Is there a new car in my future?

A few months ago, I saw a TV commercial advertising a Ford Escape Hybrid. I did some research online and decided that would be a pretty nice vehicle to drive... especially if I could get it for 0% interest.

I emailed the local dealer to inquire about pricing and financing options. The sales guy replied that I'd have to pay $5K over invoice, wait 4 months and I couldn't get 0% financing.

I said I wasn't interested on those terms. He replied that he'd sell it to me for invoice, but he could not offer the 0% rate. I was still not interested. His final offer was invoice price and 0% and a 4-month wait.

I let him know that, had he been straight with me from the start, we'd be signing paperwork, but I wasn't interested in doing business with someone who was more interested in playing games.

Shortly after that I was visiting my mechanic for some minor work to my van. Their shuttle driver took me to work in a Ford Escape Hybrid. I asked about it and my mechanic said he was buying hybrid vehicles that had been totaled out and he was doing the mechanical repairs and a friend of his was doing the cosmetic work. And, then he would sell the final product. His goal is to become the most knowledgeable hybrid mechanic in the area.

Today when I took my van in for new brakes (I drove to work Monday -- 30 miles @ 65mph -- with my emergency brake on) my mechanic offered me the Ford Escape Hybrid as loaner vehicle.

It has a gauge to display approximate miles per gallon and so far, I've driven 33 miles and used about 1 gallon.

So, depending on what he decides to sell this for... it may be my new car! It's a 2007 with 5,700 miles. I'm not too concerned that it was previously wrecked because I'm buying it from a mechanic that I've trusted for the past 12 years.

Then, after they pick my numbers in the Powerball drawing, I'll get my red Mustang convertible.