Just Say NO

Sadly, the Lexus was trash. The paint was chipped, the hood wouldn't stay open on its own, the antenna was held together with tape, the seats were torn, the floors and doors were dirty and the front disc brakes were deeply scored. I didn't even take it for a test drive. I'm beginning to question the Lexus mystique. I mean, even after 13 years, wouldn't you expect the leather seats to stay sewn together? Both front seats were split open at the the seams.
I asked the salesman if he had any other cars in that price range. He took us to a far corner of the lot where a 1990 Accord was sitting. The Accord, he explained, had just been traded in on -what else? A new accord. The 1990 Accord had only 133,000 miles on it. It was a one-owner, locally owned car. We took it for a test drive. The engine seemed a little underpowered and under-torqued. The interior was a bit dirty and some plastic trim was broken. When we got back from the test drive I opened the trunk and found water standing in the depressions. Hmmm. I asked the salesman what price was placed on the car. He said, "The asking price is $4995." He was quick to make sure I knew that the price was just the "asking" price. I took his name and number and said I'd get back to him. When we got home, I looked the car up on the NADA and Edmunds web sites. Both put its value at around $2350. That's a long way from the "asking price". I think I'll pass on the Honda as well.
After we finished looking at used cars, I asked him to show us a new Odyssey. He showed us a EX-L and a Touring. The EX-L is $9,000 less than the Touring and I didn't see enough difference to justify the extra bucks for the Touring. Both were verrrry nice vehicles with all kinds of bells and whistles. Before I get carried away with trading in the Explorer on a Honda, I need to go test drive a Grand Caravan. It is rated as high as the Odyssey but costs $10,000 less than the EX-L!
But, first things first. I need to find cheap, reliable transportation fast in case I get hired at the resort next week.