Locate an Auto Repair Shop in durham, North Carolina

Not so fast, Honda said today they we're appealing it. Have to wait and see what happens. We took a trip yeasterday from Just north of Durham, NC to Portsmouth, VA.. I have a 2011 Elantra GLS and we we're getting 46.1 mpg. on the way up there on RT. 58. The speed limit is 55 and then sometimes 45, (i set the vruise at 59, their tuff up there on tickets) because ot the small towns you go thru. According to our mpg gauge, we were averaging 46.1 mpg.. We drove aroud there for a while, stopped and visted friends and started back home. I stopped(didn't have to and put put just over 7 gallons in it. According to my calculator, we averaged 40.4 mpg for the trip. I just can't beleive there are that many people who don't get close to the mileage. Around here I get 33-35, in the rural area we live in.

Just leased a 2012 Altima Sedan, 2.5S w/ SL, Tech, Conv, Conv+, Premium Audio, Spoiler, Splash Guards, Fog Lights, Floor/Trunk Mats, MSRP = 31,140. Black w/ blond leather. Sales price, $28,096 (quoted as $800 below invoice, and based upon truecar that appears true, edmunds price calculator seems off a bit (yielded $28,847, but the MRSP was off by $160 on edmunds.com)). $825 lease rebate, $500 loyalty rebate, $500 MLK weekend rebate all applied to take the total sales price to $26,271. Up-front costs are a total of $823.21, including doc ($397.90), tags ($73), first payment (283.43), and $68.88 in taxes. Payments are $275.17 plus $8.26 3% NC tax for a total of 283.43. 39 month lease, 12,000 miles per year. $595 acquisition fee rolled into the lease. I was going to lease for 36 months, but the dealer pointed out that going to 39 months saved about $14 a month, and that Nissan was offering early outs on their leases (they did offer that to me in September, for my 2009 Altima that I turned in). So I went for 39 months. Dealer was Michael Jordan Nissan in Durham, NC. I had 3 other dealers willing to take $800 to $1000 off the invoice for a new Altima, plus the $1825 off for rebates, but this dealership had the car that most closely met our option/color needs (Black was my wife's second choice on color, she really wanted Tuscan Sun, but there was not one in the state of NC w/ the Technology Package). I tried to get the dealer to $1000 off invoice, but he was firm at $800 off. I did all the negotiations by email/phone. Got to the dealership, everything was as promised and I was in/out in 75 minutes, which included the paperwork for my new car, the paperwork for my 2009 Altima lease turn-in, changing/verifying my insurance coverage, and transferring all my maps/tools/junk from the old car to the new one. No attempt to up-sell me on unwanted paint sealant, nitrogen in tires, maintenance agreements, etc. I rate this dealer A+. In addition, NMAC has committed to waive the $395 disposition fee on my 2009 Altima lease since I leased a new Altima through NMAC. I count that as another incentive, bringing the total in incentives to $2220. Love the new car!

I picked up my new Altima on Friday. All was as promised. I spent about 75 minutes total in the dealership, to do the turn-in paperwork for my 2009 Altima, go over and sign the paperwork for my new 2012 Altima, transfer all my maps/tools/junk from my old car to the new one, and change/verify my insurance coverage. Probably would have been less than an hour if I were not so talkative. EVERYTHING was as the dealer promised. No attempts to up-sell me on maintenance, nitrogen in the tires, paint sealer, etc. They do sell a $995 package that includes oil changes for life and a $500 discount on your next car, among other things. If I lived closer (it is 180 miles to my home, I visited my mother-in-law as part of this trip) and was buying instead of leasing, I would have considered it. They knew I was from out of town and did not even attempt to up-sell it to me. There were an added $68 in taxes paid up-front; I did some research and in NC, the state does tax the $1825 in incentives at 3%. In addition, it appears I got taxed on the $397.90 doc fee and the $73 license fee, for an up-tax of $14. But hey, I turned in a car with an empty tank of gas, and I got a brand new car w/ a full tank, so I did not complain. All the dealers I was "close" with were between $800 and $1000 under invoice. Tried to get my dealer to $1000 under invoice, but he was solid at $800 under, so I accepted the deal. He had the car w/ the right options, but my wife's second choice on color. Dealer was Michael Jordan Nissan in Durham, NC. I highly recommend them.

Johnson Lexus in Durham, NC

After a church committee meeting last night, we happened to drive by the Ford dealership on our way home. I had earlier explained to my wife that they were offering $10k off of the MSRP on the Ford F150 XLT 4x4 trucks. Well, you may remember how that went over at the time. Also keep in mind that she had told my friend at the beach that no truck would be parked at our house. As we drove by, I really didn't pay any attention to the lot. My mind was still on the meeting that had just concluded. Suddenly, the conversation took this turn: Wife: You know those trucks that you said were $10,000 off? Me: Yes, I remember. Wife: Well, they are now $12,500 off. Me: What?! Wife: That's what is written on the windshield of those two red ones. I turned around and drove back to the lot. She was correct. The conversation continued: Me: If you had to choose one upon penalty of death, which red color would you pick? Wife: I don't like the fire engine red, but the candy apple red is a pretty color. Me: Oh well, they aren't really practical. They sit up mighty high. Wife: True. Still, I bet that you can see well in them. Me: Oh yes, that is an advantage. Wife: It probably wouldn't fit in our garage with the Cadillac. It's so wide. Me: Well, I did measure. It's six inches wider than the convertible. Wife: Is that all? I would have thought more. Me: Me, too. I was surprised. Wife: With that kind of discount and what you would get for the convertible, the balance couldn't be much. Me: No, it wouldn't be much. Wife: You know that I never really liked these convertibles that you've had. Me: I know. If we ever trade this one, I don't plan to get another convertible. Wife: You're just like your father. He liked those pick-up trucks. Your mother certainly didn't. Me: I know, but he always bought Mother a nice car. Wife: Yes, he did. On the way home today from Durham, we passed the large Ford dealership in Raleigh. My wife said, "I bet they have lots of trucks with good deals on them." I said, "Yep. They probably do." How am I doing guys? Do you think that I'm winning her over? Richard