the Story of the Alero and the Altima

Mike and I did things a little bit backwards. We decided to purchase a new car - and then sell the old one.

In December I went to renew the registration for my Oldsmobile Alero and they told me that it needed new front tires and a new tie rod end. We have purchased new tires every year for the past four years and my dad replaced the tie rod end exactly a year ago. So I took the car to a different shop and asked them what was wrong. They said that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced - once that was replaced, the tires and the tie rod end wouldn't wear out so quickly and the car would run smooth.

After pricing out the cost for the parts and the labor Mike & my dad decided that it was more than the car would be worth. (But I love the Alero!) Besides replacing the tires every year the car ran great! I was hesitant. So I left the car at the train station for oh - two months. I stopped driving it in December when the registration expired and then we waited until March to decide what to do and to post it on the internet and sell it.

It sold pretty quickly. Mike posted it one day, I had lots and lots of phone calls and text messages and even people that said, "We will come tonight and pick it up." They all offered less than what we had it listed for of course - but that's expected. I was already in Orem so I had to settle for the next day. I decided to go in order of contact, not just because people would come pick it up right now. *Oh side note - Mike listed in the posting what was wrong with the car and what would need to be fixed and people still texted me saying, "Is there anything wrong with the car?" My response was, "Did you read the listing?" People - seriously.

I met with a guy the next day after work. The car was "as is." Not washed, not vacuumed, just as is. I hadn't driven it for two months - what can you expect?! ;) I talked to him about the tires, the tie rod end, and the rack and pinion - he wasn't worried at all. He grew up fixing cars and could take care of that all himself. Nice! He turned it on, it started great, it sounded great, it looked cleaner than any of the other cars he had looked at, it didn't take him too long to say, "I want it!"

Moment of question. Do I really want to sell it? It was a good car. Is it better to just fix it? I already know all about the car. I know it's reliable. Shoot. All the memories!

We had already purchased our Altima so of course - I couldn't question the decision for too long. While he was gone getting his wife (to drive their van home while he drove his new Alero) and the cash - I snapped some photos. Sad day/happy day.

The car sat there so long it was surrounded by snow while the snow in other spots had already melted.

Driver's Seat

Passenger's Seat

Back Seats

Now on to our Altima. Mike and I have been test driving Altima's for months now! Probably as long as we have been married. We liked them. They impressed us.

So we bought one.

It's a Silver 2012 Nissan Altima.

I love that it has keyless entry. It's my favorite feature so far (although I did read the instruction manual (of course) and there are tons of awesome features)!

I told him, "One day when we have kids it will be nice for me just to leave the keys in the diaper bag and just unlocked the door by standing close enough to it and touching the handle." SWEET!!!!!!!

I like that we don't have to take out the keys to start it either - just push the button. Lazy enough!? ;)

We purchased the car and then two days later we went to Zions. While packing Mike stuck my bag in the trunk - he then kept trying to shut the trunk and it wouldn't clasp. It kept popping back open. I said, "Mike! My keys are in that bag! Take it out because the car won't lock them in the trunk." He took the bag out and it shut perfectly. Another bonus for me since I am notorious for locking keys in the car and trunk.

We are liking it so far. It's our first major purchase as a married couple. As much as I enjoy the new car I love Mike a million times more. He is absolutely perfect for me and we are having so much fun being newlyweds. I love that there is someone so perfectly fit for everyone I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else. He gets me. I get him. We have fun. We learn. We encourage. Life is wonderful right now. I think it will be forever. <3