Buying my girlfriend a car.

"Coffey_stain" (coffey-stain)
02/05/2016 at 14:06 • Filed to: None

My girlfriend and I have been together for about five years or so.

EDIT: Thanks everyone for your input! as I said, I’m just kicking the idea around, will update if I decide on a route to take. But for now, still just in the brainstorming process

She currently has a 05 Ford Escape AWD with 225k on the clock, it’s slowly rusting away. I’d feel more comfortable with her driving something I know is structurally sound and wont leave her stranded.

We live in Upstate, NY so she needs AWD. I also work at a General Motors dealership/I’m a Mullet wearing, Beer drinkin’, GM diehard.

So it has to be GM.

Her birthday is coming up soon so I think I’m gonna buy her a newer set of wheels.

and by this I mean buy myself a car to let her drive it.

The car I have in mind is a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer SS. 6.0L, AWD, all the bells and whistles. I used to own one but had to sell it in college for something more fuel efficient for commuting year round.

I have brand new a company truck so I don’t need it for myself but what I have in mind is letting her drive it while I build it up with some bolt-on parts and a tune, Etc. and then get her a mini-van later on in life (JOKE). Then the TBSS goes full-batshit insane.

Thoughts on this plan?

P.S.- For anyone wondering why I haven’t married her yet but considering buying her a car, Why buy a ring when you can buy a car? We will get there, eventually.

P.P.S- just did the math, we’ve been together six years.

DISCUSSION (39)

Sweet Trav > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:09

TBSS has all kinds of tranmission problems. Maybe you can find a 6.0 Vortec Max 4 Door Double cab pick up?

CalzoneGolem > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:10

I don’t think it is a good idea to give her a car you’re going to want to be modifying all the time.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:10

don’t buy cars as presents.

Thats a policy of mine.

Think how much time she’s going to be behind the wheel. Is it fair for her to not have input on the car? Even just picking the color of the vehicle will greatly effect her enjoyment being behind the wheel.

How would you feel if someone bought your car and you had no input?

Coffey_stain > CalzoneGolem
02/05/2016 at 14:14

It wont quite be all the time, just headers exhaust tune for the time being, If it ever came down to some deep shit where I put it out of commision, she could take my truck.

but i do understand what you’re saying.

Coffey_stain > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/05/2016 at 14:16

I get what you’re saying, I have talked about this before with her shes not very picky she said “as long as its black or silver and doesn’t look like a mom car.”

Coffey_stain > Sweet Trav
02/05/2016 at 14:18

I would probably build up the tranny as one of the first things. My last truck was a VortecMax, she does’t quite need a truck & shes used to small SUV/crossover.

crowmolly > Sweet Trav
02/05/2016 at 14:19

I have heard this too.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:20

Buying girlfriend a car? ABORT MISSION DANGER DANGER

Coffey_stain > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/05/2016 at 14:21

Also, When I had mine a few years ago, she loved it. Worst came to worse, tuck it in the Garage.

bob and john > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:21

‘doesnt lok like a mom car’
“buys THE mommy SUV of the late 2000s”

errmmm

Trunk Impaired 318 > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:22

Where in Upstate are you? Slowly rusting away is just another way of saying you have a car and live in Upstate NY.

If you really want to be tinkering and modifying something it would probably be better to get something cheap for yourself like an F body and a normal trail blazer for her.

Just my $0.02

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:22

That is quite subjective lol. Women tend to have different definitions of things so it only complicates that subjectiveness!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:23

“Need" AWD

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:23

I mean, it’s your life man but having her not even drive it before buying it and it’s going to be her main mode of transportation?

I’m running for the hills on that one.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
02/05/2016 at 14:24

cletus gets it

gawdzillla > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:33

perfect plan, buy it

Coffey_stain > bob and john
02/05/2016 at 14:37

Haha, true, but she never complained about it being ugly at all when I had mine, she liked it!

Coffey_stain > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/05/2016 at 14:38

She drove mine plenty of times, sorry I didnt clairfy that in the orginial post. I understand what your saying.

yamahog > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:41

Oh man, I hope you don’t take the same approach to ring shopping ;)

“Hey honey I know how much you like my tungsten ring so I got you one too!”

