I shoudn’t have taken my Lexus to a Toyota Dealer
11-16-17, 04:41 PM
#16
Lexus Fanatic
I’m trying to decide if you were ‘tongue-in-cheeking’ me with that question or if you were asking a serious question.
Assuming the latter, since they had line-item$ for oil disposal in both bills - and the service was simply fluid changes - and since it is beyond my comprehension as to how anyone could really use more than just rags to do the job (unless they drain the oil on the shop floor, and throw down several bags of costly Oil-Dri) - then the only thing left, logically, was the cocoa and cookies.
And thank you LexBob2 for that useful bit of information.
Assuming the latter, since they had line-item$ for oil disposal in both bills - and the service was simply fluid changes - and since it is beyond my comprehension as to how anyone could really use more than just rags to do the job (unless they drain the oil on the shop floor, and throw down several bags of costly Oil-Dri) - then the only thing left, logically, was the cocoa and cookies.
And thank you LexBob2 for that useful bit of information.
11-16-17, 05:25 PM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
When I had my Lexus IS300, the filter and drain plug were in a difficult position to reach without ramps or a lift, so I decided to take up the offer of a personal friend of mine, who was the Service Manager at a local Toyota shop (my late mother had bought her Corolla wagon there, and I myself had bought an earlier Celica). He said his Toyota shop could do all the service and minor-repairs for about 50-60% of what a Lexus shop would charge, except for warranty stuff, which had to be re-imbursed through a Lexus dealer. And, he delivered....I owned the car for about 5 years, and had regular service done there without any problems at all. Toyota shops, of course, use the same fluids, filters, and regular maintenance-parts as Lexus shops do...for less money. All of the guys in the Toyota shop loved that car and its bright-yellow paint, since the similar Toyota Altezza was not available in the U.S....they looked forward to every time I brought it in. Of course, there are some differences between the particular experience I had with that specific Toyota dealership and what the OP, above had with his Toyota shop.....the OP was clearly not on a first-name basis with the shop's manager like I was, and apparently did not have the same relationship.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-16-17 at 05:30 PM.
11-16-17, 05:38 PM
#18
Lexus Champion
I’m trying to decide if you were ‘tongue-in-cheeking’ me with that question or if you were asking a serious question.
Assuming the latter, since they had line-item$ for oil disposal in both bills - and the service was simply fluid changes - and since it is beyond my comprehension as to how anyone could really use more than just rags to do the job (unless they drain the oil on the shop floor, and throw down several bags of costly Oil-Dri) - then the only thing left, logically, was the cocoa and cookies.
And thank you LexBob2 for that useful bit of information.
Assuming the latter, since they had line-item$ for oil disposal in both bills - and the service was simply fluid changes - and since it is beyond my comprehension as to how anyone could really use more than just rags to do the job (unless they drain the oil on the shop floor, and throw down several bags of costly Oil-Dri) - then the only thing left, logically, was the cocoa and cookies.
And thank you LexBob2 for that useful bit of information.
11-16-17, 05:42 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
Many on here have professed taking a Lexus to Toyota for service. This may be okay in some cases, but I still would not recommend it. There is a definite higher standard at Lexus, period. I think it's worth a few bucks more to avoid any potential BS that may be more common at lower tier places. Similar to what Mike said, I'm pretty certain those who can afford a Lexus can also afford Lexus oil changes. Just my two cents.
My husband on the other hand goes to various places in the Rochester. He doesn't care.
11-16-17, 06:01 PM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
That must be something unique to Canada. I can't recall seeing a Lexus split-dealership like that here in the U.S....from what I've seen, they are all stand-alone. In fact, I might be wrong, but I think that Lexus actually requires that of U.S. franchises. Longo Lexus and Longo Toyota, in El Monte, CA, for example, are two very well-known dealerships, and their two very large complexes share a common large mall, but still have separate buildings and are considered separate franchises.
11-16-17, 06:09 PM
#21
Lexus Fanatic
That must be something unique to Canada. I can't recall seeing a Lexus split-dealership like that here in the U.S....from what I've seen, they are all stand-alone. In fact, I might be wrong, but I think that Lexus actually requires that of U.S. franchises. Longo Lexus and Longo Toyota, in El Monte, CA, for example, are two very well-known dealerships, and their two very large complexes share a common large mall, but still have separate buildings and are considered separate franchises.
11-16-17, 07:24 PM
#22
Lexus Test Driver
My Toyota dealer will not service Lexus. However the price between a Lexus dealer and my trusted mechanic is "within the ball park". For example today I went to get all my spark plugs changed and my local mechanic charged $450 vs Lexus Dealership $550. I know in couple instances where the dealership is cheaper than my mechanic but I like to keep the monies local when it's not to far of a spread. I also appreciate my local mechanic for sometimes doing things without charge. Today my radiator filler neck was leaking with the temp gauge bouncing up & down almost redlining. I rolled into his lot and popped the hood to let them engine cool and immediately saw the fluid spray on the engine. I told him the part was available next door (I had called ahead of time) and he told me to go pick it up. Changed it out in fifteen minutes, (after letting it cool down) filled the radiator with fluid and I was rolling within a hour...kinda.
As a funny side note before I left I saw there were no cars in the bay and his guys were doing "busy" work. I asked if his guys needed work. He laughed. I asked if radiator flush would be appropriate and he said yes. Well he came back with bad news and said my water pump was leaking and it's wouldn't be worth flushing the radiator since that would have to be done while changing the water pump. That's Integrity. Gotta love a guy bringing good news.
As a funny side note before I left I saw there were no cars in the bay and his guys were doing "busy" work. I asked if his guys needed work. He laughed. I asked if radiator flush would be appropriate and he said yes. Well he came back with bad news and said my water pump was leaking and it's wouldn't be worth flushing the radiator since that would have to be done while changing the water pump. That's Integrity. Gotta love a guy bringing good news.
