out with the old

We sold my car Monday night. We're sort of proud since we did it ourselves. I've never bought more than a used piece of furniture or toys for Graham on Craigslist. But we have several friends who have bought, sold, then bought again their vehicles on Craigslist, so we thought we'd give it a shot.

Enter Buyers 1-8.

I'll use numbers for the sake of confusion.

Buyers #1-5 emailed me asking for more pictures and my history with the car. They were all pleased with the pictures but as soon as they checked the VIN, they never contacted me again.

See, we had a little problem with the title transfer from my dad to me when I moved to Wisconsin. Yes, that's right, I once lived waaayyy up there. It's next to Canada.

Back to the car. Apparently you have to fill in the odometer reading at the time of signing the title over, not when you go to request a new title. Woops. So, when I went to register in Wisconsin I was issued what's called a "Not Actual Mileage" title. The nice lady in the DMV said that it wasn't a big deal. Just a formality since I couldn't remember the mileage from when we signed everything 5 days prior. Well, apparently it is a big deal. HUGE actually. Because when we ran a carfax on my car...there were alerts on EVERY odometer reading after that titling in Wisconsin. It basically implied that no odometer readings from then on could be trusted. That maybe I'd tampered with it.

It basically called me a liar.

So I hate carfax.

Because of the carfax, all of those potential buyers wanted nothing to do with me or my sweet, reliable, truthful Lexus.

Enter buyer #6.

He emailed me asking if I'd take a little less than I was asking in cash. Heck yes I'd take CASH.

In the middle of car history emails back and forth: Enter buyer #7.

He said he'd pay cash tomorrow. Bring it on.

Tons of emails back and forth later, they both say "it's ok, the other buyer can have it."

Dang. No sale.

A week passes...no emails for sweet Lexus. I also get a flat tire. Again.

Enter buyer #7 again. He asks if I'll take even less than before, in cash, tomorrow. I say I'll think about it.

I'm talking to Matt about this, so ready to just take a loss and be done with it.

Enter buyer #8. He asks if I'll take a little more than buyer #7, in cash, tomorrow.

I'm so fed up with the whole back and forth but so desperately want this to be over. We set up a time to meet the next day. In a public place. With all the papers necessary to make a sale.

Buyer #7 emails me and says he hopes that buyer #8 doesn't show. I think that's mean.

We meet. Buyer #8 is nice, honest, and what do you know...worked for Lexus for many many years. He loves my car. He promises to take care of her...he agrees to buy her.

So we follow him home to sign the papers and leave sweet Lexi there.

I have to say that at this point, it's dark and we're like in the middle of nowhere and both of our parents are worried that we're going to be taken hostage or something. (Thank you for your concern parents, we love you!)

No worrying necessary though, this buyer was so nice! I couldn't be more pleased with how everything went down.

Also, I know he'll take good care of Lexi. She was good to me and I know she'll be good for him too.

I was a little sad to see her go.