Disappointed with Toyota Dealerships? Go to a Lexus dealership instead!

At least if you DIY, you'll be able to assure you got the best oil, and a nice filter. Some of the goo that aftermarket places use (especially when you bring in one of those $13.99 coupons) is the bare minimum ... lending proof the the ol' saying that you get what you pay for. Wall mart sells pure synthetic 0w-20 & 0w-30 for WAY less than you pay, if you made a request for it at the aftermarket places.

 

Funny the Toyota dealer near me sounds like your Lexus dealer - carwash, WiFi, snacks, nice waiting area etc.

It is Pat Lobb in McKinney - and no I do not work there, just bought my Prius there.

 

Pssst. It's not really "free"...

 

You're Right. The Autozone parking lot is the common mans service center. Autozone needs complimentary muffins...

 

Some of us are able to take things into our own hands and have used the Autozone parking lot to service their own cars. Did you know that they'll pull a code off your car for free (and a hell of a lot faster than the seemingly-completely-incompetent Toyota dealership service deprtments)? Hell - I wouldn't be suprised if somehow Toyota service managed to screw something up on my car just pulling a code off my car (knock on wood that I haven't had any thrown). I know for sure that they can't be trusted to put the right oil in my car, even when I bring my own oil.

 

Now that I think of it, I did replace my Tercel's headlight bulb in an Autozone parking lot, not to mention the wipers. Guess I must be really poor...

I have yet to see someone do a transmission overhaul on the sidewalk, but it will happen.

 

Quite the horror story -- I guess I am lucky. My owner gives me a nice smile and a cup of OJ if I change the oil without leaving too much of a mess.

 

Hey, I'm not knocking Autozone. They're great. I just know my own personal strengths and weaknesses and if I try to fix something myself in a parking lot? It's probably going to end up needing a tow truck.

I'm just saying we could raise expectations. How about they pull a code, sell you the part and offer you a muffin?

 

I thought Autozone stopped lending the OBD II readers and now some even have a sign saying that you cannot work on cars on the parking lot for liability reasons. But nobody really enforces that.

 

Correct (sort of). One of the people working there will pull the code for you so no lending goes on (they handle the reader).

Alternators and batteries as not terribly hard to replace on certain cars in Autozone parking lots.

 

Ever try replacing an alternator in a Prius ? Autozone lot or not, you will be at it forever.

 

I buy my own muffins and eat them in the my garage while I changing my own oil.

 

I see that we have gone astray from the main topic to the amenities offered in dealerships...

 

But muffins are a very worthwhile diversion.

 

Indeed, i guess i'm going to have rotate my oil changes to dealership that carries the best Blueberry muffin. Will keep y'all posted...

 

The south O.C. Lexus Dealer has oatmeal raisen cookies ... and foo foo coffee. But even considering both ... it is NOT outweighed by the fact that they'll tap you for $90 ... just to replace your cabin filter ... which takes a whopping 90 seconds, when you include the time to open the box, and find a trash can for the old one.



.

 

Every Toyota dealership is different... I had to replace both headlights at the same time! The Crystal Lake dealership where my car was purchased is so rude and has made errors with the car on the simplest of tasks such as an oil change. The cost for the new headlamps was so expensive that I called numerous dealers and the Arlington Heights dealer did it for free with a promise of returning there for regular maintenence. However, that was a negotiated deal
They were professional and have a new customer for life!!
Each dealer also quotes different prices for the extended warranty when purchasing the car!

 

Hey can you PM me the name of the one in Arlington Heights?

Pauly Toyota in Crystal Lake did my 60k service. No complaints (I'll admit a low standard: actually putting the correct oil in my car), however they did refuse to replace my gas pedal with a new one in spite of multipe requests to multiple people (in contradiction of what was indicated in this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-technical-discussion/79103-ssc-90l-pedal-modification.html). I am still working at it (thank you Toyota for wasting my time).