Automobile Service - Share Your Stories

[Saab2000]

So I just returned from the VW dealership and I think it's the last time I go there for service. Now, before anyone tells me I overpay at the dealership, I know this. I know the negatives and go there with my eyes wide open. But they've just jumped the shark and will no longer be troubled by me.

My car needs an oil change. I'm coming up on the 30,000 mile service interval and in the book it calls for an oil change and reset of the service clock reminder. This is plain as day in the owners manual. They proceed to quote me tire rotation, pollen filter, fuel injector cleaning, brake fluid, etc. None of this is part of the 30K service and the total will be $793 before tax. I about fell over and said just change the oil.

Since I moved last year this particular VW dealership has been pretty egregious in their efforts to up sell me on things I don't need and mostly I was able to ignore it, though I think I have been slightly ripped off on a couple things with them finding something broken on my GTI twice even though I noticed nothing. I can't prove they're wrong so I suck it up and pay the bill.

But I think I'm done with them after this visit because it's so insulting.

I think I'm ready to try to find an independent garage. What is there to look for, both good and bad? Like everyone I want quality work and some integrity and honesty. I think VW has generally done quality work but the integrity and honesty part seem to be completely lacking, at least at this particular place. I'm not afraid to pay for quality but nobody likes being ripped off this this place feels like a vacuum cleaner in my pocket for no good reason.

Any car service horror stories people care to share? Or good ones?

[mjbabcock]

I got so tired of that crap that my standard practice these days is to walk in with a budget.
"I've got $200 this round, so if you can let me know what it needs and rank it in order of urgency, that would be great."
I then "approve" the things I want done and bullshit them on things down the list. If I just want an oil change, the response would be, "better just change the oil this time as I gotta save for that $850 lugnut scrubbing you said I'm gonna need".

[gregl]

We have three Mazdas in our household, so we're a regular customer of the local Mazda dealership service area. They used to try the typical "upsell" when we were in for service, but they now know that I enjoy performing a lot of my own maintenance. I just tell the person who checks me in that I only need the service that I'm there for (typically something requiring a lift or special tools) and that everything else is in good shape. They respect my statement and know that I'll be back for future service and purchases. I've been a customer for nearly 20 years, so I'm sure that helps them know how to "handle" me.

Greg

[NYCfixie]

Fact: In 2020, Dealerships largest profit center is the Finance and Insurance Office (aka Business Office), Second largest profit center is Service (often via warranty covered service and pre-paid maintenance plans), the third largest profit center is used/pre-owned/CPO cars, and the fourth profit center, by a long-shot, is new car sales. Cars are loss-leaders for F&I and Service.

Simply, dealers barely make money on new cars (relative to what will be paid for service during the life of the car). F&I and Service are the money makers so they want you to keep coming back after you purchase that new/used/CPO car. If you are an informed consumer, a dealership might make $700 on a new GTI. Compare that to the profit on service they will make for the next several years.

I recently gave up on our dealer and found a local independent mechanic with very good reviews/recommendations. If I still had a manufacturer warranty I would go to the dealer because I would not care how much service costs (warranty coverage items) and would only do what the maintenance manual states and at the prescribed intervals but once out of warranty to he!! with dealers.

We own a Subaru so I looked for Subaru specific shops and Subaru race tune shops as they will know the car better than brand independent non-dealer shops. I can only assume you can find VW/Audi specific independent shops (and/or race tune shops specific to those brands) in your area.

[sine]

Have not paid a dealer in over a decade for service. All Indie....and they allow me to watch the work get done. My mom switched to an Indie two months ago......saved her CDN$700 bucks.

[AngryScientist]

happy to say that i have never been to a car mechanic in my life. i've done everything from engine swaps, suspension work and routine maintenance in the driveway.

i wouldnt let the dealer "upcharge" stuff even bother you. follow the service manual by the letter and only do the items listed as needing service. be upfront with them when you take it in that you are in for a very specific service and that's all. no 45 dollar wiper blades, no snake oil injector cleaner service, no blinker fluid change out.

