Ok, so i decided to take my car in for the first service, the 8000 km service. (I have 4700 kms). I went in Friday to make the appointment to make them aware of my concerns. They are as follows:
1. my head unit has reset itself about 6 times since i've had the car (2 months). I told them in advance so that they could get me a replacement unit if necessary.
2. My car pulls to the left. I was also aware of the allignment TSB that i saw posted here. I brought in a printout of it.
3. the notorious "clunk". Yeah i've got it. Minor right now, from what i'm reading here, could be really bad down the road.
4. oil lube filter etc, pretty basic
I made the appointment for today. And was told it would be $49, plus any parts that are needed.
I get there, and start giving the info to the service guy. We start with the head unit. He says they will probably have to order one in as they don't keep it in stock. (That's kinda why i went in on Friday). Ok, no big deal.
I move on to the allignment. I tell him the car is pulling to the left. I put my summer's back on yesterday, and it was a little better. I tell him about the TSB AND the fact the car pulls.
He tells me he doesn't have a TSB for the Speed. He tells me "you can't believe everything you read on the net". I hand him the printout and claims that he doesn't know anything about it. It will cost me $100 to get the allignment done.
Next, i describe the clunk. I didn't tell him people on the net have it. I described it. Told him how the "right rear makes a clunking sound going over uneven pavement, ripple bumps etc."
No problem, they'll check it out.
I hand over the keys, and the mechanic takes it out. (Should have gone with him....but hindsight is 20/20).
I go to read the newspaper, then walk out to check on my car. Not there. I wait, and sure enough, 2 mechanics come back with it (test drive #2).
They do the lube filter and whatever and i go to get my keys and pay.
I'm told they didn't hear the clunk, "2 mechanics went and it didn't do it". I'm about ready to throw the mechanic in the friggin trunk and take him for a ride to hear it. The parking lot is under construction and i saw the idiot purposely hit every mud filled pothole there was in the lot (this after i spent an hour cleaning my baby yesterday and put on the Harts).
It gets better. The other service guy goes on to say that the head units are on back order, and it will be 3 months to get one in (Best Buy has them in stock). I say fine, i'll deal with mine until then, please order it. The service manager hears this and corrects the tech, saying "we'll pull the radio and send it to be repaired...it will take 3 weeks". I tell him that i'm not dealing w/o a radio for 3 weeks, plus it's new, it's deffective. i want a new one. I said this all nicely. I deal with a-holes every day and don't want to be one.
He says that is the procedure and Kenwood won't just hand over a new unit w/o trying to fix it first.
I then go to pay the final bill....$82. What?
Apparently, the $49 i was told is just the labour charge. The parts, that i didn't think i would need as what could possibly be broken on a new car, were the oil and filter at $20.
So what did i get for $82 you ask ?
an oil, lube filter (with Mazda sludge oil), they lubed the door locks, topped up the washer fluid, and "inspected" my wiper blades.
Talk about BS!
I'll be writing to the sales manager, who is actually a cool guy (he asked me if i had got my watches, and talked to me about the car for about 10 minutes). I'm going to let him know what i thought about my first service experience. If nothing gets done...my business from now on goes elsewhere. My dealer is far from home and based on today, certainly not worth the drive.
Has anyone had any similar dealer runaround? I'll be taking care of my own oil changes (synthetic) from this point onwards. I figure $30 for the oil and filter...plus i get to play mechanic for a couple of hours.
Later,
MS MSP - Spicy Orange
1. my head unit has reset itself about 6 times since i've had the car (2 months). I told them in advance so that they could get me a replacement unit if necessary.
2. My car pulls to the left. I was also aware of the allignment TSB that i saw posted here. I brought in a printout of it.
3. the notorious "clunk". Yeah i've got it. Minor right now, from what i'm reading here, could be really bad down the road.
4. oil lube filter etc, pretty basic
I made the appointment for today. And was told it would be $49, plus any parts that are needed.
I get there, and start giving the info to the service guy. We start with the head unit. He says they will probably have to order one in as they don't keep it in stock. (That's kinda why i went in on Friday). Ok, no big deal.
I move on to the allignment. I tell him the car is pulling to the left. I put my summer's back on yesterday, and it was a little better. I tell him about the TSB AND the fact the car pulls.
He tells me he doesn't have a TSB for the Speed. He tells me "you can't believe everything you read on the net". I hand him the printout and claims that he doesn't know anything about it. It will cost me $100 to get the allignment done.
Next, i describe the clunk. I didn't tell him people on the net have it. I described it. Told him how the "right rear makes a clunking sound going over uneven pavement, ripple bumps etc."
No problem, they'll check it out.
I hand over the keys, and the mechanic takes it out. (Should have gone with him....but hindsight is 20/20).
I go to read the newspaper, then walk out to check on my car. Not there. I wait, and sure enough, 2 mechanics come back with it (test drive #2).
They do the lube filter and whatever and i go to get my keys and pay.
I'm told they didn't hear the clunk, "2 mechanics went and it didn't do it". I'm about ready to throw the mechanic in the friggin trunk and take him for a ride to hear it. The parking lot is under construction and i saw the idiot purposely hit every mud filled pothole there was in the lot (this after i spent an hour cleaning my baby yesterday and put on the Harts).
It gets better. The other service guy goes on to say that the head units are on back order, and it will be 3 months to get one in (Best Buy has them in stock). I say fine, i'll deal with mine until then, please order it. The service manager hears this and corrects the tech, saying "we'll pull the radio and send it to be repaired...it will take 3 weeks". I tell him that i'm not dealing w/o a radio for 3 weeks, plus it's new, it's deffective. i want a new one. I said this all nicely. I deal with a-holes every day and don't want to be one.
He says that is the procedure and Kenwood won't just hand over a new unit w/o trying to fix it first.
I then go to pay the final bill....$82. What?
Apparently, the $49 i was told is just the labour charge. The parts, that i didn't think i would need as what could possibly be broken on a new car, were the oil and filter at $20.
So what did i get for $82 you ask ?
an oil, lube filter (with Mazda sludge oil), they lubed the door locks, topped up the washer fluid, and "inspected" my wiper blades.
Talk about BS!
I'll be writing to the sales manager, who is actually a cool guy (he asked me if i had got my watches, and talked to me about the car for about 10 minutes). I'm going to let him know what i thought about my first service experience. If nothing gets done...my business from now on goes elsewhere. My dealer is far from home and based on today, certainly not worth the drive.
Has anyone had any similar dealer runaround? I'll be taking care of my own oil changes (synthetic) from this point onwards. I figure $30 for the oil and filter...plus i get to play mechanic for a couple of hours.
Later,
MS MSP - Spicy Orange
Btw, What do you guy's recommend? 5W 30 or 10W 30?
