Dealers around SATX (service)

[bonson]

I am only talking vehicle service here - not sales.

My 4R experience started Jan 2005. Tryed Cavender Toyota at 410 & Bandera. had 90K mile service + water pump, timing belt done. Some things I later found were not done and/or checked. I HOPE they did the big stuff I cant see like plugs & timing belt. It is very crowded there adn you can have long waits for stuff too.

I went to Universal Toyota on the IH35. Pretty good guys and service is open til midnite. My experiences is minor, but it seems a bit busy there too. However, I would go back & try them.

I now just use San Marcos Toyota on the IH35 exit 199 (I think it is) by the big outlet mall. They are not too busy due to their location and have good customer service and decent labor price. The svc mgr even drove me home once. They are good about giving rides to New Braunfels on up past San Marcos. I got a free rental one time. We'll see what happens when I move to Smithson valley in a few months. P.S. Their parts dept is overpriced which means the parts they install are too, but convenience and getting you car back same day is nice (that includes a 20 minute ride home and then they come back to get me at my home when 4R is ready).

 

[centxrunner]

I just took my 99 SR5 to San Marcos Toyota for the 90K t-belt/waterpump service. Also had the accesory belts changed along with plugs and I needed the trannypan resealed. And I agree with Bonson by far the best dealership service experience I've had. They were $30-$90 cheaper on every service then any quote I got in Austin. Not to mention they didn't double charge on labor for the waterpump. Being in South Austin which is a little farther then New Braunsfels I didn't get a ride home but thats ok.

 

[bonson]

I just moved out to Smithson Valley / Canyon Lake area and I need more service done like brakes and tune-up check up kind of stuff and most likely will go to San Marcos and will just rent a car since I live further out now.
They are the ones I use to change the 4R oil since they have the 29 miunte lube & oil change. (I find myself basically in the area anyway).
Did you get any hail damage yesterday? I received very minor pitting in the hood and windshield.

 

[centxrunner]

Nothing but small pea to marble size hail here in southwest Austin. We did get some golfball sized hail last Friday night. But both vehicles were in the garage. btw I thought I needed brakes when I took my 99 SR5 in but didn't and the quote I got from Chuck at San Marcos was $189 for front brake service. Not a bad price since Champion Toyota here in south Austin wanted $260.

 

[bonson]

when I have to emergency stop / slam on brakes, the brakes just fade out and the car gets a kind of scary floating feeling
Its a rare occurrence

 

[centxrunner]

Bonson,
yall get any hail out of that storm lastnight? No hail here but blew over a tree and many branches in my yard not to mention all of Austin. Power is still out for about 25,000 folks here on the west and south side of town.

 

[bonson]

No, only received very heavy rains a couple of times (including this Sat am) no hail at our location near Spring Branch/Canyon lake. They did have golf ball size and some small sized hail throughout San Antonio area however.

 

[bonson]

San Antonio area dealers, Alamo

Its been along time that this posting was started and a lot has changed I suppose. I was thinking of trying Alamo Toyota in San Antonio instead of San Marcos that I usually have. Its closer than San Marcos. One reason is Alamo quoted me a cheaper labor price to install a hood latch cable (I have the new OEM part) than any other dealer.
BTW - San Marcos went from about $20 to about $50 or $60 for an oil change so I wont be getting that there anymore either.

Now, my wife had a minor accident this am. the 4Wd must not work right. She has done spin outs and donuts recently other times too in the rain, all with 4wd hi engaged. Wihle travelling 20-30 mph, she ended up off the road headed for a pole and did some minor body damage and got grass and mud all over the car & a peice of wooden post and a bunch of grass are shoved into the side of the wheel/tire (between the wheel and tire via the side bead)
I need to get all the underside inspected/maybe repaired.

My choices are Alamo, Universal or San Marcos Toyota. Any updates on any of their service depts?

 

[centxrunner]

I still use San Marcos for all my maintenance. I have noticed some changes made by the new service manager I was told. The price of a oil change went up about $5 bucks and they use Mobile Oil instead of Castrol GTX . But over all the service is still very good. Recently I had my brakes done and San Marcos was $50-$75 dollars less then Champion or Maund here in Austin. I have never used any of the other dealerships you mentioned except that I purchased my 99 SR5 from Universal.

