It is my Grubbs Infiniti chapter. When I was widowed in 2010, my children and I decided that leasing a car might be a good idea so that I could always be in a newer vehicle. I had already owned two Infinitis, as I remember. Rob spotted a great lease deal on a sign at Grubbs, and I leased my first. Three years later, my second, and so on until July of 2021.
My leases go back to well before my cell phone camera. I'm sure there were at least five, maybe six. I loved leasing from Grubbs, because they had a lovely customer lounge with fancy coffee machine and really good snacks. It was an outing for me. I did many a Bible Study Fellowship lesson there! I loved the Christian music which played in their waiting rooms. I prepaid for maintenance services through my lease, and none of my Infinitis were serviced anywhere else ever! I thought it was kind of a bougie place!
Here I am with my 2018 model. It was the prettiest blue.
And here I am with my 2021 sleek black model.
When I went in in 2021, I said that I needed my lease to stay about the same (as everyone says, I've since realized!) So it did go up, but but maybe (only!) $50/month. So last year, 2024, I began to wonder why I wasn't getting calls about re-upping my lease. I checked and found out that it was because I had a four year, not a three year lease. Now don't even think of telling me I should have read what I signed. I have already beaten myself to a pulp.
But...
No one ever mentioned 48 months to me. Or 4 years. No salesman or finance person. Those words did NOT fall on these ears.
But I have no legal standing. I signed the lease. I watch
Judge Judy.
I wonder if they all gathered around and high fived each other after I left?
For better or worse, I have now decided to buy out my lease rather than shop for a new but less expensive car. Mine only has 27,000 miles, and I put $$$ new run flat tires on it to drive to Galveston for our cruise. (Another reason for a 3 year lease--no new tires)
Incidentally, Infiniti stopped making a sedan in 2024. Now nothing but SUVs.
So today I had to make the trek to Grubbs in Grapevine in order to hand them a check for my car. Valet service and the good snacks have fallen by the wayside. You're lucky to get a bottle of water now. But the salesman who was helping me said I must bring it in and sign papers in person.
I said, "Please tell me this is not so you can attempt to sell me the extended warranty again. I have already decided I am not going to take it and told you ten times."
"No, no, the State of Texas requires that we examine your car before you can buy your car." I'm still puzzling over that, which took forever.
Then the salesman told me I had to go to the Finance Department and that it would be 15 minutes wait. I was watching the clock trying to get away before the heavy traffic.
Finally the finance person came and got me, and guess what?
Yes, her #1 goal was to sell me the extended warranty. She acted like I was an imbecile for refusing.
She had a really slick way of presenting it which made it sound like the warranty was only $1000, while never telling me it was $2880--or $3880 with maintenance.) When I realized what was happening she got abrupt and surly, rudely asking for her pen back before I had a chance to give it to her, and letting me leave without a goodbye or thank you.
But, you know what? I'll just bet there was no high fiving!
They knew I was up-set.
I'm sad tonight. I've loved my Infinitis (oh, she also curtly informed me as I wrote my check that Infiniti ended in an "i") Surprise! In at least 20 years of owning them I actually know that!
I'm really feeling confident about my decision though.
I think I have my forever car.
Except that, as I've shown you before, it is crooked.
No matter how well I park, it ends up like this.
