We took our Tundra SR5 in for its 20,000-mile service the other day. Our normal service advisor at Toyota Santa Monica was on vacation, so we made an appointment with the next advisor in line. She told us to expect a call at 3, when our truck would be ready.
No news by half-past 3, so we called her. We sat on hold for 10-15 minutes while the operator tracked her down. "Come experience the Santa Monica difference," the recording warned us. Then it began to skip, "Please hold and someone will be right-right-right-right with you." That was good for a laugh.
When the other end finally picked up, we learned our Tundra was ready. It cost $116.24 to rotate tires, perform visual inspections and change out 8-quarts of oil. Over 80-bucks of the total was for labor.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Coordinator @ 20,836 miles
ahightower says:
04:03 PM, 07/ 1/08
Ripoff. Oh well.
I like the new look on this blog, with the larger photos.
louiswei says:
04:09 PM, 07/ 1/08
Definitely ripoff. I paid less than that to have my car serviced at the Lexus dealer for 20k oil change.
slickersdrip says:
05:13 PM, 07/ 1/08
Wow, you're kidding me. I hope they replaced your oil with something laced with liquid platinum and the tears of virgins and innocents for that kind of money.
saxdogg says:
06:15 PM, 07/ 1/08
Those dealer trips are always rape if you just buy their "whatever-k service."
Oil change yourself = $15. Rotate tires at discount tire or equivalent = $12.
Done.
JP
slickersdrip says:
06:57 PM, 07/ 1/08
Sax-
I'm a huge fan of the whole have a floor jack and jack stand around, so the tire rotation is $0.00.
jdub53084 says:
08:10 PM, 07/ 1/08
While compared to independent or "chain" auto service facilities, dealers are expensive, but automotive service in general is still a bargain compared to the other parts of the general service industry. You certainly couldn't walk off the street and see a doctor for a 100 bucks, or get your computer fixed.
I don't see that its a bad thing to give a car dealer work and if it helps someone make a living and keeps a buisness in the community thriving, then I have no problem with paying with my money and loyalty.
If they are a bad dealer(or hires people who don't call you back!!) then spend your money else where.
Sorry, thats my soapbox as a former service professional.
the_big_al says:
10:02 PM, 07/ 1/08
well dealers might be more expensive than your local mechanic or quick lube places, but still $116 for a rotation and an oil change?? But of course you get the dealer and "factory" trained techs service instead of the flunky at the quick lube right??
I guess that makes it all worth it. Bah. For some stuff sure. Let the dealer or the techs who are trained on these vehicles work on them. For a tire rotation and an oil change though? I think a regualr mechanic or quick lube would be able to handle that or just do it your self if you really want to "save" money depending on how much your time is worth.
I wonder if Edmunds might do a test of seeing if there is a difference in going to a local quick lube rather than going to the dealer. Cost-wise, time-wise and knowledge wise???
stovt001 says:
10:38 PM, 07/ 1/08
Yet another reason to Not Buy A Toyota. At my Chevy dealer an oil change is $30 and a tire rotation is $10.
z479 says:
05:29 AM, 07/ 2/08
It only costs my mom $31 for an oil change and tire rotation on her Camry at the local Toyota dealer. Plus, its synthetic and only needs it every 5k miles I think.
My Pontiac costs $32 at the dealer the one time I did do it there, and that wasn't including synthetic or a rotation...
johnmarco says:
07:59 AM, 07/ 2/08
What is happening with the Road Tests Blog page?
A host of changes have been made, all of them for the worse:
1. Comments are no longer numbered
2. Number of new comments no longer singled out (how do I know to recheck the comments now?)
3. Comments font changed to something visually jarring
4. Can no longer "edit" my comments after submitting them
5. I have to keep signing in to leave a comment (always used to remain signed in)
6. Addition of a whole bunch of annoying icons underneath "number of comments" link
7. Toggling between showing my actual name and my sign-in name when I leave a comment
Every one of these changes is annoying and degrades from the user experience. Please forward my comments to the appropriate department.
louiswei says:
08:33 AM, 07/ 2/08
I have to agree with johnmacro, all the changes are for the worse and the bigger pictures really don't make up to it.
I don't know why Inside Line has the big picture myth but to be honest, I rather have good contents and user interface than some big pretty pictures.
Just my 2 cents.
jdub53084 says:
09:46 AM, 07/ 2/08
Dealers do use OEM parts but the lubricants are usually the same as what you get anywhere else.
Dealers also Balance tires and some of the cheap tire rotations out there don't do that.
Quick lube places are handy but they work on volume so they buy the cheapest lubes and they always seem willing to dupe people into buying something else, which is why I don't let my friends go to those places. Some also can cause real havoc, my mom burned up a differential after they left a drain plug out of the rear axle of her Blazer. Thank goodness for the Better Buisness Bureau.
dotsara says:
10:43 AM, 07/ 2/08
@johnmarco & louiswei:
Got your comments, guys. We're only 2 days in, there's still finessing to be done, but I promise you we're all over it. (:
And, I may be biased, but I'm reasonably certain we can have big pictures *and* good content. :D
dotsara says:
10:44 AM, 07/ 2/08
Ha! See? Still in progress. "Registered User" indeed. This is dotsara, here. (:
johnmarco says:
12:37 PM, 07/ 2/08
OK my apologies Registered User. I may have jumped the gun. :)
firstwagon says:
05:29 PM, 07/ 2/08
"You certainly couldn't walk off the street and see a doctor for a 100 bucks"
It costs nothing to walk in off the street and see a doctor here.... $6.00/gallon for gas but doctors are free.
desmolicious says:
06:14 PM, 07/ 2/08
The issue isn't with a Toyota dealership. The issue is with the (name your dealership here) in SANTA MONICA!!!!