MamaMermaid
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2021
Always.
The last two vehicles we traded ub we kept nearly forever. A 2000 Mercury Mountaineer we had 20 years and a 1987 Chevy Suburban we had 31 years. Wanted new cars going into retirement. Other than oil changes and tires, I expect a modern car to go at least 10 years and 100,000 miles without repairs.Mine is a Toyota also, and five years old now so there’s still plenty of warranty left. I used to go to a local mechanic back when I drove Ford cars, but he moved out of state and there just isn’t anyone else local with a good reputation. It’s a bad sign when they kind of grimace at the mention of a hybrid. You are fortunate to have several local shops to choose from.
It’s actually a pain to go to the dealer because they are about 30 miles away in a congested part of Orlando. There is a dealership about four miles from home but I don’t trust them either (wouldn’t buy or have service there). I have had very good service where I bought the car, and when comparing prices I have found that they have been competitive on the few non-warranty items I have had replaced, such as the 12v battery and tires. The warranty work they have done has been hassle free as well. So long as that continues I will keep going back.
You are under no obligation to have your car serviced at the dealership during the warranty period.I go to the dealer with my car only because it's still covered under warranty. Once the warranty expires, I'll go to a friend of a friend who owns a shop nearby. For oil changes, I drive a GM vehicle that uses the synthetic "Dexos" oil which means it's a premium to use officially licensed oil. The last thing I want is for my warranty to be voided for improper oil being used so until the warranty lapses, I go to the dealership for oil changes as well.
My cars are under warranty for as long as I own them....
I pay the dealer to much money to do oils changes be cause I can't be bothered....
Somehow I get roped into doing the maintenance of my wife's cars......
Not too much, just window shopping. But looking at a camry, starting price is 25-30. We aren't fancy people. Maybe something like a Rav 4.Have you priced vehicles lately? Not much out there for only $35-40 grand. When I still had my Suburban, I think the last set of tires I bought were well over $1,000
Sticker price on our Camry Hybrid 2 years ago was $28,000. It's an LE, so bottom of the line, only option we have is floor mats. Some of the dealers now are taking on an additional $10,000 above MSRP. 2 years ago they had some Camrys full loaded that were over $40,000 sticker.Not too much, just window shopping. But looking at a camry, starting price is 25-30. We aren't fancy people. Maybe something like a Rav 4.
Suburban is a huge vehicle. Probably wouldn't fit in our garage.
No, one isnt!How many cars does your wife have? Isn't 1 enough?
No, but if you want something fixed under warranty, you have a lot more pull at the dealer than you do at TONY’s fix it shop…You are under no obligation to have your car serviced at the dealership during the warranty period.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a law that was enacted in 1975 and states that it’s not legal to require the use of a manufacturer part or service in order to maintain a warranty.
In your example it is illegal under the tie in sales provision to require a particular brand of oil to maintain warranty coverage.
GM recommends their branded Dexos oil for all 2011 and newer GM vehicles but not using their brand will not void your warranty. As long as you use an oil that meets the minimum dexos certification you are fine. There are multiple brands of oil on the market that meet dexos 1 requirements. Every independent garage and Jiffy Lube like place will use the correct specification of oil in your car.
Boy do I agree with you!!Not if at all possible.
I would rather hack off a limb using a toenail clipper than go to the crooks that run any dealership in the world.
In fact I bought a $450 cable and a $100 power supply so I can perform my own updates rather than visit the service department. Every three months I pay for a $50 license to FDRS and update any modules that have updates.
It takes about an hour each time. If I went to the dealer it would take an entire day.
No, but if you want something fixed under warranty, you have a lot more pull at the dealer than you do at TONY’s fix it shop…
The oil for my last truck was 80 bucks a gallon! And it took 7 quarts.Never except for warranty work, and not even 100% on that. I spent the $90 on brake components and did them myself in half an our rather than take it to the dealer, leave the car, have someone pick me up, find out they screwed around and didn't get my car done, it will be tomorrow, then have to get in tomorrow and settle it, drive back home, pick up the wife (at the time) and go back into town to pick the car up. Just not worth all that for a simple half hour job.
I always bought used cars with no warranty except for 2 of them, so I always worked on them myself. I can't imagine not doing it that way and going to a dealer or other shop all the time. $800 for a brake job? Takes less than an hour and less than $100. $1200 for a clutch, I did it in the garage for $100. $1450 for a head gasket and water pump? Again, took me a Saturday rather than just an our, but it cost pocket change compared to $1450.
Nothing in actual maintenance is rocket science. It's pretty easy. Diagnosing and repairing some things get a little tricky, but why pay $120 for an oil change when it takes literally 10 minutes to take out a bolt and drain it and refill it for $35?