What to do with car dealer?

eyeguy1 · 04-21-06, 03:41

If you were unhappy with your dealer's service and the nearest other dealer was an hour away, would you sell the car and buy a different brand from a dealer with better service?

RTexasF · 04-21-06, 04:22

Seems a bit drastic to me unless it's very old. There are tens of thousands of non dealer repair places, why not investigate that angle?

eyeguy1 · 04-21-06, 05:39

They have to replace the radio because the display is going out and it's a warranty issue.

Isaac · 04-21-06, 06:40

I wouldnt sell it, i would go to that other dealer. I have the same problem with the mercedes dealership here in my town. They are HORRIBLE, but i still love the car. Just take that hour drive IMHO.

Steve02SLT · 04-22-06, 05:45

I agree. Don't just sell your car because you aren't happy with the dealer. Cars lose to much value for that. I would say just go to the other dealer. If you're within 40 miles of the selling dealer, you will still have to go to them, at least thats what most manufacturer warranties say. I would say just go in and be like 'look, I went to this place first, but the service is awful, its warranty work so you guys will get paid, can you fix it for me?', more than likely they will with no questions asked.

RTexasF · 04-22-06, 06:26

Within 40 miles of the selling dealer? I've never heard that one before.

When I've had warranty work done at a different dealership than where purchased the work was done, no questions asked, ever.

eyeguy1 · 04-22-06, 08:03

The nearest dealer besides the one I bought from is like 75 miles away. They did tell me that had I bought the car from them they would've worked me in since the car is new and it would take at most one hour to put a radio in.
The dealer tells me I had to get Honda's extended care warranty to even get a rental car from them. I've never heard of that from any other dealer. My work hours make it hard to try to get a ride and I don't think I should have to pay for a rental.
Anyway, I've cooled down some and I will keep my car. I'll just try to leave work early to get my work done. I still don't think it's fair to make a person buy an extended warranty to get a rental car for warranty work.

RTexasF · 04-22-06, 09:33

If the dealer has the part you should be in & out in an hour or less. I don't understand the need for a loaner car.

That's a common warranty item for 7th generation Accords, which is what I assume you have. The old unit comes out, the new goes in and you're on your way.

eyeguy1 · 04-22-06, 06:58

This is a brand new Civic. Well, it's 4 1/2 months old but it's still new. I guess I was mad they couldn't fit me in since it was such a "quick job". The rental car thing was for a power steering leak and a replacement panel. I just thought it was odd that I'd have to buy this extended warranty just to get a rental car for a warranty repair. Oh well, I've cooled down over it and it was a stupid idea. I think the next car I buy will be from a dealer that works on weekends though. It's just too big a pain to try to leave early from work. I guess it's good that I bought a Civic as there shouldn't be many problems.

bet993 · 04-24-06, 02:26

Unfortunately the loaner programs vary from dealership to dealership. Keep the car. The civic is a great vehicle. I do understand your pain though. All the cars I like are sold by one dealer locally and I am not all that thrilled with their service department (sales depart is fine but service depart is poor). Unfortunately you have to deal with service people for a much longer time than the sales.

A interesting story like yours....My brother loves Audi's and currently has 2. One is getting quite old and needs to be replaced. I was talking to him a couple of weeks ago asking him which Audi he was going to get and he surprised me and said he may be switching to the dark side and was strongly considering a 3 series BMW (he gave me such a hard time when my wife got hers) because he just can't stand the Audi dealership in his town anymore. His audi dealership does not give loaners either (rides but no loaners unless the car is going to be in for an extended time frame).

eyeguy1 · 04-24-06, 02:58

I think I expected some sort of professional courtesy from this bunch. Especially since this was my second car from them plus I've referred so many people to the dealer. Oh well, what ya gonna do? Heck, I've even planned on getting my next Miata there. We'll see what happens.

Accumulator · 04-24-06, 04:30

Some of the regulars here have heard this all before from me....The treatment I get from dealers/shops pretty much determines which cars my wife and I drive for our good ones.

For the A8/S8 I patronize an Audi dealer who's over an hour away, with at least two other Audi dealers being located along the way. I basically drive the Audis instead of another make because of the way my dealer (Stoddard Imported Cars, Willoughby OH) takes care of me and my vehicles.

There's a very nice marque I'd be looking at seriously if my Audi dealer handled them, but for now I'd never buy a high-end car from somebody else.

No loaners? I'd talk with them. These days I get the loaners delivered to my house when my Audis need serviced, and my cars are *long* out of warranty. It's a professional courtesy they extend to keep my happy. But yeah, I had to ask for it (but I only had to ask once, I asked the owner). Remember that they can do whatever they want to do, it's all a matter of whether they want to eat the expense. If my dealer can send a guy 90 minutes each way (for free) when I need anything, I'd expect any dealer can do likewise if they want to.