re:
Ever buy anything not quite what you wanted but....? Then something happened that made you realize that what you'd bought was perfect?
So often!
Short answer:
My Buick Rendezvous was a reluctant purchase that turned out to be "just what we needed." It is a 2005 model year, purchased in 2009. Still have it and it is going strong!
Long answer:
I needed to replace my Bonneville, it was becoming too costly in frequent repairs to keep ... but oh, how I loved that car. The Bonneville was actually my second back-to-back Bonneville. Looking back, I wish I would have moved the engine from B1 into B2. B1's body was falling apart but the engine and drive train were fantastic. B2 had a gorgeous body, leather interior with 9-way power seats, heads up display, sunroof, air compressor, and more ... but a lemon under the hood. Ugh.
The dealership, with whom I had a l-o-n-g relationship thanks to Bonneville repair over the years, pushed a Rendezvous that had just come off lease from the PGA. Yeah, there was window smashed out and a few minor blemishes (being a PGA tour car is, apparently, difficult work!) ... but the vehicle was low miles, had all the bells and whistles and the blemishes could be easily repaired.
But I didn't love it. The handling felt like a mini-van; not anything like my powerful and responsive Bonnevilles nor the much-loved Ford Bronco 4x4 before the Bonnevilles. Mini-van? Not ready for that. Nope. The dealer kept pushing. The Rendezvous is decked in features: heads up display, leather interior, 3rd row (seats 7), auto-leveling air bag suspension, air compressor, large interior cargo space if seats are folded down, etc. Yep, it "checks the boxes" but I didn't love it. It wasn't what I wanted.
We purchased it after acknowledging the regret. Over time, that Buick proved itself.
- Turns out we've filled all 7 seats more often that I would have ever imagined. Useful!
- That large cargo space is awesome! We can do large Costco runs (we live about 30 miles outside town and thus do fewer runs but larger loads). I can haul hay home; up to 4 bales, if I must. While 4 is difficult to clean afterwards, picking up just 2 bales, along with 80lb sacks of pelleted feed, is easy to load and easy to clean. Cool!
- It is our "stealth" car. Our trucks are very visible; everyone on the highway recognizes them. The Buick is "just another black crossover" and nobody recognizes it. Cool!
- It is dependable. It is a really good vehicle. We are so blessed to have it.
In DVC context, our purchase of SSR is a similar story. We knew we wanted BWV (hence my handle on this forum). But we purchased SSR. Long story ... but we've come to love our choice over time!
@Simba's Mom , be safe! Thanks for sharing the lesson from your oversized mug.