[WhenenRome]

(Thead updated with photos... scroll down to 12th post.)

A week ago, if anyone told me that I was about to buy another car, I'd have said they're nuts.

But then a friend / former co-worker mentioned she was in the market for a new car, and had looked into trading in her 2001 Aurora 3.5. She found that she'd get a lot more for it selling to a private party. I happened to run into her and, well, that private party ended up being me. I first talked to her about it Wednesday (said that I ''might know someone who'd be interested!''), then on Thursday I confessed that someone was me, test-drove it, and decided to buy it for certain. Finally, I went to get the cashier's check and do the transfer on Friday.

Though I'd seen her often in the Aurora and knew how well she cared for it, you can just tell from one look that it's in excellent condition. This car had been kept immaculately, detailed at least twice a year, and consistently maintained. In just under 5 years, it had only 39K miles.

So far, it's been incredible. We've noticed our Bravada Final 500 has often been a head-turner, and in just a few days the Aurora seems even moreso. It's black (with a coat so shiny, it almost seems wet) with the gold kit (gold applied to the Aurora logos and all insignias), and the chromed stock rims. A custom walnut burlwood was added to fill-in the dashboard's center stack, so with the exception of the radio head unit, wood runs right up to every button and control - and matches so well, it's almost seemless.

The Aurora is ultimately replacing our Alero GLS, which we'll be selling soon. Its bluebook is valued at $8200 (for good condition category and 64K miles), and we'll probably sell it a little under that amount. So at the end of the day, we'll have net-paid a little over $2000 to "upgrade" to the Aurora.

We're just so impressed with this car. It has been a very happy first few days! And at least half by serendipity, I've now been an Oldsmobile owner three times over in 5 years.