First a friend in Vancouver found a nice van under $2,000.  Then my brother in law offered to give me a van free -- all I had to do was ship it.  So I got a quote.  Then I checked out how much it would cost to fly down and get it, but it was so close (and it is winter) ... that I thought .... well, best to let someone else drive.  THEN the whole shipping the van from MN kind of fell through.  They upped the price by $900.  I figured I could fly down (on miles) and drive it back and save money (from the quote) ... BUT I wasn't comfortable trying to drive a 2WD vehicle back to Alaska with the winter storms.  There have been just too many accidents ... even if it isn't my driving ... some other nut could take me out!

So, I decided to go ahead and purchase a mini-SUV (4x4).  It has been a tough winter ... with nasty driving conditions ... not to mention the fact that I can NEVER drive up a hill in the winter in the van I owned.  AND ... if we are going to continue responding to EMS/fire calls ... then we need a vehicle we can trust to go up the hill and down (safely).

I studied up on the mini SUVs -- and have come to decide that I would prefer a Ford Escape XLT (2002 - 2005) or a Toyota Rav4 (98-01) with UNDER 100,000 miles.  So -- I've been looking -- and they are tough to find!  There are NONE in Sitka and NONE in Juneau ... in my price range (definitely BELOW $7,000).  I did find a 2WD Rav4 in Fairbanks in my price range, but it is 2WD ... so I might not be able to go up hills here.

So, I've extended the search to Anchorage, Seattle, Portland area ... and have considered Phoenix and even Vegas (because I'll be in Scottsdale at the end of this month).  I've asked Pat (an ex boyfriend and mechanically inclined) in Anchorage, Dad (in Vagas), my son, Dan (an old friend and car salesman) and Athena's uncle (a mechanic) in the Portland area, my cousin Curtis in the Seattle area, and EVEN my brother in law, Jon, in the Minnesota area ... 'cause the drive would probably be equally as far as Phoenix ... but maybe not as safe through those mountain passes.  Anyway ... it looks like the Phoenix vehicles might be less expensive ... but I'm not sure about buying a car long distance.  The other bad thing is that the ferry leaves Bellingham one week after I leave Scottdale or 8 eight days later if I drive to Prince Rupert ... either leaves me with a few days to kill ... and burning my annual leave.  What do you think???

If I buy out of Seattle or Portland, then Eiric can put in on the ferry in Bellingham and I can have a gal pal meet the car in Ketchikan and move it off and put it on the connecting ferry the next day.

Anywhere else I'll have to use my mileage to fly down and drive back (in accordance with the ferry schedule).  If I buy from Anchorage (Pat will look at cars for me there), then I just have to drive up two days ahead of time to drive it to the ferry terminal in time.

Thoughts???

This buying vehicles is giving me a headache and making my stomach twist.

 

I hope that all of you are having a safe and happy winter!

 

God bless you and keep you,

 

Nae