Car Update

I'm not sure if I've shared yet, but I've chosen my next car. My dad is selling me his. He is, of course, giving me a good deal, a deal I cannot refuse. This probably isn't the time of financial security and comfort for me to be able to get something that I really want (a Honda CRV for $20,000 or so), so I'll be getting a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix for less than half that. It's worth quite a bit more, but dad is helping me out, and he's also excited to get himself another car. The car is fairly fancy (leather seats, automatic starter, heated seats) and silver (not my trademark blue), but nicer than any car I've ever driven and I'm pretty excited.

I've been approved for a loan with a mediocre interest rate from my credit union. Because the car is cheap, I'll be able to pay it off quicker than the length of the loan. My credit union, MECU, has about the worst customer service ever (I've been calling them all week, and unable to get a live person on the phone), but I like that they'll take it directly out of my paycheck for ten months, and not ask for a payment during the summer, when I'm not being paid.

Now it's just the logistics: how to physically get the loan, how to exchange cars, how to sell my current car (blue book value is $500). I'm not good with logistics and feel like I'm working harder than ever lately, but I'm away on this Saturday morning to see about getting this loan.