[rydesteel]

While it's under Warranty I'll use the Dealer for oil and tire rotation. Air filters and cabin/Pollen filters are easy to replace and I've changed them on all my cars for years check you tube for handy how to videos. I've been in the car game and the dealer I buy from I used to work for so I know the service writer, sales manager and the rest of the usual suspects. Service writers work on commission for the most part and get reviewed on the up sells so don't hold it against them.

[ldamelio]

Find an enthusiast forum for your GTI (I'm sure there are many - nice car) and ask for recommendations for an indie in your area. Cross check with usual consumer site reviews. This has yielded me good results for three different European car brands I have owned over the past couple of decades. I just got what would have been a $1200 dealer major service on an older Audi done for $350 at an indie I have used for a few years.

[Saab2000]

Find an enthusiast forum for your GTI (I'm sure there are many - nice car) and ask for recommendations for an indie in your area. Cross check with usual consumer site reviews. This has yielded me good results for three different European car brands I have owned over the past couple of decades. I just got what would have been a $1200 dealer major service on an older Audi done for $350 at an indie I have used for a few years.

The GTI is being sold. Going down to one car during my temporary voluntary time off work. It’s got 130K miles and keeping it in top notch shape is getting expensive. It is in top notch shape but it’s a 14.5 year old car that’s not low mileage. I’ve got a buyer lined up.

Last year I drove a new GTI and I won’t lie, I liked it better than my own. More power, far superior torque band and modern infotainment. I’m waiting for the Mark 8 GTI then may jump into that world again. But for now I’m going to one vehicle.

Sorry for the digression.

[j44ke]

We got some kind of crazy service package as an incentive with our Volvo so every time I went in the dealer was doing things like “oh your wipers looked slightly gray so we just put new ones on.” That sort of thing. But that package is over, so next “mandatory” service will be about $1200. I forget which one it is 50K I think? Fortunately we are now in the land of Volvo (Berkshires) so there are a couple options I will check out.

One irritation - the pair of Michelin’s that came on the car were shite. Felt like driving on spongy marbles. I went to one of the local family owned tire places and they said to get the same tires as replacements. That they were great. I said are you crazy? They said no trust us, they are nothing like the OEM version. And they were right. Great tires. Completely different. What’s up with that? I would have gone with a completely different brand as replacements. How does that make good business sense for Michelin?

Two weeks ago I got in the car after driving in a downpour for miles and it made this god awful noise. Like I had thrown a pad and the brake locked up. Metal on metal. Pulled into the local wrench, he said come back in an hour, I did and he handed me a rock. Somehow it got into the brake caliper. No scouring just a bunch of noise. $40. Love it.

[monadnocky]

...Two weeks ago I got in the car after driving in a downpour for miles and it made this god awful noise. Like I had thrown a pad and the brake locked up. Metal on metal. Pulled into the local wrench, he said come back in an hour, I did and he handed me a rock....

For those of us who live on poorly maintained dirt roads we call this Tuesday*. My car dance involves pulling into the farmer's driveway, wheel to the left full stop, reverse, wheel to the right full stop, reverse, forward, wash, rinse, repeat, until the rock spits out.

*I'm aware that there's no way your new place isn't on (off of) a dirt road....

[thollandpe]

For those of us who live on poorly maintained dirt roads we call this Tuesday*. My car dance involves pulling into the farmer's driveway, wheel to the left full stop, reverse, wheel to the right full stop, reverse, forward, wash, rinse, repeat, until the rock spits out.

*I'm aware that there's no way your new place isn't on (off of) a dirt road....

Jorn will be transferring $40 into Monadnockie's Veesalon account once every two weeks for that little hokey pokey move, until vaccine time.

[Saab2000]

, so next “mandatory” service will be about $1200.

My mandatory service was an oil change. I triple checked the owners manual and the time-based maintenance supplement and that’s literally all. When she said it’d be $973 I had to swallow the eff-bombs.

