Should I or shouldn’t I?
Many of you could argue that negotiating is a big part of purchasing a car. I learned to believe in the art of negotiation back when my mother helped me purchase my third car. By the time I had graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, I had already owned two cars. The first was a 1985 MK2 Jetta purchased originally for my sister who was in high-school at the time. It seemed like a great idea to my father to purchase this vehicle with 184,000 miles and a 1.8 liter gas sipping engine. There was only one problem. It was a manual, and she did not know how to drive a manual, nor did she want this artful ’80s boxy sedan to be her first showdown.
My second car was a 1997, MK3 VR6 – among the first of its equipment with the honking VR. We’ll save that story for another day. As quickly as my VW obsession was thrust upon me, the 1985 became my daily driver, and soon enough I had moved on to shopping for a pre-owned (I think the term had just been born) VW at Minuteman VW in Bedford, MA. The year was 2005. I can’t remember the value of the deal exactly, but one memory is forever engrained from that time at the dealer. I selected and drove a unique 6-speed manual with the VR6 (I knew my taste). The image of my mother carrying $3,000 in cash as we squeezed the numbers and tried to make a deal is forever engrained in my mind. Moreso, my mother saying to me “come-on” as we confidently (I begrudgingly) stormed toward the door, negotiating on the final sale price. The entire showroom had a front row seat to this drama and we finally wore their patience. The deal was made in our favor and I purchased my first car with the help of the artful negotiator, my mother…and her gracious $3,000 down payment.
Fast forward to today, 2025. I would like to think I have learned a few things about purchasing cars, but more so just about the world and how to operate in a fair and balanced, win-win type mentality. I have learned this from several trials and tribulations and it’s the very fabric for the birth of this website. October is forever a season of change for me personally. In 2013, I took the entire month off as I was laid off from my IT service-desk position. It was labeled “super-month” and the butt of several jokes with friends and family. I drove over to Chicago with my mom and dad in a very memorable road-trip. I took time to recharge and plan. Coming away from the time to reflect, I landed a wonderful job and continued my path of growth and learning. Most importantly, October is the month I married the love of my life, almost exactly 11 years ago to this day. What a wonderful feeling!
Today I find myself in a very similar position with opportunity abound. Taking all that I have learned, Next Exit was born. It is intended to be a community of like-minded, impassioned car enthusiasts and fanatics who enjoy selling and buying cars that they can care for, maintain and drive all while having conservative and realistic budgets.
Take the Next Exit and see what lies ahead for your next car!