Carmax here in Atlanta has been selling X-fires for $28,500 thru Feb. I decided it was time....time for me to get my butt in a X-fire. The problem is my partner has a 04 Audi A4 Cabriolet and I had the 03 Honda Pilot EX-L that we used for hauling people, things and a new dog. How could I get a Crossfire and still be able to haul around crap? Well, that's when I decided to buy the X-fire AND a 2003 Honda Element EX.

To stagger the purchases, I confirmed with Carmax that I could order the X-fire (with a 6-12 week delivery time) and still get the current price (or better) when the car actually arrived. On 4 occassions I asked them to confirm that I could order at the end of Feb. Sure, no problem they said.

So, on Friday I go to negotiate on an Element and during the process I call my salesman at Carmax to tell him I was gonna stop by with the deposit and place the order later that night. He called me back as I was wrapping up the Honda transaction and told me that they COULD NO LONGER ORDER MY X-FIRE. I was so pissed. I wouldn't have bought the Element otherwise!

There were many X-fires on dealer lots around Atlanta, but they were all automatics or some color combo I didn't want. Carmax did nothing to make amends. The didn't offer to locate a car for me...nothing.

Don't get me wrong, I really love the Element for what it is (an inexpensive cargo van that drives like a car) but I'd have kept my Pilot if I knew Carmax was gonna wig on me.

So, on Sunday, I found a graphite 6spd with dark/med slate interior in hicksville Georgia. It took some doing and leaving the dealership once, but I GOT MY CROSSFIRE damnit! And she's a doll.

$29,000 plus tax, tag and title. With the higher doc fee, I paid about $700.00 more than Carmax was asking, but it's still a good price. Worth it as I don't care for the dark slate or cedar interiors. Personal taste.

Whew....tough weekend, but I just couldn't let you boys have all the fun!


Dallas