In other words, check your manual. Don’t neglect service but don’t get ripped off either. When I picked it up this afternoon my bill was $85.xx. My service thief was nowhere to be seen. Never again and that’s too bad because until now my VW service wasn’t cheap but it never felt like total theft either. The product I like. The people a bit less as of today.

[lumpy]

My local Subaru dealer seems dedicated to trying to rip me off. I say this with sadness because I love my Subaru. The specifics are too tedious to recite, but they told me my sway bar bushings were dry rotted even though I had just had them replaced a month before, broke my dipstick, taped the pieces together and tried to deny it, both of these happening when the car was in for a replacement engine at 99,000 miles under extended warranty - so they gave me a new engine and still squandered what should have been lots of goodwill. Then, when I got an airbag replacement notification 18 months later, they told me that the (18-month old) serpentine belt was badly cracked and needed replacement. It wasn't. Then they put my interior back together so badly that I had to go back three times until they got it right.

Fortunately I've got a good independent garage whose owner is a client.

[Clyde]

As part of the ~ 5 yr retirement plan I bought a Super Duty Diesel earlier this year. First oil change at dealer was $250 full synthetic, which I paid for with "Ford Points". I can do it for $100 in parts, it's a lot of oil (14 its) but hey it gets me looking at my vehicle and knowing what goes into it (Schaeffer Oil & Motorcraft filter). About all I can do on rigs is change oil, batteries, and wipers. The rest is a bit complicated, though I've done lots more in the past. The dealer was nice enough about it but $150 in their pocket for ~30 mins maybe of work? Not to slam them but geez that's a bit much.

[rowdyhillrambler]

My father used to own a Toyota, Kia, Dodge, Nissan, GMC and Mazda dealership. Well, they were separate but you get the point. I never met my old man ‘til I was 16.. didn’t know him growing up and was raised by my mom and grandparents-I’m very lucky for that. I worked at the dealership after I met him just sort of to get to know him... I’m glad I did. We get along ok, but that is a shady fucking way to make a living, it’s dirty and I’m glad I chose to get away and do something totally different. It’s dishonest at best.

One of his highest paid employees at each dealership was the service writer. I live in the south and those guys could turn on the damn charm and the waterworks if need be.

One of the guys I graduated with, Billie, was a really nice guy in general-sorta... he kept a couple of different filters (cabin or air) in the body shop so they remained filthy with dust. He would bring them up, take it out to a customer and kneel down on one knee just glassy eyed and say, ‘ma’am I’m not sure why but maybe you live on a gravel road, all of your filters are in serious need of replacement’ he would then hit them together and dust would fly! Made for a great moment of theatrics-

$1100 later.... Billie was a pill head that would have bankrupted his own grandmother given a chance

He wasn’t the only one-they we’re all paid on commission and I watched this shit day in and day out

[d.bancroft]

I've had so many bad experiences with independent mechanics (shoddy/cheap ass parts, misdiagnosis, filthy car when picked up etc) that i've just accepted the fact that the dealer will shaft me and budget accordingly. My wife has a 2013 GL450 which we bought as CPO and it gets serviced once a year (~10K mi). it can cost anywhere from $700 to $1200 for "routine" maintenance. But the car runs great, is in mint condition, always clean when returned, we get a loaner for the day or they will pick it up. so i just shrug and pay. my car is a 2013 JSW TDI, CPO last year, and still under warranty. so far so good with the local VW dealer but 30K service will be coming up later this year.

[Bobonli]

So I just returned from the VW dealership ...
My car needs an oil change. I'm coming up on the 30,000 mile service interval and in the book it calls for an oil change and reset of the service clock reminder. This is plain as day in the owners manual. They proceed to quote me tire rotation, pollen filter, fuel injector cleaning, brake fluid, etc. None of this is part of the 30K service and the total will be $793 before tax. I about fell over and said just change the oil.



I think I'm ready to try to find an independent garage. ...

