[MuseChaser]

So, back in November, my local dealership (not the out of town one where I bought my "certified" 2013 FR-S) was kind enough to preemptively take care of the TSB on the windows. Last Friday, we had hard driving rain, rapidly falling temps down to the low 20's (F), followed by four inches of snow. My car was an ice cake. I cleared it and scraped it as best I could 'cause I had to get to a gig, but sure enough when I opened the door the windows groaned, cracked a bit, then remained cracked open. The passenger window was completely inoperable; the switch did nothing. The driver's side did work, but the "one-touch" up and down functions didn't, nor did the window close itself enough to seal after shutting the door. Sooo.. I called the local dealership and took it in again.

They comfirmed the issue, but were able to get'em working again just by re-initializing the windows. Perchance this is in the manual; I didn't check, and I guess I should have. In any case, they showed me how to do it if it happens again. Driver's side first - push and hold the window button down to roll the window down, and keep it pushed for another five seconds once it's down. Then, pull the switch up and keep it up while the window goes up, and for another five seconds. This resets the driver's side, and then the passenger side should become operable. Do the same procedure on the passenger window, and you should be good to go.

I'll let you know if it happens again.

On another note, the dealership where I bought the car (not a great experience, which is why I'm not naming them) had told me that the first oil change would be free, and I could have it done at any dealership. I appreciated that. At my first visit to the local place, I asked them about it and they said I'd need paperwork from the other dealership for that oil change. I contacted them, and they were kind enough to send me a card for a 12-month "pre-paid" basic or classic maintenance plan. Great.

While I was at the local place having my windows reset, I asked if they'd have time to do the oil change, and they were very happy to do so. I gave'em the card. They seemed perplexed by it, but said they'd look into it. Turned out the card, which says it covers oil changes and tire rotations, only covered up to $45 towards an oil change. That barely covered the synthetic oil. It also only covers $10 worth of the tire rotation (not that I've ever paid anyone to rotate my tires.. or do an oil change, for that matter). So, my free oil change cost me $21 (OK.. it costs more than that to do it yourself, so no worries), and tire rotations aren't fully covered either.

SOOO... even though the dealership where I bought the car included this "prepaid" package "free" with the sale... my opinion on all those STUPID after-sale add-on warranties and maintenance plans still stands. THey suck, are borderline unethical due to the fine (or completely absent) print and gotchas, and are nothing more than just added profit for the dealerships. If I'd paid for it, I'd be really mad.

SOooooooooo.... a big fat raspberry to the place in New Jersey that went back on their word on the price of my trade-in and had to be held to the fire to make good on their other promises, and another tip of the hat, hearty handclasp, and Grateful Grin to Nye Toyota in Oneida, NY.

Oh.. one more thing. I financed part of the car simply because the rate they were offering was so low that I felt my money would better served staying in investments. The finance officer at Raspberry Toyota in NJ told me that all I had to do if I wanted to send extra money in towards principal was make out a larger check and indicate "apply extra payment to principal." Sooo.. I sent'em an extra $8000 for the first payment. THEN, I get a statement from Toyota Finance the next month saying my next payment was due in a few years. NOOOooo!!!!!!! I called them and a SURREAL conversation with one of their "agents." I think he was agent 86.

Even though I'd VERY clearly indicated that I wanted the extra $8000 grand to go toward the principal, they applied it to future payments, ALL OF WHICH HAD INTEREST FIGURED AT FULL AND SLIGHTLY DECLINING PRINCIPAL through that time period. BS!! If I wanted to avoid that interest (which I obviously did, since I bothered to send them $8000), I'd have to continue making monthly payments. OK.. I had planned to. BUT, since, in their eyes, I was paid up until the end of 2017 or whatever, they weren't going to send me any STATEMENTS! I'd have to REMEMBER to send them the payment, remember what it WAS, and keep track of every one myself. AND.. if I wanted to send any extra towards the principal, I'd have to send a SEPARATE check to a different address. An address that isn't mentioned ANYWHERE on the bills, statements, or original loan documentation. Absolutely unbelievable. I'm 55, I've owned and paid off four homes in my life, and a couple car loans (although no loans in recent history), all early. NEVER have I experienced anything like this.

Do I just have "Puke On Me!" painted on my back, or has anyone else been through similarly mentally-irregular dysfunctional financial gymnastics with these space-monkeys?


Ahhh.. that felt good.

Best,

Barry