Sticker Shock!!

The last car I purchased was in 2004. Currently my chariot has over 193,000 miles on the odometer... although the engine has a whole lot less... having been replaced a few years ago.

It took me MONTHS to find that car. I test drove everything out there... from 'whoa is me no body loves me' cars... to 'over the top out of my price range' vehicles. I decided to purchase a sturdy, reliable model know for it's longevity and safety. Once I got over the sticker shock, I happily drove off the lot vowing to drive this car for 10 years, or 300,000 miles, which ever comes first. On the fifth anniversary of ownership the odometer read 150,000 miles.

At the time I was driving to Kentucky twice a month, and an hour and a half to Pennsylvania to visit my husband in the hospital 3 nights a week. The miles were racking up rapidly. However I closed the warehouse in Kentucky, my husband passed away, and I closed my stores. Now I stay home a lot and work a little over a mile away... so the mileage rule no longer applies. 2014 will be the year I purchase a new car.

For fun I decided to check the cars that are available in 2012... just to get a feel of what's out there and how much I will have to save so I can pay cash for my new car. YIKES!!! First of all I couldn't find one car I liked... and second of all they are so EXPENSIVE! 

So... does any one have any thoughts of what car I should look at and test drive?