We negotiate it down to a fair price and I take it home. Mia and I park her FJ and go get burgers. After we eat, I take my friend and neighbor for a ride. It really comes alive when there is no salesperson or wife in the car. Get back home, park it in the driveway and life is grand. I'm pretty satisfied with my purchase.
Sunday morning I get up and start swapping LED lights from the 328 and iPod, coin holder, etc. I go to turn on the stereo and have my foot on the brake and the car starts. Sort of. It makes a noise like fast spinning metal being sheared off. I'm like WTF? The noise stops and the CEL lights up. I figure I'll shut it off and start it back up. Sounds fine, but idles rough. I drive it down the street. When I turn around I realize that I was putting down a James Bond smokescreen. My stomach turns. I drive back through the haze and park in the driveway. I get out and walk to the back of the car, which is still smoking. I touch the fluid in the tailpipe and it's straight wet gasoline. Not a little, but an incredible amount. And it's still smoking. I'm pretty sure the turbo's impeller sheared a few fins. For good measure I get the fire extinguisher out of the garage, but fortunately it wasn't needed.
I call BMW Northwest and they say they will take care of everything. This should never have happened and they are very sorry to have caused me heartache. They offer a loaner car, which I declined.
The tow truck arrives and we get the beast up on the flatbed. Mia and I hop in the FJ and head to Fife. I ask to speak to the manager,many the GM comes out. He invites me into his office and he asks "what's up?". I explain that I am the guy with the 15 hour old purchase and I am a little bit unhappy with my purchase. Before I can say another word, he tells me that if he were in my shoes, he would not be so calm, and that the reputation of his dealership will remain stellar. He asks me if I would like to reverse the sale?
Shocked, I agree and thank him for being so understanding and ethical. We walk to the finance department and he takes my contract and feeds it to the shredder. He then asks the finance lady to write up a release of responsibility. I have to make a point that this is probably one of the best car dealers and most ethical managers I have met in sales. If ever in the NW and looking for a Bimmer, I suggest BMW Northwest. They really are a good, honest dealership, with good people. He could have totally screwed me, but did what is right.
Now it back to car shopping. F**K. We look at BMW, and they have noting I want in my price range. We go to Lexus and laugh at the hideous front ends they have adorned their new lineup. The cars really look awful now. We stop by Mercedes and Audi and once again, nothing I care for in my price range.
Mia asks if I want to look at Infiniti. I said not really, as they don't really have anything I care for. She says okay and drives there anyways. We get out, look at the CPO cars and they are all cars I'm not interested in. We wander up to the new car side and here comes the sales guy. Double F**k. He walks up and says "looks like you're just browsing, you looking to buy?" I told him I was good just looking and thanks. He tells me "if you're not looking to buy, I'm not looking to sell. I'll give you and your wife some space and enjoy the sunshine. I'll be about 20 yards away so I'm not a bother, but if you have any questions, just call my name." He introduced himself and walked a ways away. We look at the different models and since everything is now a "Q", I am not sure what is what. After a few minutes I wave and he walks over. He explains the different models and understands that I am looking for something fun to drive while being a four door and comfortable. He takes me down to the Q40, or as I know it the G37. We look at a few and he asks me my budget. I explain that the cars are pretty nice, however they are about $15k over my budget. He asks about my car history and how many miles I drive. I tell him in 10 years my wife and I have had 14 cars in 10 years. I drive about 7k a year. He is floored that I have never leased a car.
We take one for a test drive and it's quite powerful. I'm impressed at how the NA engine puts down the power, and snaps your head back a little. Much more so than the 335 that just blew it's turbo in my driveway.
We go inside, talk some numbers and he comes back with a pretty crazy lease offer. Crazy as in way too much. We haggle for a few and I excuse myself to go to the restroom. I head straight to the sales manager and within 3 minutes we have a lease negotiated that I am paying 25% less than I was to purchase a $27k car.
So I picked up a 2015 Q40 AWD, in Graphite Shadow, with Graphite leather, moonroof, Nav, illuminated kick plates, splash guards and the trunk liner. It's quite a fantastic car, and Infiniti has made some remarkable changes since the '04 G35 that I had.
Needless to say, I am quite happy with leasing a car at 0 down and having it 25% under budget. I am also quite happy to have a car that is this sweet. It's one hell of a beautiful car, handles well, and accelerates great. The creature comforts are outstanding. My only two complaints are they it needs 19" wheels and it would be great if the stereo would auto adjust the volume back to a low level when the car is shut off. Both these issues I can live with. I have to say, I honestly wasn't going to give Infiniti a second look. I'm glad Mia took me there. I am super happy with my new car.
Here's a few pics of the Q40, and one of the black BMW I sold, and the white one before it self destructed.
