We have been in the market for a new car for awhile, but we hadn’t taken the plunge because…car payments! Who likes car payments or who wants a car payment? (crickets) Exactly, no one.
Jermaine had done extensive research on our options: different brands, sporty cars, SUVs, electric cars, etc. He finally decided on a Ford Mustang. I was ecstatic about this choice because my brother owns two Mustangs. My parents bought him a Competition Orange Mustang at the beginning of his senior year in high school. Then, a few years ago, he bought himself a California Special Kona Blue Mustang.
Last Friday, we were off from work, so it was the perfect time to visit a few local dealerships. Dealership #1 didn’t have any Mustangs. Now, it is easy to get discouraged, especially in this market. However, Jermaine said that was like our warmup. That wasn’t one of the major dealerships that he had researched. We headed to dealership #2 and they had several Mustangs. As we were looking at them, it started pouring, like a torrential downpour. I was soaked. I also had patent leather sandals on which I do not recommend running in… because you can’t! So here I am standing in the rain, trying to get my shoes back on my feet, and thinking: God, please help us find a car! The concept of buying a car seemed so daunting to me. & the rain wasn’t helping! We head back into the dealership, the salesman gives me paper towels to try to dry off, and we look at the available Mustangs on the computer. We find one that was still in the back that fit all of Jermaine’s qualifications. The rain stops and the salesman brings it to the front. It is a stick shift. We are back to square one. We look at the other ones on the lot in the front AGAIN. None of those checked all the boxes. At this point, the salesman could have just said adios and sent us on our way, but he was committed to genuinely helping us. The salesman tells us that they are constantly getting cars, so he wanted us to hop into the new Bronco and head to the back with him. He shows us a few, but they were the wrong color, too old, too many miles, etc. Then, we see a Kona Blue Mustang (remember what color my brother’s Mustang is). Jermaine asks me what I think and I say I like it. Originally, he was thinking about getting a black or charcoal color one. The salesman has us sit in it and wait for him to get the keys. It checked all the boxes. Jermaine starts the car and Z88.3, the local Christian worship station, is playing. That is Jermaine’s favorite station. I look at Jermaine and smile. I said, “I think that’s a sign that this is the one!” He says, “I think you are right.” God is SO good! We drive it to the front, we test drive it, and we have them start the paperwork process. At the end of the process, we sit down with the financial person. He asks us where we live and he lives in the same area as us. We talk about all of our favorite places in the area. Such a down to earth guy! We agreed that we would come back the next morning to trade in Jermaine’s old car and pick up the Mustang.
On Saturday, I get us our usual Starbucks breakfast AND cake pops to celebrate! #LamarAdventures We get ready, head to the dealership to pick up our new ride, and then I tell Jermaine we have to get some lunch to celebrate. If you know the Lamar’s well, you know there is only one acceptable place to celebrate at: Cooper’s Hawk (when we signed on our house and signed on our furniture, we went to Cooper’s Hawk to celebrate)! So, we head to Cooper’s Hawk and celebrate the Lamar’s owning a Mustang! #datenightcar
So back to the salesman…you know when you buy a car, you spend MANY hours together. Well, if I’m going to spend a lot of time with you, I might as well as learn your story. He had just moved to Orlando from Tennessee three weeks earlier. He worked at a Honda dealership in Tennessee (he was super impressed that I drove a CR-V). On Saturday, when he put the new keys in Jermaine’s hand, I asked how business was going. He said good. He was in the middle of helping a young couple who recently had a baby. They owned a Mustang, but needed a more family friendly car. & then he told us how thankful he was for us because…WE WERE HIS FIRST SALE IN ORLANDO. Wow! We told him how we were thankful for his helpfulness and attention to us during the entire process.
God had his hands over us during the entire car buying process!
Recently, we have made some very big, adult decisions/purchases: a home, an adjustable bed, lots of furniture, and now a car. & through all of these purchases, we have been blessed to get to know the nicest humans in Orlando! The Lamar’s are so thankful to be guided by a good, good Father.
Molly Lamar 