How to buy a car in 17 minutes

We are now the official owners of a Mazda 5!! Well, on paper. The actual car comes in 10 days.

Last night we all schlepped out to Talpiot to the Mazda dealership where Rich had stopped by a few days ago for a few pamphlets and some info. Kids were getting a little cranky because it was dinner time and I was wondering if I had brought enough snacks to tide them over. I remember getting antsy myself the last time Rich and I bought a car. So much negotiation, the guy getting up and down, so many forms...
Not so last night- the time between us stepping into the dealership to the moment Rich was shaking the guy's hand on our way out was literally 17 minutes.

How strange is it that you can haggle on the price of anything here...except a car. And you can't haggle on anything in the U.S....except a car.

We sat down, told him the color we wanted, signed a few things he went over with us...boom- proud owners of a new car. Off we went to the mall across the street to get dinner, back on the bus(es), and called it a night.