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This makes my point about how Honda and dealers (and others) intimidate customers into have all service done at their high-priced shop even when the law says they don't have to do so.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Protect your investment. Have service performed by an authorized dealer.
So, here are my questions:
1. Edmunds TMV for this car is $27,049 in my area (Delaware). Has anyone in this general area done better?
2. I want to add fog lights, spoiler, and winter mats. There is a pretty decent price difference between Honda list price and other web pages selling Honda parts. Has any one purchased these items from the dealer, gotten a good deal, and what does the install prices look like?
I think I can handle the install on the floor mats! The spoiler looks doable (any horror stories from DIY's?). The fog lamps I have to have professionally installed. Any other options you guys and gals can't live without I should be thinking about?
3. I currently drive a 2001 Accord EX 5-sp. I really love the car, but I want to upgrade to V6, heated leather, nav, etc. One thing I worry about is the VTEC is sweet when YOU decide when to shift. Can you really take advantage of driving close to the red line with the auto? Or does the significant HP/Torque increase of the VR really make this a non-issue?
4. Lastly, the published numbers for interior space don't look that different from my 2001. However, I realize the numbers aren't the whole story. Anyone move from a previous generation to the new Accord? If so, how does the interior space feel compared to the last Accord?
Thanks for all of your past and future help!
Mike
Why is Shade Tree automatically assumed to not be a quality service shop? The savings are usually in dollars and not pennies as you suggest. Those dollars may not be significant to you but there are others who value the savings as much as they value having a quality vehicle like the Accord.
Fog lights is about $500, same for spoiler, mats about $100 (all installed). EX V6 w/nav before tax should be no more than 26K, I've heard of people getting for much less.
3: non-issue, test drive it hard and you'll know
4: It's bigger and WAY nicer on the EX, again, test drive will tell the whole story.
2. Accessories. Install prices can vary tremendously by dealer. The spoiler is a piece of cake if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. The fog lights are too much for me and I would get a pro install.
I want the Bluetooth phone handsfree kit for my cell phone. I would also like the autodimming mirror.
3. the HP/Torque of the V6 makes your worries a non issue. It is very very fast when making passes on the highway. You won't hear the VTEC sound though.
4. The specs don't show much more space, but the "feel" of the car is that it is a little larger (wider and taller). legroom feels about the same.
I once went to a Honda Dealer and he wanted to charge me $60 just to change out the air filter!
I do go to the dealer for something more complex . . but not for oil changes. And Honda should stand behind their product . .. not give me the runaround regarding the safety recall.
And I didn't even buy either vehicle from them.
The shop gained a lot of Toyota knowledge. I got a completely new fuel injection system to go with the new fuel pump and they only charged me one hour labor because of what they had gained (and wounded pride too, I'm sure). Of course, that was a bit under $400 dollars (a lot back in 1989!).
I've tended to go to the dealers ever since, sure that they would have found the fuel pump problem on the first visit (and maybe during an oil change had I gone there for that!). I have found that the dealer oil changes (Honda, Ford, and now GMC) are quite inexpensive these days as they try to compete for service business more than in days of old.
Oh, one semi-nice side effect of that Chevron repair/learning-experience was that I drove the car for another 4 years without a need for a tune-up. Accelerated like a hot rod!... ;-)
I think it is terribly unprofessional on the part of your rep to tell you that they refuse to help you b/c you didn't have your oil changed at the dealership. My apologies.
In either case your likely to get the parking lot attendant.
That is why I do essentially all my own routine maintenance, except for perhaps timing belts. And this spring I'm going to tackle that one...
Mitch, sorry I didn't realize in your 1st post that you actually had a faulty switch, I had made the improper assumption that you had brought it in for replacement based on the recall. You properly point out that Honda, like all manufacturers, typically does a recall in response to public outcry. I propose that you try to get the word out to other '99 owners to "test" whether they have a problem (several posts here point out that this is a problem that is unlikely to be detected by most owners), and notify Honda.
Hopefully by posting on this board you have gotten the ball rolling (and not your car! ;-)
"Shade Tree Mechanic" was a generic term 40 years ago and implied that an amateur was the mechanic. I did NOT imply that dealers are the only place capable of changing the oil and oil filter.
However, when the Dealer changes the oil and oil filter there is a duplicate record that the service was performed. Most dealers want to retain each customer and it is much easier to get warranty work performed when the dealer KNOWS that proper routine maintenance was performed.
"The only way your warranty may be affected is if it can be shown that misuse or improper (or lack of) maintenance caused or contributed to the malfunction."
To me, this means that they must do warranty work unless they can prove I did or did not do something that caused the problem. An example is that he cannot refuse warranty work on my breaks, alternator, radio, AC, transmission, fuel injectors, recalls, etc because I don’t have my oil change records. Even if it something to do with the engine, he must state that bad oil has caused the problem.
I had warranty work (new cat) on my 03 Accord with about 18k miles on it. All the dealer said was that I should be bringing the car in for normal service so they could monitor for problems. He did now say they would not fix warranty problems because I did not bring it in for normal service. They did the warranty work without any questions about my service records.
How did I know I needed a new CAT you may ask? The check engine light came on. The OBD code (fee check at places like autozone) said I had a bad cat.
