Lexus vs. Toyota Dealer for maintenance (quality vs cost)
03-12-14, 07:01 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Lexus vs. Toyota Dealer for maintenance (quality vs cost)
I have recently purchased a meticulously cared for 01 LS430 with 120k. It was owned by an older couple and all work was done at a Lexus dealer every 5k miles. It is due for an oil change and I'd like to get an alignment done for a slight right pull. Lexus dealer quoted $119 for a full synthetic oil change and $129 for an alignment. The Toyota dealer across the street from them can do the oil change for $83 (full synth) and $89 for the alignment. What should I do? I'm not wealthy like this older couple and would love to continue the service through Lexus but am trying to keep costs down. Can Toyota dealers reliably work on these cars without screwing something up? I'd love to hear some of your experiences. Thanks in advance!
03-12-14, 08:16 PM
#3
For about 60.00 you can get 5 quarts of royal purple and the oversized motorcraft fl400s filter and you'll have a much higher quality oil change than anything coming out of the drum at the dealership at 80 bucks or more and have the satisfaction knowing you did it yourself the right way. These days the techs that do the oil changes are the lowest paid inexperienced guys in the shop. I am always afraid of them overtorqueing the filter or stripping drain bolt etc.
The one and only time I let a dealer do an oil chAnge and Inspection on my civic when I got lazy they cross threaded 2 lugs that I had to later break on the side of the road with a flat tire
The one and only time I let a dealer do an oil chAnge and Inspection on my civic when I got lazy they cross threaded 2 lugs that I had to later break on the side of the road with a flat tire
03-12-14, 08:40 PM
#4
Intermediate
Thread Starter
For about 60.00 you can get 5 quarts of royal purple and the oversized motorcraft fl400s filter and you'll have a much higher quality oil change than anything coming out of the drum at the dealership at 80 bucks or more and have the satisfaction knowing you did it yourself the right way. These days the techs that do the oil changes are the lowest paid inexperienced guys in the shop. I am always afraid of them overtorqueing the filter or stripping drain bolt etc.
The one and only time I let a dealer do an oil chAnge and Inspection on my civic when I got lazy they cross threaded 2 lugs that I had to later break on the side of the road with a flat tire
The one and only time I let a dealer do an oil chAnge and Inspection on my civic when I got lazy they cross threaded 2 lugs that I had to later break on the side of the road with a flat tire
03-12-14, 08:51 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
Lexus and toyota are the same company so just like everything else, you are really paying for brand. I've even seen some shops across the street from each other and see the lexus tech go over to toyota for some stuff they didnt have.
Think of it like buying coffee at the supermarket. Would you buy the nice Folgers colombian roast for 5 bucks or the store brand colombian roast for 2.50 knowing very well they could have very well been processed and packaged at the same factory
Think of it like buying coffee at the supermarket. Would you buy the nice Folgers colombian roast for 5 bucks or the store brand colombian roast for 2.50 knowing very well they could have very well been processed and packaged at the same factory
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03-13-14, 06:12 PM
#11
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I have been wondering the same thing, my problem is that there is not a Lexus dealership in the town that I live in, just a Toyota dealership... Now I have my own shop at my Used car lot with two car lifts and two guys I trust working on them. But I don't get the advantage of my services getting posted to Car Fax... And my techs are good at domestic cars but have never turned a screw on a Lexus, and they are a little scared of screwing up my car if they were to make a mistake. I just remind them that it is basically the nicest Toyota ever made. I am planning on taking my car to at least 200k before selling... What would y'all do? Is the car fax posted services worth the additional costs of the services over my guys doing it and buying materials at wholesale...
I say screw car fax.
I say screw car fax.
03-13-14, 06:17 PM
#12
No, It ain't gonna matter if ya sell it at 200k, just keep yur own records to back up the work. I sold mine at 200k and it sat it sit on the lot for 8 months with a full Lexus history on line.
03-13-14, 07:16 PM
#13
If you plan on selling the car with well over 100k down the road I wouldn't worry about it. Now the major services like transmission service, timing belt etc are great selling points down the road to show up on lexus service history but basic stuff like brakes and oil I'd let another shop take if you don't do it yourself.
03-14-14, 02:57 AM
#15
Intermediate
Thread Starter
I tried this already and they lowered the alignment to $99 but did not budge on the oil change price so I said thank you and cancelled my appt. Going to Toyota on Saturday lol.