Nothing in life really is free

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I am finally completely done with dealerships.
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Fiance insisted on going to Subaru again for her inspection. Last year she called all upset they wanted $xxx.xx to pass! Most was maintenance, tried to tell her I just changed the oil, and blah blah is bull. But she was all pressured and never speaks up. So it's my fault I should have gone with...

Anyway I called and questioned all the work. Only thing they conceded on was a free oil change. The rest was semi-reasonable. But total bull, they preyed on her saying all was needed that day.

So this recent inspection, yes she still scheduled there... But I took it and did emission where I take my car to save some money. I mentioned the free oil change due.

2 hours later I need both control arm bushings, both wipers totaling over $400 since each part was $15 and labor $95/hour!!!

No thank you just fail me I will go elsewhere. Call around other places say it is necessary to fix, they charge the same... Then they return and said oh just doubled checked only need 1 bushing, other looks new. I asked to see and to clean my windshield first. 3 little cracks in the bushing and only need one $8 blade refill. I question and Mechanic says 1 hour. They still tried to bill me 1.5 hours and for the oil change!!!






What I am really @#!%$%%$% about:
I finally got to checking her oil level other day, 2 months later OIL IS 3 INCHES PAST FULL!!!!
mad.gif


I fear with coolant a little low... but no signs in the oil. Added coolant and drained some oil. Here I look in her manual like I remember "2.5L motor = 4.2 quarts." AND 3.0L motor = 5.8 quarts.

To get her back down to Full level, yep you guessed it I removed EXACTLY 1.6 QUARTS!!!

Just amazed how solid the 2005 drove with 107,000 miles, didn't act up at all. She even takes ~2 hour trips back home sometimes, but drives easy and never short trips.
 
I prefer buying used vehicles that are beyond warranty so that I am not tied to any dealership for repair or maintenance. Dealerships are geared to get your money, that is their number one priority.
 
Originally Posted By: NismoMax80

What I am really @#!%$%%$% about:
I finally got to checking her oil level other day, 2 months later OIL IS 3 INCHES PAST FULL!!!!
mad.gif


Mercedes dealers continuously overfill the wife's C300 by about 1 quart because they didn't get the memo that the 4Matic version has a smaller oil sump. And it ain't free either. The privilege of getting your engine overfilled to the point where occasional "Check oil level" warning will display on the dashboard typically will cost you about $100.
 
We have no state safety inspection. While it seems like a good idea I can't get past the obvious conflict of interest that exists. Wiper blades? Seriously?
 
Originally Posted By: bepperb
We have no state safety inspection. While it seems like a good idea I can't get past the obvious conflict of interest that exists. Wiper blades? Seriously?

YES! I can only imagine the look on my face. After removing the contaminants, it still had 2 little streaks. I was ready to walk a mile to buy bosch icons full price before I paid them $30 for stock ones. So they then agreed to just the 1 refill blade for $8.

When printing her information it even stated: "OWE CUSTOMER FREE OIL CHANGE." I had to point it out to them when I went to pay... should have taken the filter and oil to do myself.
 
No news here! And life goes on at the stealership! The best thing to do when buying any new or used vehicle is to find an independent shop that specializes in that make. Keep all receipts and use the stealership only for warranty work.FWIW--Oldtommy
 
Thieves, that's the truth, but $95/hr. isn't that bad. Here in NY some are charging $125/hr. for labor. Unfortunately I have to deal with a dealer if I'm buying a new car. Even having to go to a dealer for warranty work makes me sick.
 
Yes I remember fighting them for warranty work. Nothing major, but mattered to me. I am very content to have recently found an honest/knowledgeable mechanic to earn my money at only $55/hour nearby. Not as cheap for inspection/emission as the garage I've been using, but I like this guy. Plus if I would need something, they said $100/hour.

I used http://www.automd.com/ and http://www.cartalk.com/ to find him according to location, rate, and he accepts customer parts. I gave him his 1st reviews.
 
Last time i ever took my 04 to dealer was back in 06 for warranty work for a defective cluster gauge and free 40 point inspection. When i got home from picking it up i.realized the whole front end had grease smudge marks. I was quite upset they didnt use fender covers because i just hand washed the car the night before. i didnt say anything but never again would my car see a repair shop except alignments and tire changes. Wish they wouldnt adjust tire pressure either but i guess thats my fault for failing to specifically tell them not to.
 
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I only go to dealer for warranty work that I will not have to pay for.

The absurd thing about many states car inspection programs is the mechanic checks his own work. Can you imagine the welder at a nuclear power plant being able to sign off on his own welds?
 
Safety inspections are good ideas; attaching the repairs to the inspecting station is a bad idea.

In CT there is emissions testing; you fail and you drive away. All info is logged in a central database that all shops use.

They cannot hold your car hostage or threaten you not to pass because there is no benefit to their doing that.

It is not the testing, it is the way states implement it that needs review.
 
Found a new mechanic in Delaware County that I like. Something like $35 for inspection/emissions, great tire prices, nitrogen fill, leather recliners in waiting room and "bring your own parts Wednesdays and Sundays". Still waiting to use that one.
 
my state inspection. a company just plugs an obd scanner into your car and tests your cap for gas vapors. if you pass both, you pass your yearly inspection! this is Nashville area. Memphis, TN. your brake lights, emergency brake, wiper blades, headlights, obd scan, gas cap, and muffler check has to pass to get inspection sticker. guess what? Nashville is safer to drive.
 
Nope, nothing is free. I'd rather pay full price at an independent than a "reduced price" at a chain shop. The indy will ultimately cost me less money.
 
When we had state inspections, they were a joke. People used to get PO Boxes (or similar) in other counties so they could register their vehicles there to avoid them here. Glad we don't have them anymore.
 
CT's emissions inspection is pretty well done. You go to a shop, they plug in (or dyno anything 95 and older up to 25 years), and you either pass or fail, get a piece of paper, and you go on your way. No stickers or anything anymore, you just can't renew your registration without an up-to-date test. And for $20 every 2 years, it's not a big deal.
 
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Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
my state inspection. a company just plugs an obd scanner into your car and tests your cap for gas vapors. if you pass both, you pass your yearly inspection! this is Nashville area. Memphis, TN. your brake lights, emergency brake, wiper blades, headlights, obd scan, gas cap, and muffler check has to pass to get inspection sticker. guess what? Nashville is safer to drive.


What I found in Nashville is nearly no one signals, and nearly everyone drives on the zebra stripes that one sees between transitionary roads that are merging on/off. Also, I see a lot of single occupant cars on the diamond lanes here and it is done with impunity.

I've lived all over the US and the best roads and drivers are in California. :-)
 
Originally Posted By: TallPaul
I prefer buying used vehicles that are beyond warranty so that I am not tied to any dealership for repair or maintenance. Dealerships are geared to get your money, that is their number one priority.


But you're not tied to any dealership when you buy a new car, so why would you write that?

You won't void the warranty if you do your own maintenance or have an independent shop do it.

As to warranty work, that is the only time you need to go to a dealership.
 
The funny thing in NY is that the emissions inspections simply gouge the honest folks. My 1yr car is due for an emissions inspection in a month.

However, the folks driving cars with leaking pre-cat exhaust, excessive oil burning with blue smoke etc simply pay off some crooked mechanic for an inspection sticker.

There have been multiple cars in our house that had 100,000+ miles left in the motors but failed inspection because the emissions were just a bit too high of the threshold. Those went to the junkyard as they were worth maybe $2k and needed $1000+ in work.
 
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