Ur-Turn: I Bought A Mustang On A Whim

Back in 2009 I wrote a blog about buying a Z4M on a whim. Four years later, I’ve made another impulse buy. Prior to moving to Seattle last summer my wife and I downsized our car stable and I purchased an $8k E39 530 as my daily driver. Given how expensive Seattle can be I didn’t want a big car payment until we got our new housing budget in check. Finding a new place took less time than expected, and soon enough, I started the research process to lease a new vehicle for my 50 minute commute.

Being away from my shop and tools I left in Oklahoma, buying an old BMW like usual wasn’t the best option. I looked at everything new in the mid-size lux segment–BMW 5-series, Lexus GS, Audi A6, etc.All of them leasing in the $800 monthly range. After leaving a car show on Sunday, my wife and I stopped by a Ford dealer to look at Mustangs. The reason why is still a little fuzzy.

Since it was a Sunday, I assumed I was safe to just browse and check out what was on the lot. It turned out that in Washington, car dealers are open on Sundays, and I was quickly intercepted by a salesman. He didn’t have to work very hard to get me into a Mustang, and one drive was all it took. I giggled like a child as I roared through the empty streets of Tacoma, and all of a sudden, I had signed a lease. Within about an hour of taking the car home, I had already ordered a Ford Racing exhaust.

I’ve never been a muscle car guy to this point, but at a time when my beloved BMWs have efficiency stickers plastered on them, and cars are coming with start-stop systems and low rolling resistance tires I absolutely relish my American V8. I charge down mountain roads passing hipsters in Foresters, giving them a blip and a downshift; the exhaust actually uttering the word “Merica” as I pass.

By researching Internet reviews, getting price quotes, and test driving every car in the segment, everyone likes to think they make conservative car buying decisions. However, should you make a hasty purchase riddled with passion I’m here to let you know it’s ok. You did it because you’re a gearhead. Could I have saved $40 a month by going home and working the phones? Sure, but then I wouldn’t get to tell the story about the time I drove a candy apple red Mustang off a showroom floor.