[tee-la]

I purchased my 2008 Scion used from Dick Hannah VW in Vancouver, WA, in February of this year. With their "Customer for Life" program, you get free car washes, free replacement tires, free rental cars (when in service, I suppose) but you have to have all of your services done there.

I called today as my xb just hit 20k and needs service. It's the basic service. They are not a scion dealer (but the Dick Hannah brand does have a scion outlet) and I could not get pricing on the service over the phone. Was told that I would have to bring it in, then they could tell me the cost. Uh, that doesn't sound like the best idea to me. So I look on the Dick Hannah Scion website and see that the Basic Service is $89.95. But another dealership has the same service for $49.95 and yet another for $39.95. I called to see why the service is so much more expensive and the Service Mgr. is supposed to call me back.

Here's the thing...the VW place where I bought this is not that convenient to me. I rarely get north of the river from Portland. Their scion dealership is even further away. Are the free tires really going to make it worth it to overpay for each scheduled service? How much do new tires run for a Scion anyway?

http://www.dickhannahscion.com/Service-Pricing-2006.aspx This is their pricing. Even though it says 2006, it's really their current pricing.

Should I just forget this program? It seems like a bit of a ripoff.

Thanks...

 

[tee-la]

Just got a call back...apparently the service is $79.95, not $89.95.

 

[scion]

What is the Basic service? You have to find out what they are going to do for that money. At 20k miles it shouldn't need more than an oil change and tire rotation.

I would forget what the dealer recommends for service and go by what's in your owners manual. The dealers lately have come up with all kinds of service recommendations that they know will make them money. Engine/transmission flushes are just a couple of examples of money wasted and could cause damage.

If it will make you sleep at night then do the dealer service recommendations. I think it's a waste of money, just like changing your oil every 3k miles.

Good luck.

 

[tee-la]

BASIC SERVICE
EVERY 5K MILES

Includes:
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Rotate Tires
Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
Inspect/Adjust the following
Ball joints and dust covers
Drive shaft boots
Steering linkage and boots
Drive shaft bolts
Nuts and bolts on chassis

$80 seems pretty expensive for this service. Replacement Goodyear P205/55R16 tires are $100 each at Discount Tire across the street from me.

 

[craigR]

Always remember, Dealerships are in the business of making money. They will generally do NOTHING to benefit you that ends up coming out of their pockets. While the "Customer for life" deal may sound like a good gig, I would find out if you must do their "dealer" recommended service or the "Scion" recommended service. If it's their recommended service, it will most likely cost you more than what they offer in return and I would find somewhere else to take your xB. You've already found their service prices more expensive than other dealers anyway.

 

[tee-la]

Yeah, I've decided to not do their program. I brought my xb to the tire place where I purchased my tires for my last car. My car has almost 20k miles and he told me I probably have about 10k miles left on them. The tires (factory stock Goodyears) are rated for 40k mile life and are $100/tire, about $450 installed. I can purchase Pirelli's for $113 each which are rated to last for 85k miles. The offsetting cost, along with the feeling that I will probably get strung along for other costs are leading me to do my regular maintenance somewhere else.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Subarushawn]

Full Disclosure: I am the internet marketing director, at dick hannah subaru.

The tires for life program requires only that you do the FACTORY required service. Not dealer recomended service.

Today, I took my WRX in for it's 15,000 mile checkup, and since my tires were down to 3/32nds, they replaced them, free of charge. If I had wanted to upgade, they would have just charged me the difference between the price of the tires I got, and the upgraded tire.

 

[Arstechnica]

I purchased my 2008 Scion used from Dick Hannah VW in Vancouver, WA, in February of this year. With their "Customer for Life" program, you get free car washes, free replacement tires, free rental cars (when in service, I suppose) but you have to have all of your services done there.

I called today as my xb just hit 20k and needs service. It's the basic service. They are not a scion dealer (but the Dick Hannah brand does have a scion outlet) and I could not get pricing on the service over the phone. Was told that I would have to bring it in, then they could tell me the cost. Uh, that doesn't sound like the best idea to me. So I look on the Dick Hannah Scion website and see that the Basic Service is $89.95. But another dealership has the same service for $49.95 and yet another for $39.95. I called to see why the service is so much more expensive and the Service Mgr. is supposed to call me back.

Here's the thing...the VW place where I bought this is not that convenient to me. I rarely get north of the river from Portland. Their scion dealership is even further away. Are the free tires really going to make it worth it to overpay for each scheduled service? How much do new tires run for a Scion anyway?

http://www.dickhannahscion.com/Service-Pricing-2006.aspx This is their pricing. Even though it says 2006, it's really their current pricing.

Should I just forget this program? It seems like a bit of a ripoff.

Thanks...

I dont trust dealers at all. The only time I am at a dealer is if I have to purchase a car, other than that I will go else where or do it myself.

 

[Subarushawn]

It sure is understandable to me why people don't trust dealers. Many fail to meet the min standards for being a human.

In most cases, a dealership will take any profit you allow them to. So make sure you do your research, and/or build a relationship with someone who will talk turkey with you.

 

[Arstechnica]

It sure is understandable to me why people don't trust dealers. Many fail to meet the min standards for being a human.

In most cases, a dealership will take any profit you allow them to. So make sure you do your research, and/or build a relationship with someone who will talk turkey with you.

Yeah, just sounds and feels like a conflict of interest when you bring your car to a dealership to get fix, but I guess that can happen anywhere you go, but for some reason I sense it more at a dealership, rather then a speciality shop.