Always get your car serviced at the dealers

I have a 2002 F1 Spider with no wind defector in the middle, just the screens behind the headrests. We noticed that all the other 360 and 430 Spiders on the Colorado Fcar Fall Foiliage tour had wind deflectors in the middle. We don't notice any wind in the cockpict of our 360 even at high speeds. So no rattles and no need for adjustment cause we don't have no stinkin deflector.

Going to the dealer is just a matter of convenience for me. And convenience is worthan paying more to me now. If I live 3.5 hours from service so flexibility is a key component for me. But I have no problem using a good independent. Did it for years.

 

Please explain what you meant by "I will always get my car fixed through my dealer no matter how much he quotes me." How else is one supposed to take it?

 

Very humorous thread. Car under warranty and taking it to an independent for what should be warranty work. What rhymes with plumb?

Will be much easier to get warranty work done if the dealer has seen the car a couple of times during normal servicing, even if it does cost you a little extra. Plus anything extra they find during the warranty period gets fixed for free.

After the warranty expires, go to whomever you trust, a dealer or an independent. Nice for the OP to have those choices. I am just happy I have somebody competent to work on my Ferrari. One somebody I trust.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

Just being the devils advocate here but did you think about discussing the matter with the person in question. You are obviously upset enough to post on a public forum so why not ask while you were there. This way you would either feel better about the explanation of what was really done or have justification for never returning and warning others.

It would be different if you were relaying how a shop was trying to justify overcharging you but in this case it looks as if you are just complaining about having to fix your car and pay for it. Who knows what had to be done to the deflector to fix it, maybe it took a long time?

On a separate note I've seen independent to dealer pricing for an oil change go from $245-495. Shell Helix is big $$ compared to Mobil one Oil and a filter kit is $41 from Ricambi.

Dealers are not saints either, my personal opinion is to find someone recommended by others and then build a relationship. This will pay off for both parties in the long run.

 

Lol lol lol!!

The oil filter costs $50!

 

Wow, what kind of oil are you putting in there if you can change the oil AND filter for $50?

 

I get my oil changed for peanuts by the local guys and I would never use the dealer for anything unless I had to like plugging in the SD3 computer. Our local dealer in Prague borders on criminal with their mark up and lies about hours for work completed.

I got straight pipes changed on my lambo for $200 USD.If I went to the dealer it would have been $1600.

It is just a car but some people think because it is a ferrari/lambo etc that only guys in space suits can work on them.

That said, there are people who think that because it is a ferrari they can charge you 10 times what they wouild someone else, that is always why I get a rate PER HOUR, not per job.

 

I change my own oil only because the dealer is 2 hours away. Oil filter and washers are about $45 from Ricambi, oil is about $70 (10 x $6.95).

I change it once/year, I let the dealer do it 1/year with other fluids and inspection or any other service I need.

I would never take an in-warranty car anywhere but the dealer. If nothing else, all the service records are readily available. That will be worth hundreds or even thousands in resale (or may make the difference in closing the deal or not). Plus, you are establishing a relationship that can pay dividends.

 

Seems like the issue here is that warranty work is better done through a dealer. I would have to agree with that. Ferrari warranties are short, so get your just due.

My point is that just because somebody is a dealer does not mean they are honorable. It can happen either way with dealers and independent shops. It does appear that the local shop you visited took you for $300.

Google Reviews is a good way to post info about businesses that give bad service. I use Google Reviews and Citysearch quite a bit when I evaluate businesses I am considering using. Admittedly, there are some shilled reviews from the business owner on there and also, some angry people or competing businesses that post bad reviews. But, those are usually relatively obvious.

I call the internet the "Great Equalizer," as it can help disseminate good or bad information about businesses to keep people from getting ripped off. This type of info used to only be able to found through the Better Business Bureau or word of mouth. Thanks to Larry Page and Sergei Brin. Maybe we should also thank Al Gore, as he invented the internet.....or at least he claimed to have done so.