But he does not believe this justifies terminating his contract. If the Cambridge market can not support the dealership, he says, he will close the business himself.

Ko also believes he has drawn more business than the minimum required by his contract, an argument he hopes will be persuasive in court.

While sales at the dealership are not as high as he would like, the parts and service center is very successful, he says.

Ko's operation is the largest parts whole-saler in Boston, grossing over $2 million each year.

As Ko watched employees moving cars on and off hydraulic lifts this week with the efficiency of a pre-med switching colored pens, he says he feels betrayed by the company.

"When you sign an agreement like this, it's like signing a marriage license," Ko says. "These guys, they only like me when I'm young and pretty."

Other corporations are choosing different strategies to cope with the changing car market.

Instead of terminating franchises, Ko says that General Motors is buying out smaller dealers. Toyota, a corporation which, Ko says, sees the parent company and the dealer as one family, is cutting a very small number of dealerships.

While Ko enjoys working in Cambridge, the urban environment and tight-knit neighborhoods make it difficult to expand business.

"Cambridge just doesn't have a place where you can get two or three acres to put up a dealership," he says.

As they hustled around the shop on Monday, most of Ko's employees said they are very happy with the way he is handling the situation.

When Nissan gave him the termination notice Ko immediately held a meeting with all of his workers to discuss the situation.

And while they all have a deep respect for Ko, some employees feel he is being too nice to the corporation.

"I'd be a little more pissed of than he is," said one mechanic who asked not to be named.

Ko and his lawyer feel that they have the upper hand in their ongoing legal battle with Nissan.

Later this spring, the case will be heard in federal court.

In the meantime, Ko continues to question the values of his parent company.

"Sometimes things happen and you just have a gut feeling that they aren't right," he said