Service, where?

[Larry]

Where do you get your service?

1. Dealer
2. Independent Shop
3. Yourself

Do you trust the dealer? All service, some service, warranty only?

I just left the dealer. The Service Advisor told me, when asked about the cabin air filter, that it was $32 plus an hour labor (choke). I was also told that if I had any problems related to not changing the filter that the warranty would not apply. So I went to a parts store and bought a good quality filter for $22 and, after removing five pounds of junk from the glove box and one screw, replaced the filter myself. It's my first time and it only took a few minutes. I just don't think I can afford service at a dealer.

I asked a local independent shop that specializes in Toyota about what he charges. It's $18 for the filter and he said that it's such a simple operation that they don't have a labor charge and just include it in what ever service they are doing. He also said that if I wanted to have one installed, he would do it for parts only, if that's all I wanted. Now, here's a guy after my business.

 

[jharris2]

I use the dealership because the service department has shown that they want the business and are fair. But each dealer is different.

Each independent shop is different, too -- they are only as good as their management and technicians. I've had some that tried to rip me off worse than the dealership, others that are very honest and reputable.

There is so little that I can do to the vehicle any more, then that's not an option for me. (Not like the mid-70's models when I could tear them down and rebuild them. Of course, I had a lot more time back then, too.) But simple stuff like the air filters is something that I watch because it pains me to pay anyone a labor charge for something I can do in 5 minutes.

 

[EDGE]

Either do it myself, small stuff or take it to the dealer only a certain Dealer, I'd rather pay slightly more for a 30k interval service which is coming up, have them get rid of all the waste oil and be done with it, plus they know me and I bitch them out for every little thing, the original Dealer pissed me off so I curse the 1st Dealer at the 2nd Dealer and they seem to like me but their 2 competing dealers.

Im anal when it comes to my cars especially when I pay someone to do the job and I speak without thinking, several times I had to have something done and I know my cars and what they need so when I took it to a Midas brake place and said just give me front pads and their taking my rear wheels off I let them have it.

The 4Runners don't seem that hard to do general maintenance on but it's a time thing, I don't have the time or patience to change my oil anymore

 

[02SE]

I do all my own service. I simply don't trust anyone else to do it right.

 

[beeper]

Service myself

Normally ,I have to say I would rather take vehicle to dealer for service. Thats if I like the dealer,feel they want my business and give me a fair price and I think there doing all that I am paying for. I can do most all maintanence including brakes. However it gets pretty cold in my garage and I just don't want to deal with it when its cold.
Went to dealer last week for 2000 mi oil change (2005). Only went there to get my maintanance stamp...they didn't make me feel good and they got grease on my floor mat ..the only area not covered by a rubber mat and they got it.
So I won't be going back and they charged $35 which is way to much. So I bought factory filters and will do my own from here on. Its a lease so don't think I'll do syntheic

 

[Noloc]

I get all of my service done at the dealer. They provide excellent service every time I go.

 

[Larry]

Speaking of good service, I just received a discount coupon for a cabin air filter....$59. Last week I was told it was $32 plus one hour labor...$65, so look at the great deal they are offiering. It's nice to know they are always there looking out for my welfare.

When I was quoted the price the coupon was already out there and had not expired. Such good people, those dealer service writers.

 

[hoss]

service

i purchased a good quality jack and stands go to toyato and buy all needed parts and do all mtce myself, i only trust stealership doing TSB's. my service manager is an idiot! caught him in two lies
Don't trust stealership not matter how customer service oriented they are. but then again don't burn bridges they may have to step up to the plate for warranty claims

:bash:

 

[tkr128]

The dealer does my car. I've found one service manager that is very good and I tend to stick with him when I do need to have my car done. AAA members also get a 10% discount, so that's a plus. I just don't have the time or resources to do a lot of the stuff myself.

I agree about the cabin air filter though. The first time I was charged $45 to replace it and I thought it was ridiculous. Now, I'll just go out and buy a filter for less than $20 and change it myself. It takes less than 5 minutes to do.

 

[Mark86]

I use the dealer for all service. They are nice to me and reasonably priced. They also give out free loaners if your vehicle is their for something other than a routine oil change.

 

[chillwihll]

Yeah the cabin air filter is cake to change.

 

[EDGE]

I was at the Toyota dealer and Im their and this other guy with a LC is their, so the oil change kid comes out with a cabin filter from this womans camry and is like this is your filter, all messy with leaves and clumps of dust or dirt and the woman is like how much does a new 1 cost and the kid replies 60bucks and everyone in the waiting room is like

Freaking BS and the stupid games they play, at least call the woman into the shop and show her don't come into the waiting room acting all innocent, the woman looked like she was running low on cash, thats kinda like telling homeless people their is a cover charge of 20 at the door for ThanksGiving Dinner

If you go in for an oil change they could easily give it to you for 20 bucks, and the filters seem to have reduced in quality, think that may be due to moving filter production to Thailand or something, at least the Lexus owners have noticed lower quality filter but for the same price.

For the next hour I was insulting the crappy dealer service with the LC guy, we both agreed never to return to this dealer.

Dealerships suck, sure some are better then others and lets be thankful for that but cars cost 1000's of dollars and it's the only place that will shti on you and people will keep coming back, I ran out of Nissan Dealers and had to go to Toyota: