(Joshua’s Point of View)
I had spent the last two weeks hopping buses, and hoofing it. Between Muay Thai, HEMA, and Gate runs, my legs felt like steel cables tense with exhaustion—and that wasn’t sustainable. I needed a car: something reliable, spacious enough for plywood and MREs, and agile enough to dart through city streets. A 2024 Kawasaki Ninja sounded like a blast… but hauling building materials on a supersport bike? Not so much.
So on a humid Thursday morning I steered myself toward Midtown Auto Plaza, a cluster of gleaming showrooms where the air smelled of new-leather seats and ozone from high-powered polishers. My first stop was a gray concrete building emblazoned with a chrome “Midtown Toyota” sign. Inside, the floor gleamed like a concert stage, spotlights aimed at shining 2024 RAV4s in every color of the rainbow.
A saleswoman in a crisp navy suit introduced herself as Nina. She guided me to a red 2024 RAV4 XLE Premium. “This model’s flying off our lot,” she said, her tone practiced enthusiasm. “Starts at $37,350 MSRP, but I can do $36,800 out the door today.”
I nodded, ran my fingers along the door handle, inhaled the scent of new vinyl and plastic. “I need black,” I said. “And leather interior.”
She tapped on her tablet. “Black on black is a popular combo. We have one incoming—should arrive tomorrow.” She smiled. “Let’s talk numbers.”
Behind her, three other customers milled around a silver Tundra pickup. I braced for the usual financing speech—bundled warranties, gap insurance, sky-high interest. But I cut her off. “I’m putting down $10,000 cash,” I said, pulling cash from my wallet. “What’s my monthly payment on a $37k vehicle, 60-month loan?”
She blinked, tapped her calculator. “At a 5.2% APR, you’d owe about $538 a month.”
My gut clenched. That was higher than I liked. “Can you beat the APR? Or drop the price?”
She sighed politely, glanced at her manager across the showroom. “I’m sorry, that’s our floor—the best I can do.”
Unconvinced, I thanked her and stepped back into the mid-morning glare. If I was crossing worlds with a 10% Gate toll looming, I couldn’t overspend here. I needed options.
–––
Two blocks down, I found Uptown Motors, a smaller lot specializing in off-brand SUVs and lightly used certified pre-owned. A low-key sign read “Uptown Motors: Quality & Trust.” Inside, the air smelled of aged upholstery and coffee. A lanky salesman named Rick ambled over, offering me a stale donut.
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“We’ve got one brand-new 2024 RAV4 Adventure—blacked out, leather seats, roof rails, all-wheel drive,” Rick said, leading me to the back. It sat under a spotlight: Midnight Black Metallic paint, gloss-black alloy wheels, and cabin trim wrapped in jet-black leather with charcoal stitching. The doors opened with a satisfying thud.
I slipped inside, tested the heated seat switch, ran my palm over the leather-wrapped steering wheel. The smell was rich—oiled hide and fresh rubber. This felt like home.
Rick handed me the window sticker:
MSRP: $38,200
Destination Fee: $1,095
Dealer Prep: $495
Total Sticker: $39,790
I swallowed. “Out the door?”
He tapped his clipboard. “We’ll do $38,500 all-in. No hidden fees. You’re serious—money in hand?”
I slid the $10,000 across the hood. Rick’s eyebrows shot up. “Hell of a down payment—very smart. Financing the rest?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Five-year term, as low APR as you can swing.”
He disappeared into the back office. When he returned, his expression was almost apologetic. “I got you 4.9% APR through our credit union partner. That brings your payment to about $538 a month—similar to Midtown, but you save nearly $1,300 on price.”
I let out a breath. “Perfect.”
–––
Purchase Details:
Chosen Vehicle: 2024 Toyota RAV4 Adventure AWD, Midnight Black Metallic, Black Leather Interior
Sticker Price: $39,790
Negotiated Price: $38,500 (includes destination & prep)
Down Payment: $10,000
Amount Financed: $28,500
APR: 4.9%
Term: 60 months
Estimated Payment: $538/mo
Rick handed me the contract. The office smelled of copier toner and stale coffee. We ran through the paperwork line by line: sales tax at 8.875%, title and registration, a $250 doc fee RTC required. I initialed each sheet, feeling the weight of commitment—this car would be my lifeline.
While the finance manager keyed in numbers, Rick pointed out a showroom corner. “You like bikes? We just got that 2024 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R in. My nephew rides one—real blast.” The sportbike—a shimmering Black machine on its stand—gleamed under spotlights. I ran a finger along the fairing, felt a pang of longing. “Maybe next time,” I told him.
In under an hour, I signed the final papers, swapped my drivers license for a temporary tag, and steered the RAV4 out of the lot. The engine’s growl was nothing like a Ninja’s yelp, but the SUV’s torque off the line yanked my shoulders back in the leather-trimmed seat. I rolled down the windows and inhaled the new-car scent—mixed leather, fresh carpeting, and ozone from the detailing spray.
As I merged onto 12th Avenue, stacks of plywood, a duffel of MREs, and the compound bow rode in back seat and cargo area, secured by ratchet straps and my careful knot work. The ride felt smooth—suspension soaking up potholes, engine humming at a steady half-throttle.
A new chapter had begun: wheels under me instead of worn soles, cargo room for supplies instead of shoulder-strapped backpacks. I glanced at the Ninja ZX-6R’s showroom reflection in the rear-view mirror and allowed myself a half-smile. One day, after I’d mastered the Gate, I might circle back for that bike.
