Countdown to Prius...

Leave it to me to want that car that can't be gotten...

When I realized that I would finally be needing a vehicle to commute to my jobs (no more PATH and NYC subways for me), I thought long and hard about what car I was going to buy. I considered a Honda, because I had one before and loved it. I considered something fancier, like a BMW, because that is what a yuppie who is finally making money often drives. I even considered the Cooper Mini, even though I've always said that it's a death trap.

But, my thoughts kept going to the Toyota Prius.

The Prius is a funny looking car, for sure. But after the explosion of gas prices in the past couple of years, mpg's are now extremely important. Furthermore, the "green" technology that the Prius has mastered is really impressive. Being a former tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, recycling, animal-activist vegetarian, this is THE car for me.

Problem is that even non-hippie types are going nuts for the Prius because of its crazy fuel efficiency. So, in June, when I finally got around to calling dealerships about the Prius, I was told there was a waiting list of up to 3-4 months.

But, I needed a car in July! I couldn't exactly walk the 16 miles between where I live and where I work. And, unlike Manhattan, there's no public transportation out here in the suburbs of Northern NJ.

It was a tough decision, but I decided to wait for the Prius. So, for the past 2 months, I've been renting a car and waiting patiently for the dealership to call me and give me the good news.

I started getting less patient.

Yesterday, I had it. I had been calling the dealership and getting different stories every time ("it's being built right now", "I don't see you name on the list", "the second I have the car, I'll call you"). I had the Sales Manager vow to me he would speak with his Inventory Manager and see what the hold up was. Then, the Sales Manager wasn't returning my calls. So, I decided to take a different approach...I decided to go back to the dealership and demand the truth. No more phone tag. As my parents say, "the squeeky wheel gets the grease". So, I squeeked on over to Mr. Sales Manager at the Toyota dealership.

I know that this was pretty gutsy. After all, the car is in their hands, and they can make it as easy or hard for me to get this car as they want. I had to get them a little anxious, but not enough to piss them off.

Well, not to toot my own horn, but my approach worked! I had the Sales Manager locate a Prius with an ETA within the next 1-2 weeks and promise to have it reserved under my name first thing this morning. There was the chance that someone else would reserve it before them, or that they would forget, or that they were just telling me a big fat lie, but I kept my fingers crossed.

I am happy to say that after 9 weeks of pain and suffering, not knowing whether I would ever get a Prius, I finally have a Prius en route ready to be my new car! I feel like Charlotte on SATC, when she found out that an adorable Chinese baby girl would be hers in 6 months. Only my baby is Japanese and will hopefully be no more than 6 more days (I can be optimistic!).

So, let's hope that the next time I blog I can post a photo of me with my new Prius!

Cross your fingers!!