I bought something this weekend.

I bought a new car. I’ve been going back and forth in my mind the last few weeks about trading in my van and purchasing a new car and the better half of this past week was dedicated to shopping around and finding out what I really want out of my new vehicle.

I just bought the van like 10 months ago, and it wasn’t that old of an automobile but the miles were getting up there, about 161K when I traded it in on Friday, and the cost of mechanical repairs and keeping body damage and rusting from spreading was really depressing. I wanted something that I can be truly happy with, a car that I’m comfortable in that has a solid warranty to where I don’t have to worry about anything. I wanted something brand new.

Friday I purchased a 2008 Chevy Malibu Classic LS sedan. When I was initially shopping around I didn’t think I’d be looking at purchasing a Malibu of all cars but I literally test drove 6 other vehicles last week before I found what I really wanted. The Malibu is well equipped with the 3.5L V6 that’s rated for 30 MPG highway. The LS package comes with power everything, single disc CD, the GM information center that shows you everything from oil life to tire pressure, leather wrapped shifter & steering wheel with leather accents throughout the car, I absolutely love it.

I’ve had quite a few vehicles in the past but I’ve never purchased anything this new or have spent anything close to this much money. Nor have I ever had a commitment like this before, I mean 6 years is a long time to have a loan for a car. But I swore to myself that my next vehicle would be new, that was my goal and it feels amazing to have accomplished it. The 34,000-Mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty means that for at least a year or more I don’t have to worry about anything at all, and with the 100,000-Mile Powertrain and Rust Through/Corrosion Warranties I don’t have to be concerned about major components or weather taking too much of a toll for essentially the entire time I’m paying on the car. That piece of mind alone is almost worth the 18 grand.

I took my new best friend out for a drive yesterday and I snapped a few pictures of her at the car wash, check ‘em out here. Since this car is brand new, don’t be surprised if I try to write my very first automobile review sometime soon