Car Dealerships... what a rip off!!! Options

[T/A6Pak]

I needed an oil change and there was a problem with my window. So they call me and tell me that I need new rear rotors and pads--> $530.00, then they tell me I need a new air filter that cost $20.00 and an hepi filter that is for the interior of the car---$80.00 installed.. they say they have to take out the whole dash to put it in.

I tell them just to do the oil and ask them if there is a charge for putting in the air filter, it's 2 bolts... I can do it myself. Dave gets the roters and the pads for $200.00, so I tell them to disregard doing that.

I talk to my dad and find out the hepi filter that costs $30.00 to buy is put in by removing two bolts in the glove compartment. I tell them not to do that...LMAO. I ask them if there is a charge to put the filter on, if so.. I will get it myself and do it. They tell me it's no charge.. so I say go ahead.

I go to get my car and they tell me the total and I say: Let me see the bill, notice they charged me $22.00 to change my air filter... wow, I tell the guy, take that air filter off my car and put the old one on, I'm really pissed that they are now charging me to put on an air filter that they said would cost nothing.

I tell them that they are just a bunch of rip off artists and I will find somewhere else to take my car now on!!!

So they take the charge off my bill and leave the new one on: I still paid for the part. I tell them that they just try to take advantage of people and that service like this is the same as theft!!! They charge a mechanics fee of $100.00 hr to do work at the dealership.

Warning--> Do not deal with dealerships unless it's warranty work!!!

[UNDEAD 1]

25 bucks more a mnth than the piece of s volkswagon i bought.i think the only draw back is if you go over on your miles. for what i pay ,and its not much ,a girl in my office found a fat mercedes and they shipped it to her ,so i think if you shop around and work them a little it helps.

[HammaTime]

Hey 6 - I had the same problem with my G35. It popped up randomly and I got around it by selecting the second track on the CD. For some reason, it didn't like the first track. Also, some early G35's had some real problems with excessive wear on the brakes. I think it was because of the traction control system, but the irony was the brakes and rotors would need to be replaced just AFTER the warranty expired.

I used to go to a dealership that was rated #1 in the nation by JD Powers. I had a bad right CV joint and called them to tell them I needed it replaced. They quickly scheduled some time for me and requested I drop the car off. Because they were so quick to get on the problem, they didn't have a loaner available. Kind of a hassle, but I was glad to get the car fixed sooner rather than later. I dropped it off, and caught a ride back home and then returned that evening and was greeted by the service manager who smiled and said, "You were right, it was your CV joint ... we'll have to order the part."

I was dumbfounded that they burned up my time when I had told them precisely what needed to be done. He explained that they get lots of people who "think" they know what is wrong with their car.

I had to schedule another day to drop the car off and I choked at the bill they gave me. Stapled to the bill was a JD Power rating form. I noticed I could submit it through the mail, or I could fill out the form online. I got home, jumped on the computer and was quite surprised when I went to submit my evaluation to discover they wouldn't accept it. My evaluation had already been entered, I learned. A little digging revealed the DEALER had submitted my evaluation and had given themselves a perfect rating.

I called JD Power and spoke with a very nice customer service rep. She affirmed that dealers were not allowed to fill out their own forms and she would launch an investigation.

A short time later, that dealer could no longer advertise that they were highly rated by JD Power. I've since had many bad experiences with that dealer and, even though I love the manufacturer's cars, I'll never buy them again because there isn't another dealer around to service them.

grrrrrrr