Finally Had It with My Subaru Dealer

[lkreh]

My Subaru dealer calls me to confirm appointments. On the other hand,
I don't take my car to the dealer for oil changes unless it's going in
for something else, too. For routine oil changes, like the rest of the
free world, I take it to my local 30-min oil change chain store...no
appointment necessary and I'm in and out in 30 minutes or less.
Respectfully, this seems like an awefully long thread over a dealer
losing an oil change appointment. I'm sincerely not picking on the
original poster, but in a general sense, it seems like anyone that
needs to take a day off from work to have their oil changed is lacking
something...and it ain't an appointment.

 

[MN]

I'm sincerely not picking on the
original poster, but in a general sense, it seems like anyone that
needs to take a day off from work to have their oil changed is lacking
something...and it ain't an appointment.

)))

You are right, but I suspect the original poster did not
intend it to be that way, he made an appointment (or thought
he made an appointment) and believed it will be over in an hour,
or so. It turned out otherwise.

MN

 

[Alan]

My Subaru dealer calls me to confirm appointments. On the other hand,
I don't take my car to the dealer for oil changes unless it's going in
for something else, too. For routine oil changes, like the rest of the
free world, I take it to my local 30-min oil change chain store...no
appointment necessary and I'm in and out in 30 minutes or less.
Respectfully, this seems like an awefully long thread over a dealer
losing an oil change appointment. I'm sincerely not picking on the
original poster, but in a general sense, it seems like anyone that
needs to take a day off from work to have their oil changed is lacking
something...and it ain't an appointment.

You sure know how to miss a point. The point of the discussion is that the
dealer treated the customer (me) like an inconvenience to his planned
workday, and called me a liar to boot. The appointment just happened to be
for an oil change. And, BTW, why I had to take a day off to get this done is
none of your friggin' business, so please STFU about it.

The 30 minute chain stores are convenient and reasonably priced, but they
are also infamous for screwing up (it happened to me). Wrong filters,
missing washers, wrong amount of oil.... the net has many horror stories to
tell. Keep going if it makes you happy to have you car serviced by a bunch
of kids, or by a guy who doesn't know enough to be a "real" mechanic. Might
as well DIY. I don't mind paying a few extra $$ to know it was done
properly. I do mind being called a liar by the dealer, and the only thing I
am lacking is patience for you.

 

[jcz]

Alan, as I read the previous poster's snotty post I was reminded that
Usenet can be a really ugly place. My dealer is a LONG way from my
house and there is no dealer closer. I either have to find a time on a
rare day off to take it in or take a day off to get my oil changed.
Yes....I too take it to the dealer for that. When I bought my Subie,
there was a deal that if I paid $99 I could have a lifetime oil change
every 3000 miles. So I have more than gotten my money's worth. Up
until now I haven't HAD to take a day off because I do it on days when
I do have a day off, but if I had to in order to keep my car running
well, I would. And you are so right -- it is no one's business. That
wasn't the point of your post at all.

I think there are too many dealers -- all makes of cars -- whose
managers/owners or whomever have their heads up their asses and will
be sobbing when they are out of work because the lousy dealership has
closed.

And I would never take my car to a 10 minute (or 15 minute or whatever
minute) oil change hole. My husband's car had the rivets stripped on
the part of the car that the oil plug screws into (sorry don't know
the name of that part). That was a pricey fix -- and it happened at
one of those places. Sometimes I think that the people who work in
those shops are those that couldn't find a job anywhere else.

 

[bigjim]

If the dealer is that far away - why not change the oil yourself?
Subarus are among the easiest to change the oil yourself on. You'll
get better quality lubricants and ppay less.

 

[bigjim]

If the dealer is that far away - why not change the oil yourself?
Subarus are among the easiest to change the oil yourself on. You'll
get better quality lubricants and ppay less.

 

[bigjim]

If the dealer is that far away - why not change the oil yourself?
Subarus are among the easiest to change the oil yourself on. You'll
get better quality lubricants and ppay less.

 

[jcz]

Because I don't want to.

 

[lkreh]

I was nearly positive that you wouldn't have posted here just for moral
support, but I guess I was wrong. That being the case, I guess I did
miss your point.

 

[MK IV]

I thought I had it bad. Anyway, one of the nice features about
Reedman is that they service Subarus in the same service department
as Jaguar. Nine kinds of coffee...

My dealership was shared with BMW. I was amazed to always see more people
lining up at the BMW service counter than at Subaru's, for about the same
number of cars sold for each make...

 

[Alan]

My dealership was shared with BMW. I was amazed to always see more people
lining up at the BMW service counter than at Subaru's, for about the same
number of cars sold for each make...

This was my first time there, but I was the ONLY Subaru. Now, they are a new
Subaru dealer, so I'm sure part of it is that most people don't know about
it yet, but still... Also, their arrangement is that you drive your car into
an enclosed carport. Nice set up.

 

[Mark Carroll]

If the dealer is that far away - why not change the oil yourself?
Subarus are among the easiest to change the oil yourself on. You'll
get better quality lubricants and ppay less.

