The phases of new car ownership

It is often said that you should never buy the first model year of a new car design because it’s more likely to suffer problems. Wait a while so that the manufacturer gets the kinks out is the common sense advice. But where’s the fun in that? And if you don’t jump in now, you miss out on: “The phases of new car ownership”

1. Initial excitement and pleasure at being ‘unique.’ You’re the first on the block with this cool new car, and you know everyone is looking at it, wondering what it is, and wishing they had one.

2. You start to see other cars like yours on the road. It’s exciting! Seeing other buyers validates your own purchase decision; you didn’t make a bad decision buying something new and unusual.

3. You start to notice more cars like yours. From a once in a while kind of thing, seeing a car like yours on the road becomes commonplace. You notice that not all the drivers are cool like you; in fact, a lot of them are rather common, boring and ugly people. You start to worry that other people will think you’re like that too.

4. On your drive to work you see three cars just like yours; two of them the same color. You start wishing the car wasn’t so popular. “I wanted to be unique!” you tell no one in particular. You spend time calculating how many days are left on the lease.

5. “That old thing? Oh, I got rid of that months ago.”