I spent 3 years looking for a car my grandfather would approve of after he left me money

Chris Astrella drove four hours to buy a car. It saved him thousands, and he'd do it again.

Chris Astrella

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Chris Astrella, a recent car buyer in Las Vegas, Nevada. It has been edited for length and clarity.When my grandfather died, he left money for all of his grandchildren. I knew I would eventually need a new vehicle, so I put $25,000 of what he left me in the bank and decided I would use it toward a car.It took me three years to figure out what I would buy.I've owned nine vehicles in my life — but this was the first time I walked into the car-buying experience without knowing what I truly wanted. I built a spreadsheet with about 25 vehicles, including everything from a Ford Maverick hybrid and a Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, to a Toyota Venza, and even a gently used Lexus UX.The only thing I knew was that I needed a hybrid.My wife and I moved from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, where gas is more expensive. I couldn't justify buying another vehicle that only ran on gas, so I eventually narrowed my choices to the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Tucson.I walked away from the perfect HyundaiThere was a midsize Tucson SUV at a Hyundai dealership down the road from my house that I test-drove twice. It was perfect, and I was ready to make an offer. I had the money on hand and was prepared to buy it.For some reason, the dealership wouldn't negotiate.The Tucson had been sitting there for months, but they wouldn't move on the price. They, like other dealerships I had visited in Vegas during my three-year search, were adding upcharges, such as a $2,000 "reconditioning fee" for work like changing the oil and detailing the vehicle.