OF course the dealer just wants to charge us $200 for a 24 minute drive diagnostic (Read- they let the guys drive the car to get lunch twice).

Any particular reccommendations to give the dealer so they might find that a gear in the tranny is shot?

As for the girlfriend. I did trade in for a low mileage Maserati at one point- but it was always a huge drama. In the end I returned to this one. What is she? I guess a pre-owned Lexus GS 300- needs minor body work- fitted with aftermarket larger headlights, with 44,000 miles no rust and three kids in the back seat. Always starts- no surprises, and never leaves me stranded, theft isn't as bad as an exotic and somehow it seems to get through anything New England Weather can throw at it. Also I don't have to worry about dings as this one is "mommy hardened".

But She thinks I want a Maybach or lots of shiny low mileage free loaners from dealers (Local Boston Colleges). I probably have been on too many test drives.