>So I had to bring my car in for an electrical issue (yeah, the one I just bought… with 5000 miles on it). From what the service guy said they’re having similar issues with all the Mazdaspeed models due to the extra complicated alarm (shock sensor). I don’t give a hoot about the sophisticated stock alarm… active word here being stock — no. I need to have it working correctly first – however, as that is what the warranty is all about and also that way they won’t be able to blame it on the aftermarket alarm if anything should happen further down the road.

First: the dealership –

A man arguing at the parts counter, perturbed and just wanting someone to listen to him. I can understand – 2000 626 with 30,000 miles — 2 months past warranty, and it’s broken down on the side of the road with a coolant issue. Overheating can’t be good for the engine as a whole. He says: “I bought a Mazda so I wouldn’t have to worry about things like this! Everyone says: buy a Japanese car!” the guy behind the counter says: “Well you should have bought a Toyota, that’s what I have.”

~ I couldn’t believe it, what gall.

2nd: the ride home –

They have a ‘shuttle service’ so I got a ride from them – idle chit chat here and there with the guy after making a cell call or two… he’s from the area, knows the roads as I can tell from his shortcut through the traffic-free areas of the city. He is about to take a turn down a one way street (the wrong way, of course) but catches himself.

Not meaning for it to be related to his snafu I asked: “So do you do most of the driving, or do you guys trade off?”

“Oh, I do all the driving.” {pause} “I don’t normally do that… head’s really busy” {pause} “I just recently broke up with my girlfriend, was living with her and her kid. Well, she met someone on the internet… was talking to him for about 3 weeks (it was most likely a lot longer then that, but I wasn’t about to tell him otherwise) then flew off to Jordan.

Now your question might be: “middle east — Jordan?” as mine was.

“Yeah, middle east Jordan… then she comes back Mrs Baghdad”

I figured he was joking, chuckled a little… but her name really was Mrs Baghdad. Apparently they married just for the green card, so he says… but I wouldn’t put it past him. “Aha, I’ve finally found a naive American woman who will marry me into America!”

The biggest issue was custody. He had been living with them for a while, and since she just took off — no provisions for her child (he’s 14/15) he filed for guardianship. She then comes home about 11 o’clock and gets into a giant argument – yelling and fighting… man, just a bad scene.

I wished him luck.

So other people really do have it a bit more rough, keep that in mind.

After a second drive with the guy I learned he used to work for MediaOne… running cable for my building, then when AT&T went to Charter they cut back on the contractors. He was one of them, so now he’s a driver for a Mazda dealership.

I can’t imagine working in an entirely different field, with telecommunications booming like it was… feeling all confident about the future, then *BLAM* you get cut and you’re no where near telecommunications.

He seemed like a happy guy, had some jokes between us… all in all a very pleasant guy. Probably the only one worth any salt at that dealership.

Oh… and I called Mazda customer service with all my complaints against this particular dealership. There’s just so much that shouldn’t be at this place, stuff that was perfect at the Shrewsburry dealership… and is probably the only reason why I noticed and have an issue with it.