Spiritual Car Shopping

My friend Lydia thinks I'm weird. But... she would never go car shopping without me. Why? Because I apply Spiritual principles to whatever I do. Over the years she noticed that this always gets great results.

The first time Lydia invited me to go car shopping was back in 2003. She was willing to try it my way. I suggested that she picture the perfect car that would meet all her needs. She wanted a late model used car with low mileage and a low price. I joined my heart and here mind with her's in this wish.

We stopped at the nearest car dealer. As we strolled through the used car lot, we noticed a 2002 Mazda with a price tag of only $11,000. Compared to the other cars, this seemed exceptionally low. We asked a salesman about it, and after checking he explained that someone had put the wrong sticker on the car. It was really more expensive.

Lydia let him know in no uncertain terms that she expected to buy the car for the price on the sticker. After consulting with his manager, the salesman realized that they would have to honor this price. Lydia happily drove home in her new, used, reasonably priced, low mileage Mazda.

After many years of trouble free driving, Lydia was ready to go car shopping again, so we set a date. However she had forgotten how we got the perfect car and the perfect deal before. She was focusing on getting 0% and a good trade-in for the Mazda. I compared shopping that way to looking for a billionaire to marry. You might find the billionaire, and he might marry you, but he may be a wife beater. Lydia might get her 0% and a great price for the Mazda, but end up with a car that's a beater.

So Lydia changed her focus. I told her to imagine a car that would make her feel like a queen; a beautiful vehicle to carry her wherever she wished to go. But when the morning to go car shopping arrived, Lydia had other things on her mind and was in no mood to buy a car. "Forget about buying a car," I said. "Let's visit the car dealers but instead of intending to buy a car, let's just have fun!"

When Lydia arrived to pick me up, she asked how I saw the day unfolding. From the ear in my heart I heard, "Go West." Driving West meant passing car dealer after car dealer. Lydia was favoring a Toyota Camry, but she also liked my Honda Civic. I suggested that since the Toyota dealer was closer, we could stop there first, and then go on to the Honda dealer. We were driving in the right lane, and suddenly realized the Toyota dealer was on the left side of the street. Staying in the flow, I told her, "Rather than turning around, let's start out at the Honda Dealer."

I not only drive a Honda myself, but at this particular dealer I was considered to be the "Honda Queen," having recently co-signed for two Hondas for family members there. When we arrived we asked for David, the salesman I had worked with before. Kurt, the sales manager also greeted us warmly. He told Lydia that she was "radiant," and began gushing over her beautiful hair. Meanwhile, David patiently answered all of her questions. I suggested that she look at the Accord instead of the Civic. David checked and found a 2010 royal blue Accord with 5,500 miles, a demo car driven only by their salesmen. It was still under warrantee. He gave her the best price with no haggling.

Lydia didn't want to test drive the car because it was snowing and slippery outside. But it was lunch time. Kurt and David suggested that we drive the Accord to lunch, and see how it felt. We headed east to one of our favorite lunch buffets. By the time we got back to the Honda dealer, Lydia had found her car. She felt like a queen behind the wheel. (It was royal blue after all.) The interest rate was only.9%, and I asked that the $200 all weather mats be included. Kurt had to ask the owner Bob, who gave his approval.