Engine Malfunction
So I call Garden City Mazda because I have an "engine malfunction" warning in my dashboard. Seems like extreme language. Anyway, I call them, give them my phone number (even though I’m calling from that same phone) and get a sense of “oh it’s no big deal—it’s just like a check engine light—but you need to drop it off immediately.”
Will I get a loaner at least? I have a wedding out east this weekend. Carla’s not sure. She connects me to someone else with far worse communication skills. They need my phone number again. She asks what’s the problem. I say it’s about an engine malfunction, but before I can ask about loaner cars, she says “one moment.”
It’s been 9 minutes and 50 seconds. I’ve been listening to royalty-free music, shifting between lo-fi funk and marimba synth. How many minutes are in a moment? Are they aware their song choices dilate time?
This is my punishment for leasing and knowing nothing about vehicle maintenance. 12 minutes in, she’s back. “We have an appointment next Monday.” “But Carla said you have one tomorrow at 10 am?” “We have no loaners until next week.”
Tempted to just drive to the wedding and back and hope the engine warnings are an end-of-lease bluff tactic.