One of the cool kids now

After some years of posting pictures of 450s and 451s that I've rented, I'm finally getting one of my own. It's a 2010 highstyle, one of 130 (or so I'm told) made for Canada. I've been working on the deal with MB Midtown in Toronto for a few days. The financing was just approved today. It's pretty much loaded. The only do-hicky I'm adding right now is an astray. (Tsk tsk, I know.)

I'm getting the tire and rim insurance, as I'll be buying a winter tire and rim package later. I already paid big $ following rim/tire damage on my Elantra after my son took it over a crater in a parking lot, so I figure with the small wheels, I should plan for the worst. I'm getting chipguard, as well as paint and interior protection, especially with the leather-cloth combo seats.

It's an employee-driven car with some 3000 km on the clock since February and thus a nice little discount for me. MB gave a good deal on the trade-in -- better than I was expecting, as the 06 Elantra 4-door HB was in a collision (teenage son) in 2007. $7000 damage. But I'm happy with what I got for it, and with only 63500 on the clock, someone's getting a comfortable, reliable ride. Usually, I've driven my cars into the ground before trade-in.

MB Midtown is really a cool place to do business. Everyone's been really friendly and helpful. I've been quite fortunate in this regard, having purchased three cars from Kingscross Hyundai over the last nine years -- they've always been really good for sales and service. Shopping at a Benz/Smart dealership is a whole other snack bracket -- whoa! There's nothing quite like it to boost ones ego.

Delivery should be some time next week, but the exact date will probably be revealed tomorrow, Friday.

So that's the view from Cloud Nine.