 

[bonson]

service pricing

I have checked with:
San Marcos to install a hood latch cable labor is 156.50
Inspect the underside and 4WD etc $48


Universal Toyota to install cable is $175 and he sd he would inspect my 4R for damage for free


Alamo Toyota said $135 for labor to install cable and $49 to inpect the car for damage, but will apply to any repairs, if any

I think I will wait and have it towed in on Mon or Tues so I can decide who is the best deal I guess.

 

[4daRUNNER]

Reb McCombs Toyota in San Antonio, TX. the customer service in the SERVICE dept. was very helpful (Thomas). did extra checks at no cost when i was only there for a recall. i recommend u give them a try. http://redmccombstoyota.com

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Dude NEVER EVER go to cavendar toyota 4 service. I'm still pissed that they put nice scratch's on my fender. I did buy the car from them but service sucked. I'd say go to Beorne Toyota as you can sit and watch them work on your ride.

 

[MikesToy]

I'd say go to Beorne Toyota as you can sit and watch them work on your ride.

That must be nice!

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

That must be nice!

Yeah it's like an outdoor patio. Personally I haven't gotten my truck serviced their but I do like the parts department. It's a bit of a drive from where I live but my schools close by it.

 

[MikesToy]

Yeah it's like an outdoor patio.

Hope they have those over here in CO. I'd be videotaping my ride everytime they work on it. In case something falls thru the cracks, i got evidence plus whoever worked on my ride. :thumb3:

 

[Lester Lugnut]

I'd say go to Beorne Toyota as you can sit and watch them work on your ride.

I've done that. Watched a tech drain the oil on a 3rd Gen Avalon and NOT replace filter element in the oil filter housing on an elderly womans car.

Toyota of Boerne is a sham and for more reasons than I just mentioned.

 

[seabun]

+1 for Alamo Toyo. Live in OK but travel to SA a lot and have family and friends that work there. As this asks about service and not sales, which are also good there btw, I can say from at least my personal experience that the service dept at Alamo are straightforward. Family business, not a chain, which helps I think. My friend's Tundra needed some body work after a fun weekend so we drove down from Kileen. They got us right in, good price for everything and really fast too.

Also think it's pretty cool that their dealership is LEED Silver certified. :high5:

 

[foragg]

Toyota of Boerne is the Worst

I go to them when I had to but I avoid them like the plague. First trip they told me they could not align my runner because the outer tie rods where bad. Problem was they were new inner and outer tie rods and I showed them the old ones still in the back in a box. OOPS. My dash replacement was messed up, I had to redo a bunch of stuff and I am still struggling with problems. RUN AWAY from this place. Too bad they are so close to my house.

 

[JayToo]

+1 for Alamo Toyo. Live in OK but travel to SA a lot and have family and friends that work there. As this asks about service and not sales, which are also good there btw, I can say from at least my personal experience that the service dept at Alamo are straightforward. Family business, not a chain, which helps I think. My friend's Tundra needed some body work after a fun weekend so we drove down from Kileen. They got us right in, good price for everything and really fast too.

Also think it's pretty cool that their dealership is LEED Silver certified. :high5:

I bought my 4runner at Boerne, and I'll never ever go there for anything again.

I use Alamo for service bc it's close to my house, and they have done very well for me so far (Toyota care service and a couple of warranty issues). Also, one of the service managers is related to my neighbor, so if I ever do have a problem, I feel confident we can resolve it.

 

[Satter]

Just got my 4RUNNER back from Toyota of Boerne. The first time they had it was for over two weeks. However, on top of the laundry of things I wanted them to fix they found other problems like replacing my radiator which had a crack in it and replacing the valve cover gaskets. They also needed to replace my battery. However, in doing so it set off the alarm. Instead of trying to turn it off they literally ripped out the system. In the 20 years of having my 4Runner worked on no dealer has ever had a problem with dealing with the alarm system. A system that Toyota had installed to begin with. Because of this the locking system no longer worked on my vehicle. To add insult to injury my repair rep said there was nothing they could do to fix it since it was a third party alarm system. I’m talking about the Securikey+ system. And while it is technically true it is a third party alarm it was Toyota who installed them into their cars back in the late 90s.

After talking to my repair rep about it she requested I bring the 4RUNNER back so they could reinstall the alarm system. Which they did for free. However it took them over a week to do it.

While I’m satisfied with the work I wonder if there’s a better Toyota dealership in the SATX area that does great work. But doesn’t take a long time to do it?