Alas, it's against the rules of our apartment complex. I'm not too
impressed with our local Subaru dealers, at least in comparison to
other dealers I've visited, but at least I've found one who doesn't
make me wait for hours for an oil change and doesn't treat me rudely.
(Oh, and they call to confirm service appointments.) I've had bad
experiences with places like Jiffy Lube - so far, apart from the
dealer, Valvoline's the only oil change place left who haven't screwed
up something on a car of mine in the years I've lived in this city.
Despite having my car serviced at the dealer, I still haven't seen the
service records come up at mysubaru.com - maybe you're meant to enter
them all yourself?!

I've wondered why I don't see more garages out for hire - it could
have the pit underneath the car, a decent hoist for lifting the engine
out, an air compressor, whatever. I guess the liability would be too
large and the equipment too expensive to let random members of the
public borrow the facility, even with a hefty deposit. (Of course, I'm
talking about grander things than oil changes here, but living in an
apartment complex does rather compromise your ability to do your own
car maintenance!)

-- Mark

 

[Mark Carroll]

Mmmmm, I bought my Subaru from an Infiniti dealer, and they were
pretty nice to deal with. Do BMW's come with free car washes and other
such stuff? I wonder if there was more stuff like that for their
service counter, so that's why it was busier? It was interesting to
watch the Infiniti dealer at work, though: for instance, they'd bring
the car keys in and call out someone's name so they could drive off
after having their car washed, and I did wonder what would happen if
someone was off in the rest-room and I claimed their car instead.

This was my first time there, but I was the ONLY Subaru. Now, they are a new
Subaru dealer, so I'm sure part of it is that most people don't know about
it yet, but still... Also, their arrangement is that you drive your car into
an enclosed carport. Nice set up.

Mmmm, the above Infiniti dealership, and my current Subaru dealer
(who also do Hyundai, etc.) are also like that. There's usually a door
closed over the entrance, and you honk your horn to have them raise
it. It's all quite seamless and efficient.

-- Mark

 

[MK IV]

Mmmmm, I bought my Subaru from an Infiniti dealer, and they were
pretty nice to deal with. Do BMW's come with free car washes and other
such stuff?

Don't know but my Soobie gets washed for free every time I take it.

 

[Alan]

Despite having my car serviced at the dealer, I still haven't seen the
service records come up at mysubaru.com - maybe you're meant to enter
them all yourself?!

Not all dealers participate. It is apparently voluntary.

I've wondered why I don't see more garages out for hire - it could
have the pit underneath the car, a decent hoist for lifting the engine
out, an air compressor, whatever. I guess the liability would be too
large and the equipment too expensive to let random members of the
public borrow the facility, even with a hefty deposit. (Of course, I'm
talking about grander things than oil changes here, but living in an
apartment complex does rather compromise your ability to do your own
car maintenance!)

That's a very interesting idea. I wouldn't use such a facility, as I am
mechanically challenged, but even in my housing development, it is agianst
the rules to do any car maintenance on-site. I know there are neighbors who
would love such a facility.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Not all dealers participate. It is apparently voluntary.




That's a very interesting idea. I wouldn't use such a facility, as I am
mechanically challenged, but even in my housing development, it is agianst
the rules to do any car maintenance on-site. I know there are neighbors who
would love such a facility.

They're sometimes called 'hobby garages' and I think they were common at
some military bases. I suspect for the general public there would be too
many theft/insurance issues. Sometimes you can see where some local guys
are having 'garage days' or the like being organized in the regional
forums over at www.nasioc.com . Usually more for mods or tuning than
repair, but you may still find someone willing to meet with you and
assist for a few beers. I dunno - just a thought.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Johnson]

It's an insurance/liability nightmare.
The cost would be prohibitive.
Thank you tort lawyers.

 

[Guest]

They are new, so
their hours weren't real convenient, which is why I didn't try them sooner,
but I drive on over, they take me right in without an appointment, and get
me right out. Also, their hours are now up to expectations, including all
day Saturday (just started last weekend!) Guess where I'll be going from now
on.

One nice thing about having an older car off guarantee is no concern
about going to locations such as Speedy for an oil change.

I call ahead, they fit me right in and I'm out complete in 20 to 30
minutes. Also I can see my car while I drink coffee and read the paper.
If they need to discuss anything we walk to the car and look it over, my
car doesn't disappear into some back service room.

Old can be much more convenient.

 

[Alan]

One nice thing about having an older car off guarantee is no concern
about going to locations such as Speedy for an oil change.

I call ahead, they fit me right in and I'm out complete in 20 to 30
minutes. Also I can see my car while I drink coffee and read the paper.
If they need to discuss anything we walk to the car and look it over, my
car doesn't disappear into some back service room.

Old can be much more convenient.

You can take a new car anywhere you want, too. I just don't trust the
"Speedy" type places.

 

[Tony Burns (permanent dismisser of Andy and AJS)]

With due respect, most people here don't give a shit about you and your
story.

Please desist, thank you.