Tue 09/16/2008 12:01 PM

we got a new set of wheels!

Here it is, our brand new set of wheels! Okay, not brand new... instead of the 2008 model we went with a slightly used 2007 Altima, which made it a lot easier to get down to the payment we wanted, especially since the dealership that had this one gave us $2,200 more for the trade-in than the first place was willing to give. Balise Nissan (formerly Norwood Nissan) showed no interest in selling us a car, period. Inskip Nissan, however, has made a lifelong customer. They didn't feed us any BS lines about recent Nissan promotions causing trade-in values on Pathfinders to plummet, and they were willing to do whatever it would take to make us happy and keep us coming back to them every time we're ready for a new vehicle. Our salesman personally helped us transfer all of our "trunk junk" from the old vehicle to the new, and came out to meet us when we came back later that day to get the CDs we left in the stereo and the rest of Chris' keys which we completely forgot about in all of the excitement. (The actual voicemail Chris left: "You have my house keys and my beer opener... I kind of need those!") He also called the following evening to see how we were making out with the new car and if we needed anything else. And, they even called the insurance company and updated the vehicle information for us.

Chris does miss his Pathfinder, but he's also enjoying being back in a car with some speed and maneuverability. The Altima has a display which shows what you're averaging in gas mileage, and he's rather liking watching that, too. Nissan's "intelligent key" technology is really cool, too. The doors unlock automatically when the key is near, and the engine starts with the push of a button on the dashboard as long as the key is somewhere inside the vehicle. It's impossible to lock the key in the car; it simply won't let you lock the doors if the key is still inside. Chris loves being able to just slip the key in his pocket on the way out the door, and not having to touch it again until he's ready to re-arm the alarm.

I have some things to get used to... I can't open the door, nor pull it shut, from the inside anymore. And sitting lower means my legs are more out in front of me, and with nothing to push my feet against, all of the pressure is on my heels (unless I sit spread eagle with my ankles crossed, and that's not a very flattering position). The headrest, even at its lowest position, is still too high for me. Hmm, maybe I need a booster seat! It might even help me reach the door handle...