Servicing: BRZ at Toyota / 86 at Subaru
 

Can anyone foresee any issues/problems with servicing either the 86 or BRZ at the opposite brand's dealership etc?

-Warranty?
-Parts?
-Tools?
-Mechanic's attitude?
-Loyalty?
-Prices?


There shouldn't be anything that differs mechanically should there?
If the ECU's are exactly the same, might they run a different tune/setup?

Most dealerships will service new cars from any marque whilst retaining warranty. ACCC ruled a few years ago that you don't need to get a car serviced at a marque specific dealership to keep warranty (to allow competition from places like Ultratune and Midas). There are probably specifications around what's required to keep warranty, eg, parts must comply to a certain standard, etc.

Considering fixed price servicing though, I think you'd have to seriously consider getting your car serviced at a dealership that sells the same marque as your car.

Warranty won't be affected.

Parts will be the same, prices may not be.

Subaru service will probably already have all the needed tools, Toyota will get them and be trained.

I find the attitude of teenage apprentices much the same, regardless of brand.

Loyalty is a perceived thing. If you've bought numerous cars from a dealership, they may show you some, but generally it's a figment of people's imagination.

They will both overcharge.

Factory mechanics will know exactly the same about the ecu (ie .. nothing).

The only real difference is that the car is basically a Subaru, so will be familiar to one lot and alien to another. As long as they know where to put the oil, I don't see that being an issue in most cases though.

Of course there are some very good independents who will charge you less for better service, without affecting your warranty.

Sometimes dealerships provide a free extended warranty on top of the statutory warranty - the condition for the extended warranty to remain valid is that they must service the vehicle at specific service centres.

Subaru doesn't have fixed price servicing (or don't advertise it very well then...) so an 86 seems more tempting.

+1

And this is all assuming the manufacturers will allow any warranty claims at all.

A quick look at Toyota and Subaru + others on smellbook and you soon see how many folks are not getting regular warranty issued resolved without massive headache's.

For the extra we pay in Oz you would think the service/warranty is nothing short of spectacular.

You've got to remember that the manufacturer doesn't run (or own) most of the dealerships... They might not even own any. Dealerships are basically franchises. As with all franchises some are great, some are full of assholes. Best thing for you to do is actually ask around and find people who've dealt with dealerships in your area.

I take good care of my cars, which means not taking them to dealer service centres.

Lol low cost fixed price servicing is included in the value of the car when you first buy it, as well as warranty etc. you get NOTHING for free ;)

That's right.

Although with Subaru most of them are owned and operated by Inchscape making it harder to negotiate prices between the dealerships. I think the regional dealers though are more likely to be franchised.