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May 12, 2006
Fate in mobile form
"Better than buying shoes," says Goldman.
VERONIKA STEWART
After what she called a "traumatic and shocking" accident
in January, wherein a moving truck totalled the front end of her
Acura Legend while she was sitting in it - parked, in order to talk
on her cellphone safely – Independent sales representative
Evelyn Goldman was in the market for a new car.
"It caused enough damage to the car that it wasn't worth fixing
it," Goldman said. Luckily she was largely unscathed from the
accident.
"Initially, I thought I would get another Acura because I was
so happy with it," Goldman said. "Then I started to think
about looking at other makes."
After owning a Volvo, a Datsun and her latest Acura, Goldman looked
this time at the Honda Accord, Infiniti G 35, Lexus and Mercedes
makes. However, her final decision surprised even her.
"There were cars that I didn't buy, that I couldn't see myself
in because they're not my personality, the way I live my life, my
working style, my dress style, everything," she said. "So
every time I would look at a different vehicle or different make,
I would try to picture myself in it. What I didn't realize was that
this would be me.
"I was no longer Acura Legend Evelyn, today I was Chrysler
300 C Evelyn."
Goldman's new Chrysler 300 C, purchased from Vancouver Chrysler
on Main Street, is silver, with a huge grate on the front –
a nod to masculinity she said she enjoys.
"It's a very bold car. It's very solid-looking. It really emphasizes
the strength of its internal mechanical nature by its very bold
design," Goldman said. "It's not really a typically sort
of feminine car and I guess that sort of reflects my personality.
It's a strong, confident car and when I'm in the car that's what
I feel like.
"A lot of reps out there at other dealerships would be surprised
I would have chosen that car because I'm a woman, but I just think
that's the direction of things to come. I don't see why a woman
shouldn't drive a strong car like that," Goldman said.
She said strength and confidence also come in handy when shopping
for a car, especially as a woman.
"I found that the salespeople were generally very polite and
informative, and I even found some women in the industry, in management
and sales positions, and I thought that was good. It's an updated
industry, actually. It's moving with the times," Goldman said.
"If you come in as an informed and educated buyer, it doesn't
make a difference if you're a woman. They'll treat you with respect
and give you solid answers. That's what I found."
She added that part of the appeal of the dealership where she bought
the car was the bonus of an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas
or Orlando or a cruise to the Bahamas. Goldman has chosen the latter,
and intends to go sometime in the next year.
In describing her car-buying experience, Goldman called it an adventure.
"I can't get over it. I just love it so much. I didn't think
I was going to get that involved in the purchase of a new car and
be that excited about it, but it became a real adventure. It was
better than buying a new pair of shoes," Goldman mused. "I
started out with practical and sensible guidelines about how to
decide on a car. But when I saw 'my car,' the Chrysler 300 C, and
then test drove it, that was it. I was fixated. For me, it was a
decision made up of practicality and passion."
After finding a car she felt so suited her personality and lifestyle,
all that was left to do was buy it.
"My husband's astute comment as I provided my final choice
was, 'This is just like love ... and you can't argue with love.'
"
Veronika Stewart is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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