I went to the Mitsubishi dealership called Charlie Thomas Mitsubishi located on 13800 Gulf Freeway in Houston, TX, following an advertisement for a Astrovan (or something like that) for $10000. I was at the end of a lease with GMAC (that's another complaint). I had hoped to more or less trade the vehicles. The salesperson Gary Lee convinced me that I didn't want that vehicle although it's the first time I saw an advertised low-priced vehicle actually on the lot. He showed me the 2001 Montero Sport LS.
We did the numbers and found that I could not afford it. I told him I was currently at the baloon payment of a lease that I was trying to find an acceptable way out of since GMAC would not refinance the balance and no bank would since I owed way more than the vehicle was worth. He told me about the Diamond Advantage lease. He said that I could lease the vehicle but had to keep it at least 3 years.
I thought that was perfect. If I got tired of the vehicle in 3 years I could return it but would have to return it in 5-1/2 years. I thought there really would be very little pressure about returning it without purchasing or leasing another. I agreed. The paperwork was written up. I wish to this day that I would not have been such a fool as to believe anything that isn't in writing when it comes to these types of things. I went to return the vehicle at the end of 3 years because the dealership was sending me notices that they wanted to buy my used Montero.
I went and found out that they wanted me to trade it for another lease or buy situation. I did not want another Mitsubishi. The vehicle served me well but I was too angry about the trick of being told I could return it in 3 years with no strings and then not being able to do it. I was also angry about driving over 50 miles to find that out. That added mileage. I have toughed it out and it is now the end of the lease agreement and so many new things have come up.
I still did not realize that I could not just take the car to the dealership after making the final payment, leave the keys and walk away. I did not know that there was a power of attorney to sign to release the car to them since I never thought it was mine to release. I did not realize that I had to schedule an inspection and then wait to receive the final report/invoice from the inspector as to any final costs I may need to pay.
I did not realize that after the inspector looked at it that I could not leave it at the dealership. I did not realize that after I receive the report, I have to call Mitsubishi Motors to let them know which dealership I am leaving the vehicle with. It seems to me that all they would have to do is enter the VIN and that would report where I left it.
I found out all of this by calling over 5 times. I hate that although they advertise this Plan as a no pressure at lease-end, it is. When you call to ask questions, they ask every time why don't you want to keep it. I should ask them why don't they want it back? Resell it. It's in great condition. I am so upset with Mitsubishi, this Plan and myself for not walking away and finding another way to deal with my situation. I paid $462.55 a month for 65 months. I'd say that I paid for this vehicle and the "trade-in" that I left plus interest, taxes and title. Yet, I still owe almost $11k. I don't imagine an attorney can help with this because I signed it.
I can't prove that this was not the agreement I signed. It is certainly not the agreement I thought I made with Mitsubishi through the dealership. I am now waiting for my final check to post so that I can schedule an inspection and hopefully, very soon, be walking away from this vehicle and MMCA. I am very stressed about it because I imagine that they will consider something to be beyond normal wear and tear and charge me more than a car note but not much less than the total amount due. I am fearful that I should call them again and ask what else do I need to know.
Lesson painfully and expensively learned. Stay away from leases unless you are a big corporation and/or know that you really don't mind trading one lease for another and another forever Amen.
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