Greg, I live in jersey just let me know when you need some service bring the coffee and tip and I'll do it! I take my coffee black and my gift is a free can of Marvel Mystery Oil.
That would be $330 extra to pay the dealer IF the dealer charged $10 more than elsewhere.
The $330 is 1.3 % of the cost of the new vehicle. Why take the risk for a paltry 1.3 % ?
And exactly what are we risking?
Yeah always check the work. Changed my oil and filter last week-15 minutes max. Have around 20 gallons of used oil/atf to take to a local garage which uses it to heat the place-this time of year they are looking for donations-it is about -10F this AM.
On the other hand, in all the years that I've gone to quick lube shops for routine stuff, I've never had a single problem. I check the work after it's complete, and I'd do so regardless of where I have it done. So from my perspective, routine service performed at a dealership has no advantage over such service performed elsewhere. Make sure you stick with a reputable shop and you should be no more likely to have problems with the service than you would with a dealership. Might there be a problem with the service? Well, of course there might be... as demonstrated by your Jiffy Lube horror story and my dealership horror stories, that's a risk regardless of where you go.
So going to a dealership is no guarantee of properly performed procedures. As someone said earlier, although you may be a bit skeptical of the staff's skills at Jiffy Lube, you aren't going to get a master mechanic changing your oil at a dealership, either... the really experienced mechanics will be working on real repairs. The guy who changes your oil probably spends the rest of his day cleaning new cars for delivery. So you take your chances anywhere you go.
Other than oil changes and tire rotation, I have my routine service performed at a local shop that specializes in Hondas. They have an excellent reputation and have done great work for me and many others for years. They have no need to advertise, as word of mouth from satisfied customers is all the promotion they need. As with snakehair's mechanic, they aren't cheap, but they are less expensive than the dealership.
At any rate, if it makes you feel better to get your oil changed at a dealership, fine... but don't try to characterize others as careless because they don't share your preference for having routine service performed at a dealership.
I freely admit that many things appeal to me more than clawing around a car, driving grease and oil under fingernails and into recesses I didn't know existed, while attempting to save $10 or $15. Also, while I understand the design and function of the parts, I'm as likely as not to mess up any repair/maintenance work I might attempt. Plus, I do not have the experiencial knowledge that would allow me to recognize anything but the most obvious potential problem. If you enjoy doing the work and have the experience, then have at it!
It is possible, I suppose, that the dealerships miss the opportunity for potential business (as well as the service it provides to their customers) by not truly performing the (some number)-checks that they claim when I take my vehicles in for oil changes and scheduled services. I have never been fed a line of bull about some really-unnecessary supposed problem they found. But then I have also never had something that they should have found come back to bite me later.
I can say that, even some of the seemingly expensive scheduled maintenance, has generally turned out to be well worth the money, not only in preventing trouble but also in actually improving performance. A 30,000 mile service on my F150 (almost $600, I believe) did end up increasing my fuel efficiency by a full mile per gallon. I trust it also extended the life of the transmission, cooling systems, and all the lubricated parts. It had the added advantage, since I did not attempt it myself, of saving me from paying for the parts twice because of my ineptitude and disinterested incompetence.
YMMV
Fortunately for oil changes, many dealers have started express oil changes that save you time and might even give you an appointment. If you get work done at a reputable shop, that's in business for awhile you would have an ally for any warrenty disputes too. It's been my experience that Honda won't argue about services performed at these shops. Save your money, buy genuine Honda parts and invest in the service manual for your vehicle.
For me and dako, the authorized dealers have been 100 % Satisfactory. An added side bonus going to an authorized dealer is the ability to look at the beautiful new vehicles they have in their lovely showrooms with no pressure from salespeople when I tell them I am looking at their quality merchandise while my vehicle is being serviced. Works every time.
Even if your car isn't in for service, a little white lie about it will get you the same benefit... works every time.
One thing I discovered at the Ford dealer during one such unpressured waiting time was the unintended irony of some signs there. One sign said "Restrooms" and pointed left. Just below it was another sign pointing right that said "Sales." I asked the cashier if those were there so that customers could distinguish the "S" form the "BS" and she was quite amused.... ;-)
I'm now a proud owner of an all-new 03 EX-V6 Accord (with no NAV - none available in Canada). Any things to look out for before driving the car off the lot?
Dindak - how come the specifications at the Canadian Honda Accord website indicate that there is a headlight auto-off function. Where do you see otherwise?
If you wanted, you could just leave them on. That way, lights are on when you need them, and turn off after you leave the car.
I have never seen a car in the $15K range that features auto-on headlights. Very interested though if someone could tell me which ones?
yes i could leave the headlights on all the time, but then i'd have to keep adjusting the brightness of the dash lights...
I was initially bummed that the U.S. EX-V6's didn't have heated mirrors like the Canadian versions, but I've noticed that the mirrors never fog or ice up. Despite rain, snow, ice, etc. I've never had to clear them. All of my previous cars required some mirror scraping or wiping, so I'm grateful that these stay clear no matter what.
But, even in this horrific winter, it hasn't been a problem at all. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, and am very pleasantly surprised.
~alpha