Out with the old, in with the new.

Friday after work, I decided to take the ailing Explorer into Flagstaff to test drive a few vehicles. I really hadn't planned to buy a new car, but the government is offering a pretty sweet incentive (from the economic stimulus plan) to trade in your old gas guzzler for a more fuel efficient vehicle.

I wanted to stay with a truck similar to the Explorer, so I checked out the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, and Mazda Tribute. For the most part, the 4 were in the same price range and had similar features. After driving all of them I narrowed it down to either the Escape or the Tribute (which are the same vehicle).

The Ford dealership in Winslow and Flagstaff only had a few Escapes that were overpriced and had too much unnecessary crap. On the off chance, I looked up the Flagstaff Mazda dealership on the web and emailed them about one particular vehicle they had on the lot. They were prompt in getting back to me and welcomed me in to take a test drive. As I mentioned earlier, the Escape and Tribute are the same vehicle (minus a few minor details such as paint colors and trim packages). The Tribute was about $2000 less, included a rebate and was subject to good financing terms.

So I ended up buying my first new car! It's a black 2009 Mazda Tribute (like the picture above). The truck gets, on average, nearly 10MPG more than the Explorer and has almost the same cargo space. It's been fun getting used to a new vehicle. Once I get home I'm sure I'll do the requisite wash/wax/repeat stuff that most folks do with new cars. By then it'll have 3000 miles on it from the drive back and will probably need some cleaning!

Edited to add two things:
1. I'm now back with Mazda vehicles after a year and a half absence. In the past 10 years, I've owned 3-4 Mazda Miatas. Mazda makes a good, reliable, reasonably priced car...which is why Ford bought them and now have them make their smaller vehicles.
2. RIP, 1997 Ford Explorer. Sadly, one of the stipulations of the CARS stimulus package is that the traded in vehicle is crushed and recycled. Hopefully the Explorer is reincarnated as something fun and/or useful!