When the dealer doesn't honor the deal

"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
11/12/2015 at 10:04 • Filed to: None

I took my WRX in for the recommended 22.5k mile service covered under the 2-year maintenance plan they sold with the car. They even gave me a nifty key tag to remind me of the service schedule.

Well, they refused to honor the deal. They gave some BS excuse that it was meant to cover three services, not four, and I didn’t really need to perform the device at 3,000 miles, so it shouldn’t have been done and it shouldn’t have been covered under the plan. So, they are saying that you shouldn’t change the oil after the break-in period?!?

Now I have to choose between making a stink about it in hopes of getting the service cost refunded or just accepting that this is one more way the dealer treats customers poorly and just eat the $80 service cost. Arguing with the dealer will cost me at least as much in time as the service cost in the first place.

I told the service manager that this is why people go to Jiffy Lube. Eighty dollars is a little high for an oil change and to top off the fluids. I’ll be back to doing it myself when the next one rolls around.

DISCUSSION (12)

Nate Bleker > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 10:13

I just had my BRZ in the dealership for the same 22.5k mile service. It was the fourth one, I’d contact SOA directly and fill them in on what’s going on. Go back and read the sheet you signed when you bought the car, it explicitly lists three service intervals and four services.

jariten1781 > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 10:19

What do the documents say? Every time I’ve seen one of these service agreements there’s a time limit and a number of visits limit. If the 3k mile service you did is not in the docs service schedule you probably ate one. Often there’s also a ‘content’ limit that doesn’t even cover everything in the manufacturers service schedule (ie, one I looked at specifically excluded the cabin filter even though that was within the schedule window).

I've yet to run into a service plan that made sense to pay for.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Nate Bleker
11/12/2015 at 10:58

The documents say one thing, but they have four different codes in their system representing different service periods and intervals. This may be an issue where the hard copy says one thing, but someone entered the wrong code into the computer.

I spoke with the salesman who sold me the car. He said that this isn't the first time this has happened. He is trying to follow up on it for me. We shall see....

TheRealBicycleBuck > jariten1781
11/12/2015 at 11:01

The service plan was lumped in as a promotional item. They didn't offer it at all the dealerships and there were some issues getting it implemented at the beginning. I stuck to their service schedule like glue. They made it even easier by sending me reminders via email and text message. I figured that if I didn't, they might find some excuse to void the warranty.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 12:19

MAKE A STINK!!! I work at a Subaru dealership and I am pretty positive we do a around 3k mile service.

TheRealBicycleBuck > CaptDale - is secretly British
11/12/2015 at 12:34

Yep. It’s right there on the key tag - 3 months or 3,750 miles.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 13:14

Yeah. Sounds like they probably fucked up the op codes

Rico > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 13:59

My first service is 1 year or 10,000 miles never heard of a service right after break in (which is actually at 1,000 miles or 1500 at the most).

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rico
11/12/2015 at 14:06

First service on what vehicle?

Rico > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 14:07

Mercedes

TheRealBicycleBuck > Rico
11/12/2015 at 14:24

Perhaps that is why. We plebians with our cheap performance cars don’t have concierge services to break in our vehicles for us. :)

Seriously, to provide the most performance, a new engine should be treated rather kindly for the first 1,000 miles or so. Because of the expected accelerated wear from seating in new parts, the first service is usually under a shorter time frame than subsequent services.

The opposite school of thought is to give it hell in the first few hundred miles.

Rico > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/12/2015 at 15:08

Lol oh please your WRX is probably faster than my C300. Yeah I babied it until 1,000 mi but after that, no mercy.