Yeah, can you bring your car back in?

[Scubaru]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

FYI #2 - talking to the service guy, if you want TRD springs installed, install time is 10 hours because, 'this is a sports car'

This is ridiculous. It took my guy 1 1/2 hour on the lift at the dealership to change mine.

That's horrible service.

[MikeyBatz]

The dealership I got my quote for the TRD springs said it will take 6 hours :/

[Koa]

Originally Posted by MikeyBatz

The dealership I got my quote for the TRD springs said it will take 6 hours :/

Guys, for real.. rent or buy the tools necessary to change out these springs yourselves and have at it. It's not hard- just difficult enough to teach you a thing or two about how vehicles are assembled and the forces required to get them to 'stick'. There's an excellent DIY here, and if not here, any McPherson strut DIY will suffice.

Don't pay $300+ to install $200-300 dollar springs!

[KNS]

There is no requirement to bring your car to the dealer for service - to maintain your warranty or otherwise. The stories posted are the exact reason I avoid any dealer, whether the car is new or not.

[tyrantcf]

Jesus. At least they called you back I guess. I'd be furious, make sure they get a reaming. The shitty thing now is, you're never going to trust the service department again.

[themadscientist]

My dealer talks about my service plan like they are concerned for my car not like I am doing something for them. When I asked them about doing my oil changes because I wanted to use a specific oil they said they would use the oil I bring in if I want them too.

Your experience sounds like so many other dealership horror stories and it's pathetic. It doesn't take much effort to care about your customers and their large monetary investment, but dealers seem to treat their customers like you were one night stands who won't stop calling them back. Ridiculous.

[Tromatic]

I go out of my way to talk to the service techs and writers at the dealer for every car I have ever had. We talk about the weather, cars, how awesome I think my little FR-S is, how one of the techs was thinking about getting one, how totally anal I am about certain aspects of a service visit, things that might need attention, note that I have a filter magnet, yada yada yada. In short, I put a face to car. I have yet to have a bad dealer service experience. You need to be active and involved. And I will always give someone involved in customer service a pass once or twice, since my idea of "customer service" would involve multiple stab wounds.

[2much]

I keep reading about these shitshow dealerships, and while I believe, all I can say is that my several experiences with my dealership's service department have been above and beyond what I have expected. Maybe things are different in California!

[stugray]

Nobody has mentioned the guy who got his car accidentally filled with autotrans fluid in stead of oil.....

They called him back to bring the car in (on a tow truck IIRC) and then they told him what they did.

[Tcoat]

For every service horror story there are probably a 1000 good stories and 10,000 neutral stories.
Nobody ever posts "went in for an oil change and everything went smooth. Didn't even have time to finish my coffee and doughnut and wasn't done with talking to the salesperson in the tight sweater and short skirt"

[Tromatic]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

For every service horror story there are probably a 1000 good stories and 10,000 neutral stories.
Nobody ever posts "went in for an oil change and everything went smooth. Didn't even have time to finish my coffee and doughnut and wasn't done with talking to the salesperson in the tight sweater and short skirt"

I keep waiting for some reporter to ask me about the VA. Probably would not make the news, since I would have nothing but praise.

[2much]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

For every service horror story there are probably a 1000 good stories and 10,000 neutral stories.
Nobody ever posts "went in for an oil change and everything went smooth. Didn't even have time to finish my coffee and doughnut and wasn't done with talking to the salesperson in the tight sweater and short skirt"

hey I posted a nice story in the crickets thread a while ago ;]

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 2much

hey I posted a nice story in the crickets thread a while ago ;]

Yes, yes you did!
And it was immediately overwhelmed by the bad stories if I recall.

[ashtray]

Originally Posted by 53Driver

Remember, it's not just the magical 7,500 mile # that counts. The other is time. At the 6 month mark, my dealership actually called me to schedule my first oil change. They were shocked when I brought it in and only had 3,000 miles on the clock. I had to explain to them that I have (I should say had) 3 vehicles and that the FR-S was my "fun" vehicle. They did the complete 7,500 mile/6 month service on it and the service manager even "reminded" me to not worry about the miles since I wasn't driving the vehicle much. He said "just make sure you bring it in every 6 months so we can do the full service on it that way you get all your FREE services before you hit the 2 year free service window". This is why I have bought 3 vehicles from them.

I brought mine in for service at the 1 year mark for its first oil change - 3k miles. I made sure to schedule another before the 2 year mark, so I'd at least get that free too. I called the following year and the service guy said not to worry about the years, and that I still get 4 free oil changes. I brought it in a couple months after my 2 years at 6k miles. I'll bring it back next summer at 9k miles.