I'm a dealership guy. I lease my cars, so going to the dealership affords me a loaner car to drive while they do the service. They also tend to have their own OEM parts, that the local guy has to wait for. I had the same experience right before returning my last rental. The car needed oil and tranny fluid, as per repair schedule. The service manager "found" nearly $2k worth of other issues, not on the schedule and not causing mechanical issues. When I objected, the response was "we can't force you to do it, but it will show on your service history that you never did these things and the rental company may charge a penalty." The items were things that didn't appear on any schedule for 36 months: flushing the radiator and AC system new sets of filters etc. To add insult to injury this was 2 months after they did a warranty repair on the transmission.

The same dealership chased a mysterious noise on my wife's car for 4 visits before some curious soul thought to remove the wheel covers and found a lug nut rattling around after the last tire rotation. Dealerships are there to increase profit for the brand, and are only as good as the mechanics and the people supervising them.

I have one local shop I'd trust. Operated by my neighbor but there's a near constant turnover of the mechanics....which makes me wonder why. And they occasionally tell me they can't get a part etc, and I have to go back to the dealership. I miss the mechanic/shop owner who basically worked on everyone in town's car about 15 years ago. Friendly, always invited me into the garage to show me what was wrong and repair options. There were always options, never a heavy handed speech. A true gentleman, I'd let him take out my appendix! He was an antique car buff. One day he was working alone on a car with the crank handle on the front end to turn over the motor. Something went wrong, the crank spun up and flew off into his skull causing a TBI. John Ragusa....I haven't uttered his name in many years. I hope his wife and kids were able to adjust.

[rec head]

My only advice and maybe this is just me but try and keep the place convenient. I'm lucky to have a place at the end of my block that seems pretty good for all the basics at least. Drop off for an oil change and walk home in 10 minutes total. I could do my own oil changes but it is easier to have them do it than to drop off the used oil somewhere for not much savings. When I needed a headlight bulb replaced they charged me less than what the part cost on Amazon. I'm sure it wasn't OEM but the color an brightness were the same.

Last time I went to the Honda dealer for a TPS sensor they wanted to charge me some outrageous amount. The sensor itself wasn't that bad on the quote, I expect to be upcharged at the dealer but all the other charges were too much for me to stomach. It seemed crazy to me. While waiting I got on my phone and found a tire place that would do it for a lot less. I asked for my car back before they started and left.

[ides1056]

So I just returned from the VW dealership and I think it's the last time I go there for service. Now, before anyone tells me I overpay at the dealership, I know this. I know the negatives and go there with my eyes wide open. But they've just jumped the shark and will no longer be troubled by me.

My car needs an oil change. I'm coming up on the 30,000 mile service interval and in the book it calls for an oil change and reset of the service clock reminder. This is plain as day in the owners manual. They proceed to quote me tire rotation, pollen filter, fuel injector cleaning, brake fluid, etc. None of this is part of the 30K service and the total will be $793 before tax. I about fell over and said just change the oil.

Since I moved last year this particular VW dealership has been pretty egregious in their efforts to up sell me on things I don't need and mostly I was able to ignore it, though I think I have been slightly ripped off on a couple things with them finding something broken on my GTI twice even though I noticed nothing. I can't prove they're wrong so I suck it up and pay the bill.

But I think I'm done with them after this visit because it's so insulting.

I think I'm ready to try to find an independent garage. What is there to look for, both good and bad? Like everyone I want quality work and some integrity and honesty. I think VW has generally done quality work but the integrity and honesty part seem to be completely lacking, at least at this particular place. I'm not afraid to pay for quality but nobody likes being ripped off this this place feels like a vacuum cleaner in my pocket for no good reason.

Any car service horror stories people care to share? Or good ones?

I have an R, and it's only been to the dealer. But I made friends with the guy who runs the service department, the mechanic in charge, way back when I had a TDI. We just clicked.

The person at the desk where you sign in and pay has a financial stake in making your bill as big as possible, because they get a cut. Bet you didn't know that. They are "pitching" service.

My winter car, an '03 Golf, needs a bunch of work. VW quoted 4K. The car is not worth that. The parts are obscenely priced. I will figure out how to do brakes and buy the parts at Rock Auto.