My Mazda

I still remember the first car dealership I ever visited as a prospective buyer. Twenty-two years old, freshly graduated from college, and desperately needing to purchase my own car. My job not only required a regular commute, but also included extra travel throughout New England. I had been borrowing my parents’ old Subaru, but I was itching to be fully independent. I had done minimal research regarding what a “good first car” would be: Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3, Toyota Camry, etc. 

I felt an overwhelming sense of “ick” when I walked into the first Honda dealership. Every employee scanning me and trying to determine what I wanted… clearly not mechanical help (or I would have pulled up to the garage side) but like… buddy, just ask me? Stop leering. 

All salesmen immediately adopted a lightly condescending tone once they discovered I was truly there to buy a car. It deeply bothered me that they assumed I knew so little about cars. They were right, but it’s still annoying. 

After scanning my license and piling a scratched clipboard high with miscellaneous papers, I finally got behind the wheel ready to test drive. However… that test drive was exclusively within the dealership parking lot. 

Yup. I never left the parking lot. They didn’t even let me TRULY DRIVE A CAR I WAS CONSIDERING BUYING!!! 

Luckily for them, I was unaware that was not the standard practice. (Note to self: Maybe research more than basic car names next time)

Even more luckily…. NO, I did not end up buying a car from them – too much ick, plus I decided a Honda Civic would be too basic. 

This insulting practice of a parking lot test drive was not exclusive to this dealership. That’s how I was treated pretty much everywhere. In hindsight it makes my blood boil at how heavy handedly disrespectful all the car sales associates in my area were. I am not a “daddy’s money” girl, nor do I look like one. But I had functionally spent my whole life saving my money and always seeking cheaper options for clothes, food, and general experiences! Between my savings and my corporate job, I was locked and loaded to buy what I considered (and still do!) a quality car. And before you ask, NO. I did not have any “dings” on my driving record – I’m exemplary. 

Perhaps I should have at least TRIED to look like a “daddy’s money” girl. Maybe if I handed them a copy of my resume, they might have let me take it at least around the block? 

Sexist a*holes.

Luckily, I ended up at a Mazda Dealership. This was the only dealership that was authentically friendly and respectful to me. It helps that this dealership was also the first place to have a woman salesperson AND she worked with me! However, I have so little faith in the car sales industry, I refuse to give Mazda my official approval of “Respect for Women™” 

After the standard license scan and typical excessive papers on a haphazard clipboard, I stepped into a gorgeous Mazda CX-5 AND DROVE IT OFF THE PARKING LOT!! I did the cutest little loop, about 5 miles, and even got on the highway for one exit! That vroom-vroom acceleration COMPLETELY exhilarated me! It’s embarrassing, but that was probably equally exciting to me as driving a Lambo!

I did not buy that Mazda CX-5 (a little out of budget and bigger than I wanted) but I did end up getting the next model I tried: a Mazda3. Because I bought in late summer, I got a great deal on a new one from 2017 (the 2018 model was about to be released!)

I shook her hand filled with pride! I was officially a car owner! 

His Alfa Romero

A couple months into dating my now fiancé, he mentioned wanted to buy a car. He had previously owned cars, but not since he moved full time to Boston. An avid walker and a big fan of public transportation, he hadn’t needed a personal car until COVID.

 I was still trying to get a sense of his lifestyle and financial values, so I teased him about buying a flashy excessive sports car. He immediately retorted “No!” and said he wanted something more reliable and appropriate for Boston.

I then assumed a BMW – big mistake. He launched into a longwinded evaluation about the various benefits and tradeoffs of a bunch of different cars (I don’t care) but eventually claimed all his research led him to decide to buy an Alfa Romero. Hey! I didn’t personally research enough, but I respect that he DEFINITELY did. 

I drove him over an hour outside of Boston to the nearest Alfa Romeo dealership. Quite a site, rolling up to a relatively upscale dealership in an old 2017 Mazda. The salesman gave me a quick (confused) fleeting glance and decided to focus on my fiancé. 

we did a walkaround the lot with the sales associate in tow. My fiancé kept asking about my opinion, much to both the salesman and my surprise. IN turn, this then caused the salesman to direct a bit more attention to me – giving me stats regarding safety and children’s car-seats. Great.  

A license scan and a suspicious lack of clipboard later, my fiancé got behind the wheel of the Giulia model – me in the passenger seat. It was Summer of 2020, so the salesman did not join us… but I still believe I would have gotten shotgun. 

Swinging a right out of the parking lot, my fiancé pushed the car into that classic first acceleration… vroom-vroom!

Ok… that was a fun acceleration, but my pride keeps it on par with my first Mazda acceleration.

A firm handshake later, my fiancé left the lot with a new sports car… proud as a peacock and officially a car owner!