Fate in mobile form

After what she called a "traumatic and shocking" accident in January, wherein a moving truck totalled the front end of her Acura Legend while she was sitting in it - parked, in order to talk on her cellphone safely – Independent sales representative Evelyn Goldman was in the market for a new car.

"It caused enough damage to the car that it wasn't worth fixing it," Goldman said. Luckily she was largely unscathed from the accident.

"Initially, I thought I would get another Acura because I was so happy with it," Goldman said. "Then I started to think about looking at other makes."

After owning a Volvo, a Datsun and her latest Acura, Goldman looked this time at the Honda Accord, Infiniti G 35, Lexus and Mercedes makes. However, her final decision surprised even her.

"There were cars that I didn't buy, that I couldn't see myself in because they're not my personality, the way I live my life, my working style, my dress style, everything," she said. "So every time I would look at a different vehicle or different make, I would try to picture myself in it. What I didn't realize was that this would be me.

"I was no longer Acura Legend Evelyn, today I was Chrysler 300 C Evelyn."

Goldman's new Chrysler 300 C, purchased from Vancouver Chrysler on Main Street, is silver, with a huge grate on the front – a nod to masculinity she said she enjoys.

"It's a very bold car. It's very solid-looking. It really emphasizes the strength of its internal mechanical nature by its very bold design," Goldman said. "It's not really a typically sort of feminine car and I guess that sort of reflects my personality. It's a strong, confident car and when I'm in the car that's what I feel like.

"A lot of reps out there at other dealerships would be surprised I would have chosen that car because I'm a woman, but I just think that's the direction of things to come. I don't see why a woman shouldn't drive a strong car like that," Goldman said.

She said strength and confidence also come in handy when shopping for a car, especially as a woman.

"I found that the salespeople were generally very polite and informative, and I even found some women in the industry, in management and sales positions, and I thought that was good. It's an updated industry, actually. It's moving with the times," Goldman said. "If you come in as an informed and educated buyer, it doesn't make a difference if you're a woman. They'll treat you with respect and give you solid answers. That's what I found."

She added that part of the appeal of the dealership where she bought the car was the bonus of an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas or Orlando or a cruise to the Bahamas. Goldman has chosen the latter, and intends to go sometime in the next year.

In describing her car-buying experience, Goldman called it an adventure.

"I can't get over it. I just love it so much. I didn't think I was going to get that involved in the purchase of a new car and be that excited about it, but it became a real adventure. It was better than buying a new pair of shoes," Goldman mused. "I started out with practical and sensible guidelines about how to decide on a car. But when I saw 'my car,' the Chrysler 300 C, and then test drove it, that was it. I was fixated. For me, it was a decision made up of practicality and passion."

After finding a car she felt so suited her personality and lifestyle, all that was left to do was buy it.

"My husband's astute comment as I provided my final choice was, 'This is just like love ... and you can't argue with love.' "

Veronika Stewart is a Vancouver freelance writer.