's really quick and easy... I hope.

I strung it out.. added a few bells and whistles and though I'm still having avid issues I manage to get this podcast done in an hour. Next was a Knights of the Guild podcast. I'm a week or two behind with this podcast and I really want to get a new episode out ASAP. So I opened Avid and realized that I haven't imported any of the Season six audio (which is what I need to start editing with) and there is a lot. I spent about an hour uploading a ton of audio to the Avid. By the time it was done I had to get ready to head out to my brothers.. was going to be visiting family. I haven't seen them since before Christmas.. which is way to long.

It was a nice visit, I got to have lunch with my Dad, then hang with my sister-in-law and my niece and nephew before heading upstairs to watch several episodes of Alien Nation and then record two podcasts with my brother. Alien Nation already had missed a month (January) and I didn't want to miss another one. The podcasts are gonna be two of our best. My brother and I really click anyways when we podcast but these two episodes we did so even more. It was alot of fun.

Finally got home around 10:30pm and was spent. I tried to work on my KOTG podcast but avid insisted on being a pain in the butt, so instead I jumped on LOTRO and played a bit to unwind.

So out of the five podcasts that I wanted to get done this weekend I manage to get only two. Hopefully I won't be too tired after work this coming week to finish the rest.