Wishing for a hassle and haggle free experience

The car I am seeking. The color I prefer. The negotiation I cannot handle right, apparently.

I hate everything about this process.

I've been poring over information way too often over the last month or so. Hashing and rehashing scenarios in my head. Perform calculations and using online tools to research data and crunch numbers.

I honestly think I've put more obsessive time into this than I did into picking colleges.

We're in the market for a new car. An upgrade of sorts.

The last time we purchased a vehicle it was 2009, and that went to my partner in parenthood. Since then, I inherited her vehicle—a now twelve (thirteen?) year old Chevrolet Cavalier. It has power steering. And a CD player.

That would be the extent of the amenities it possesses. No remote unlock. Hell, no power locks at all. No power windows; I may have one of the last cars made in the 2000s where you have to crank the window down to place the order at Taco Bell.

It's the car that we used to move across the country from Pennsylvania to Las Vegas. But she's showing her age now, including a finicky air conditioning/radiator system. The time to get out is sooner rather than later.

The problem is the other side of the coin: Actually purchasing a new vehicle.

When doing the initial look for a car, the consideration was buying used. But as I dug through things, it seemed that for just a little bit more, we could get a new vehicle of our very own.

Between the two of us, though, we have purchased three (used) cars. One was through CarMax (current Saturn hybrid), one was bought online as an emergency replacement for a car (my old Pontiac Sunfire GT that I still lament losing a little), and one was purchased from a dealer the old-fashioned way (the current Chevy Cavalier).

I didn't negotiate for my Sunfire. I was back home in New York when I sent the email arranging to purchase it because I needed a new car ASAP.

CarMax doesn't haggle, so there was no negotiation to go through there.

I don't really remember negotiation for the Cavalier. My memory for that event is just not clear.

But now here we are. With me trying to negotiate (badly) over email about purchasing a new car.

This whole process is mind-numbing. It is not an area of skill I possess.

I'm also not a "now" person, as is obvious by how long I am dragging this thing out. The unfamiliarity with the process, the terms...all of it is causing me agita.

So the beat will go on. And maybe I'll pull it together enough to get the car.

But right now, I just want a nap. And a hug.