Quote:
Originally Posted by Yardjass
I mean, my dealer service advisor told me when challenged on the topic that the transmission fluid doesn't need to be changed at 22,5 or anywhere near that even though it says exactly that in the vendor literature that comes with the car. I'm sure it had more to do with them not wanting to do it since I bought it certified used at around 23,000 and it should have already been done. Still, I changed it myself not long after since they wouldn't and it cleared up most of my rough shifting into second. A "trust but verify" policy on these cars really is your best bet because a lot of dealers out there can't even follow their own factory recommendations.
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This plays into a lot of why dealers declare that the warranty doesn't apply, and why it's a dealer-specific issue. I mean sure, manufacturers don't like paying claims, but it takes a special regional rep douchebag to go around checking autocross entry lists.
First, it wasn't 6 grand. Dealer is trying to make you think they did you a solid. So you come back.
Why would a dealer want to deny coverage without even submitting a mfr claim? Money. Pure and simple. They're a business, and you're a mark...er...sales lead.
As a private customer without warranty coverage, doing all manner of diagnostic work, they get paid by you, at $hop rate, and the meter just keeps running. Oh, and any parts they replace? Guess who pays for those? Did I mention there's a (hefty) markup? Not in warranty, you're a gold mine.
Mfr claim? Agreed-upon rates. Flat rate work, usually an amount of billable time that most mechanics can't pull off (at least, not without cutting corners). So, mechanics don't make money on it. They really don't like doing that work. Lots of places doing takata airbags that are only getting paid for 12 minutes. Parts get paid at lower-than-retail. The service advisor's pay is at least partially dependent on commission. They can't make margin on parts, labor hours, or labor rate against what the mfr will agree to pay. So, they have incentive to make it the consumer's problem. If that's not enough, the service or general manager will push for that too. I mean, you don't think the poor guy doing the work is actually getting $95/hr do you?
One of those scenarios makes the service advisor's and mechanic's week. The other makes them wonder why they got out of bed. It's not like they're unicef.
And that's why it's fairly pervasive, but generally dealer-specific. Not every last one of them is run in a dishonest fashion. Find a cooperative dealer. Keep sending them your business.