Americans know the score

Americans always know their stuff. Especially when it comes to something as complex as roads or facilities. After doing some research yesterday with Simon’s help about buying a car, I went on tour this morning. Looking for car dealers. The first 5 people I ask, “Where’s a used car dealer here?” answer: nowhere. The garage round the corner doesn’t have anything on offer at the moment, my maps don’t go far enough to drive straight to private individuals offering cars.

So I ask further, more specifically: “Are there any used car dealers in this direction?” After a further 5 answers and 10 miles of fruitless travelling, I know: the Americans know.
If they give you directions, do the exact opposite. This achieves a breathtaking success rate of 90%. I squeeze in a FrustBurger and 2.5 litre Coke (medium size!) and wobble through Queens to the bus back to Brooklyn.

Prices at car dealers here only start at $2,500, and these are real junkers. I don’t want to go to New Jersey (cheap) because it’s too far. I’ve borrowed a map of the whole of NY now, I’m going through some private offers from www.craigslist.org and then I’ll sneak back tomorrow.