11-17-17, 04:23 AM
#23
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Mi
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shop Problems
Zeigler, I would not boast about those dealerships. I took my 2006 Jeep Rubicon to their Plainwell Jeep Dealership for a oil change and alignment. They wanted to take it to a ford Dealer in Kalamazoo for the alignment. Now I just drive past Zeigler wondering how they stay in business.
I had trouble at Metro as well after a heart to heart talk with no BS involved. They understand me and I get better service and certain people working on my truck.
I had trouble at Metro as well after a heart to heart talk with no BS involved. They understand me and I get better service and certain people working on my truck.
11-17-17, 05:28 AM
#24
Pole Position
I feel like the point here is he has seen the charges for the exact same service go up exponentially in a couple of years and is asking "why" and not getting a satisfactory answer... To me, this appears to be much more about principle instead of what someone can or can't afford. If I'm interpreting his post correctly, I'd gladly take my business elsewhere and even pay a premium to do so given how he was treated. If a business does something you don't agree with and treats you poorly, vote with your wallet. Why would you tolerate it and not stand up for yourself? My local Lexus dealer treated me so poorly about 6 years ago that I emailed the GM a copy of the cashier's check when we bought our LX from a competing dealership. I wanted him to understand that I was serious when I said I'd never come back and the way they treat customers has an impact on them losing a sale and all subsequent service.
11-17-17, 05:58 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
I feel like the point here is he has seen the charges for the exact same service go up exponentially in a couple of years and is asking "why" and not getting a satisfactory answer... To me, this appears to be much more about principle instead of what someone can or can't afford. If I'm interpreting his post correctly, I'd gladly take my business elsewhere and even pay a premium to do so given how he was treated. If a business does something you don't agree with and treats you poorly, vote with your wallet. Why would you tolerate it and not stand up for yourself? My local Lexus dealer treated me so poorly about 6 years ago that I emailed the GM a copy of the cashier's check when we bought our LX from a competing dealership. I wanted him to understand that I was serious when I said I'd never come back and the way they treat customers has an impact on them losing a sale and all subsequent service.
11-17-17, 06:14 AM
#26
Pole Position
True, but what would make me mad about this situation is how the dealership responded to his question saying it was "normal." That's the whole point- the OP knows the $27 charge was not normal considering he had his oil changed 5,000 miles earlier and didn't have that fee. If I didn't get an answer that I liked to that question, I'd be gone. And gladly paying a premium somewhere else that takes better care of me and gives me confidence they're being honest. If you are shady about small things, you'll be really shady about big things. I'd move on.
11-17-17, 06:36 AM
#27
I feel like the point here is he has seen the charges for the exact same service go up exponentially in a couple of years and is asking "why" and not getting a satisfactory answer... To me, this appears to be much more about principle instead of what someone can or can't afford. If I'm interpreting his post correctly, I'd gladly take my business elsewhere and even pay a premium to do so given how he was treated. If a business does something you don't agree with and treats you poorly, vote with your wallet. Why would you tolerate it and not stand up for yourself? My local Lexus dealer treated me so poorly about 6 years ago that I emailed the GM a copy of the cashier's check when we bought our LX from a competing dealership. I wanted him to understand that I was serious when I said I'd never come back and the way they treat customers has an impact on them losing a sale and all subsequent service.
Prior to buying my Lexus, my wife and I were set on getting 3 series. We were treated so poorly in the BMW dealership that we drove 10 mins away and bought an IS200t. The BMW manager was apologetic but they missed out on a sale and will never earn my business.
11-17-17, 01:25 PM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Thoughts on this notion of affording this and that. As a general rule, I think most people do care what something costs. If Greenwich CT charges $160 for an oil change, and Bloomfield NJ charges $54.95 (real numbers in 2012) on a 6 cyl. BMW, it doesn't make sense to say if you can afford a BMW, you can pay $160 for an oil change. I just got all my $64 in rebates for 6 5 qt jugs of oil. 2 Mobil 1 @ $12 ea, 4 Pennzoil Platinum @ $10 ea. Each jug cost $22.xx from Walmart. Neither of these are approved for the BMW so they won't get put in the 335, but I still have older Mobil 1 LL-01 which also cost the same amount and had a $12 ea. rebate. This is what my mom would do, this is what my dad would do. Perhaps they grew up in another time when saving money was en vogue. I own a BMW and I own a Lexus, and I certainly cannot afford to pay $160 for an oil change. WIX XP oil filter for $6.49? You bet I'll do all our cars myself.
My neighbor told me, his pension isn't that great (haha $3k/mo.), and he inherited (put it together over various conversations) 1/8 of 2 mil. from his uncle, saved all his life, and his only indulgence is golf. I ask him, what year is the Mercury again? He goes 2000. With 42k miles. That's old school. I don't think he can afford a $160 oil change either.
Now again I don't get Toyota, they told me they work on any brand of car and install customer parts. Why would an authorized new car dealer do that? Anyway, it sounds good, until one realizes they don't know what they're doing. At least the dealer near me, and I did try them on a state inspection for my Lexus.
My neighbor told me, his pension isn't that great (haha $3k/mo.), and he inherited (put it together over various conversations) 1/8 of 2 mil. from his uncle, saved all his life, and his only indulgence is golf. I ask him, what year is the Mercury again? He goes 2000. With 42k miles. That's old school. I don't think he can afford a $160 oil change either.
Now again I don't get Toyota, they told me they work on any brand of car and install customer parts. Why would an authorized new car dealer do that? Anyway, it sounds good, until one realizes they don't know what they're doing. At least the dealer near me, and I did try them on a state inspection for my Lexus.