I've had horrible experiences with every dealer I've ever dealt with. Too much profiteering. They just aren't interested if it's costing them money.... all about maximising the profit. I've always found sometimes it's best to pay a local mechanic to fault find. Then get it fixed.... jeep was terrible, audi terrible, both were great cars, just shitty dealers...I dont think it comes down to the manufacturer..... its all about the dealerships....most staff are commission based. So they want that ££££
I, too, have had generally had better experiences with independent mechanics. But my issues haven’t really been profit-related - more a mix of dealerships being abusive and/or doubling down with ridiculous statements to avoid admitting they’ve made a mistake.
One example: I did all the oil changes on one of my vehicles myself, and was quite particular about the type of oil and filter I used. As I was doing an oil change, a couple bolts that needed to be removed in the process we’re excessively tight - to the point where I needed to get a breaker bar to remove them - a ratchet was not sufficient. I wondered what I could have been thinking when I last tightened them to over-torque them so. Then, when I pulled the oil filter off, I noticed that it was not the one I normally used, but instead an OE filter. I was a little confused and concerned as, since my prior oil change, the car was at the dealership for some warranty service, but it was nothing that would have required them to touch the engine. I called the dealership, and my conversation with the service department manager went something like this:
“Hi, I (explained the above), and was wondering what about the service done required you to do an oil change?”
” We’ve never done an oil change on your vehicle.”
”I understand that one wasn’t requested, but did you do one while it was last in?”
”Nope. We’ve never done an oil change on your vehicle.”
”Okay. I’m a little worried about what may have been done to my car. It seems it may have been confused with another similar vehicle.”
”That’s impossible. We could never mistake two different vehicles.”
”Even if they were similar colors and model? This vehicle is half of your sales volume.”
”We have very precise controls and processes around here. It would be impossible to confuse two vehicles or conduct work not intended on the car.”
”Yet, it has clearly happened.”
”Nope.”
”In the years I’ve owned this car. I have never left it with anyone other than your dealership for service. The only hands that have ever worked on it have my own and those of your service department. I have never left the car with a valet, or to have any
aftermarket equipment installed, or anything. The only others that have ever had custody of this vehicle are your employees.”
”So?”
”Which would you say is more likely? A)That someone, in the dark of night, broke into my garage, stole the vehicle from me, changed its oil using an OE filter, and replaced it back in my garage before the next morning in such a fashion that I never noticed it was missing, or; b)that when you had it last time, that some accidentally changed the oil and didn’t record it.”
”I’d say the two are equally as likely.”
