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Jul. 20th, 2005
Santa Monica Infiniti has had my car for two days now while they give the moonroof computer an attitude adjustment and find what's squeaking in the front end. Thankfully, all still under warranty. I've had a 2005 G35 (not loaded though) to drive as a loaner. I'm really liking the car more and more as I drive it. They've really made a lot of changes to it, and I'm kind of falling for it.
The only things I don't like is the roof lining feels a little cheap, and the mirrors in the visors aren't covered by a lining (just plastic covers). I know that's nit picking, but those little "would it have killed you to spend $5 here" things bug. Looking around though, you realize all car manufacturers do it somewhere. The things I hated about it before have been corrected (like that horribly ugly shifter they had in the earlier sedans), and from what I'm reading, the car's been getting awesome ratings just about everywhere—Motortrend car of the year, Car and Driver's top 10, and appears that it's a great car to lease because it holds its resale value. Most of all though, I'll finally have a car that's fun to drive again.
I've been going back and forth with a few dealers and online services. They all kind of seem the same, until my friend put me on to carsdirect.com. Those guys are pretty awesome (so far). No haggling, just, "We found the car you want. Here's your price." The price is below dealer invoice, and is among some of the better pricing I've been getting.
Here's something I didn't know though: I assumed if I wanted out of my lease, I could just pay the last remaining couple of payments and walk away. The bank told me the lease states 7 days before termination, but that, as a courtesy, they will take it up to 30 days ahead of time. Anything earlier than that, and the final check has to come from the dealer. If I send them the check, they'll gladly accept it, however, I won't be able to turn in the car until near the end of the lease. So I'm like, "so if I'm basically giving you this car early—when it's arguably worth a little more—you will not accept it?"
"It would be a voluntary repossession, and you don't want to do that."
Crazy!
I'm sure there's a logical reason, but I just don't have the energy to go find and read my contract or look it up. I was a little surprised by that. You'd think they'd gracefully accept the gift and move on.
I still need to drive one of the models with the sport package though. I'm concerned the 235/45/18" wheels, combined with the sport suspension, will make the ride a bit too rough. The car handles great with the 17" wheels now with Infiniti's Vehicle Dynamic Control, but the sport package adds a limited slip differential to the mix. Sure, it never really even rains, but still you never know when I might go plowing around an overturned canola oil truck on the freeway.
Oh well, almost 18:00 and still no call from the dealer. Looks like I'm keeping the loaner one more night! :)
The only things I don't like is the roof lining feels a little cheap, and the mirrors in the visors aren't covered by a lining (just plastic covers). I know that's nit picking, but those little "would it have killed you to spend $5 here" things bug. Looking around though, you realize all car manufacturers do it somewhere. The things I hated about it before have been corrected (like that horribly ugly shifter they had in the earlier sedans), and from what I'm reading, the car's been getting awesome ratings just about everywhere—Motortrend car of the year, Car and Driver's top 10, and appears that it's a great car to lease because it holds its resale value. Most of all though, I'll finally have a car that's fun to drive again.
I've been going back and forth with a few dealers and online services. They all kind of seem the same, until my friend put me on to carsdirect.com. Those guys are pretty awesome (so far). No haggling, just, "We found the car you want. Here's your price." The price is below dealer invoice, and is among some of the better pricing I've been getting.
Here's something I didn't know though: I assumed if I wanted out of my lease, I could just pay the last remaining couple of payments and walk away. The bank told me the lease states 7 days before termination, but that, as a courtesy, they will take it up to 30 days ahead of time. Anything earlier than that, and the final check has to come from the dealer. If I send them the check, they'll gladly accept it, however, I won't be able to turn in the car until near the end of the lease. So I'm like, "so if I'm basically giving you this car early—when it's arguably worth a little more—you will not accept it?"
"It would be a voluntary repossession, and you don't want to do that."
Crazy!
I'm sure there's a logical reason, but I just don't have the energy to go find and read my contract or look it up. I was a little surprised by that. You'd think they'd gracefully accept the gift and move on.
I still need to drive one of the models with the sport package though. I'm concerned the 235/45/18" wheels, combined with the sport suspension, will make the ride a bit too rough. The car handles great with the 17" wheels now with Infiniti's Vehicle Dynamic Control, but the sport package adds a limited slip differential to the mix. Sure, it never really even rains, but still you never know when I might go plowing around an overturned canola oil truck on the freeway.
Oh well, almost 18:00 and still no call from the dealer. Looks like I'm keeping the loaner one more night! :)