(IE unless you know exactly what your SO wants, maybe hold off on a pricey surprise)

Why not go test driving cars and when she finds one she wants, just whip out the cash and be like “happy birthday!"

Coffey_stain > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/05/2016 at 14:41

Sorry I didnt clarify this, the Escape was her first car so shes always had all wheel drive and thats what shes used to. We live in the Adirondacks where the roads arent always plowed. I didnt mean it as she doesnt know how to drive anything else, I meant it as its what shes comfortable in.

Coffey_stain > Trunk Impaired 318
02/05/2016 at 14:46

About an hour and half north of Albany. I get your two cents, I do take care of my cars espesially in winter washing them almost daily. but the rust is inevitable. I’ve always had my heart set on getting another TBSS since I sold mine, and been thinking about it lately. Thanks for the input!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:48

Well yeah I am just kidding lol. AWD is definitely better than not AWD all things else considered equal. Any opposition to a Subaru? I know you said GM OR DIE but it's pretty limiting to not even look at other brands.

Coffey_stain > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
02/05/2016 at 14:49

haha, I know I know, weve been lifelong friends and dating since highschool weve also lived together for almost two years so, its not like I’m buying a car to give to a girl I’ve known for two weeks. If i did buy it, It would be in MY name for sure. :-)

Coffey_stain > yamahog
02/05/2016 at 14:50

Cause as an enthusiast, I cant have something normal and boring ya know?

Dont worry shes got 4 sisters so I’ll have a team ready for ring shopping. LOL

Coffey_stain > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/05/2016 at 14:53

I actually bought an 09 STI hatch after I sold the TBSS, I just sorta want something heavier if anything were to happen.

yamahog > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 14:56

Oh. *definitely* do not try to pass off your new fun car as a “present” to her, that is not cool!

And good luck with the dream team!

Future next gen S2000 owner > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 15:34

Mustang. Definitely Mustang.

dogisbadob > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 15:41

The TBSS is kinda cool. The only problem with them is the wide no-profile sports car tires almost negate the AWD.

How about a Pontiac Vibe AWD? Yeah it’s a Toyota, but it does have a GM badge, right? ;)

There’s also the Saab 92x :p

Isn’t the 9-3 Turbo X AWD too? or at least available with it? The CTS wagon was also available with AWD.

BeaterGT > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 15:45

YES DO IT.

Coffey_stain > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/05/2016 at 15:49

Somebody was bound to say it.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 15:54

My sarcasm is cranked up to 11 since the happy hour got planned over lunch.

What about a 9-7 Aero? TBSS in a - I think - nicer suit. Weird enough that people who know what it is are car people, serviceable by any GM place.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 16:53

I did this with mine, except she got a camry...our love will never die. (For the record I drive the fun gas guzzling car.)

Coffey_stain > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/05/2016 at 17:06

yeah I saw a few of them on craigslist just surfing around, if it comes down to it perhaps. Its all open ended I’ve just had the idea kickin around in my head.

Coffey_stain > dogisbadob
02/05/2016 at 17:10

I forgot about a CTS wagon! but if I went wagon I would want a V! Hell no on the Vibe, too small we have two larger dogs. 9-2x is a wrx reskinned correct? still probably too small.

Part of this is me being entirely selfish wanting to buy myself a TBSS since I sold mine but also wanting her to have a nicer vehicle. but hey it’s my money. No joint checking account here!!

dogisbadob > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 17:23

The 9-2x Aero is a WRX; the base 9-2x is a base Impreza.

I thought the SWB TB’s didn;t have too much space inside as well, as the real truck based SUV’s aren’t particularly space-efficient.

There’s also the AWD minivans from the same time period as the TB was out. Smaller on the outside, but much more space inside.

Coffey_stain > dogisbadob
02/05/2016 at 18:38

I never had a problem with inside space when I had my SS, She would actually shoot me if I had a minivan parked in the garage with a bow on it. haha

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Coffey_stain
02/05/2016 at 22:06

Heavier? That's a good thing somehow? Lol

Trunk Impaired 318 > Coffey_stain
02/06/2016 at 10:25

I’m from Watkins Glen and we have a salt mine that provides free rock salt to the highway department so there’s always ungodly amounts of salt on the roads in winter.

dogisbadob > Coffey_stain
02/06/2016 at 10:53

Too bad they never made an EXT SS!