On August 30, 2023, I referenced the yellow check engine light in my Miata. I was concerned because according to the sticker on the front windshield, the car was not yet due service. Throwing caution to the wind, I drove the car to the San Antonio International Airport the next morning anyway because it is an easy car to park in the parking garage. Of course, that meant my suitcase was perched on the passenger seat. It is too large to fit inside the trunk.
By the time I returned from D.C., an email notification from the Mazda dealer alerted me that it was time for service. I found it surprising that they knew the exact number of miles on the vehicle. My drive from the San Antonio airport back home was less stressful because I didn't worry about the car breaking down.
Consequently, I've not moved the Miata out of the garage until yesterday morning. It has been parked for over a month. According to my calendar, yesterday morning was my scheduled day to get the car serviced.
Does anyone find it strange that it takes a month to get a car scheduled for maintenance? I have friends that have a Audi, a well-built vehicle from Germany. My friends are not pretentious people, but the German made vehicle was a giant step-up from the weather beaten old Suburban they drove. When their check engine light came on, they had to schedule service six-months out. Seriously, who does that?
When I left for the dealership yesterday morning, it was with the thought that maybe it was time to sell the Miata. Earlier in the year, I bought a set of new tires. They were more expensive than I anticipated. The car is now 7 1/2 years old. What if other stuff begins to fall apart? The insurance is also more than you might imagine.
When I bought the car, it was not because I needed it for transportation. I bought it simply because I wanted it for rag-top-down back-road country driving. It works better than a cold can of beer and a Marlborough cigarette to eliminate stress. Of course, that concept is based on theory rather than practice.
I was shocked when I arrived at the dealership. The place was packed with people. The guy who waited on me was the same service attendant that waited on me the time before. I asked if he would mind pairing my new-three-month-old-phone with the car. I didn't remember how to do that. He thoughtfully said yes.
I then asked if they also wash vehicles. The Miata was dirty. He told me that the standard car wash is $20 but added that I would not be pleased. For $50, I could get the car detailed, and it would look brand new.
Since the thought crossed my mind, it came out my mouth: "How do I justify to my wife that I spent $50 for a carwash? The man was an absolute genius. He looked at me as thought I had "STUPID" written on my forehead. He said: "Don't tell her anything. It will be part of what it cost for service. Why didn't I think of that?
It was fortunate that I had my computer with me because I had work to do. I never anticipated that I would be at the dealership for over five hours. During that period, I drank five or six cups of hot chocolate and ate two packages of crackers and peanut butter.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Miata. It looked like as though it just came off the showroom floor. It didn't have the new car smell, but all the testing indicated the vehicle is in top quality condition. The 7 1/2-year-old Miata now has 20,727 miles on it, and it looks brand new.
When I handed the service advisor my credit card he said: "They say time is money. You have been here a very long time. I'm going to adjust your bill. He subtracted $30 from the car wash. And for the record, I am not selling the car.
It was a Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay Wonderful Day.
All My Best,
Don
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