Did I get ripped off

I had my testarossa oil change done at a local dealership. The last time I had it serviced was the engine out service. I had that done in Chicago which is 200 miles away from me. I think the total was around 17k including delivery and pickup. I decided to have the oil change done in town this time. I took it myself and had it back the same day. They did an oil change, filter, air filter, brake light was out. Tire pressure and detailed the car. It was $1600. Does that sound like a fair price or did I get ripped off?

 

u didnt get ripped off.

 

You were in one of the biggest, most expensive cities in the country. You were in a Ferrari dealer a company with a very costly overhead. Basic economics says its going to be expensive.

 

If you have to ask.

 

First

What was wrong with brake light ..just a bulb
Where was it done .
Local shop (Indy) or dealer
Did they also change gear oil and brake fluid ?

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But he said this time he had it done 'in town', which I read to be Springfield Illinois.

I will never understand an oil change and filter for a Honda to be $50, vs $1,600 for the same thing for a TR.
(and yes, I know a TR holds nearly 4x the oil a Honda does)

I know a filter alone is $175-200, 16 qts of oil maybe $200 at most, and even two shop hours at $125 an hour isn't $1,600....

 

He said dealer. I have to assume it wasn't a honda dealer. There are 2 Ferrari dealers in Illinois. Both in the suburbs of Chicago.

I spent a lot of years in Ferrari dealers. I never just changed oil. Some consumers call it an oil change but we never did oil changes.


$125 an hour? Thats hilarious. Welcome to 1990. My independent shop has been higher than that for many years.

You need to get out more.

 

I hilighted it for you. (his bio says he is in Springfield)

I figured you would chime in - I was hoping you would, I was not expecting a personal slam, but thanks anyway.

Guys here are not all paid the same, a guy washing cars at the dealership is not paid as much as
the oil change jockeys, who are not paid as much as 'the real mechanics'.

So what you are saying is your shop charges $500 an hour?
(PS - I forgot about the air filter - $100 - and taillight bulb - sorry)

 

Have you always been an ass hole?

 

Calling someone a derogatory name because they have their own thoughts that may disagree with yours is pretty classless. Maybe you think you're the most experienced Ferrari mechanic that posts here, but incredibly enough, other people also have vast experiences and have every right to post without personal attacks.

I think $1600 for a basic oil change seems HIGH also. Maybe JULIA, the original poster of this thread should feel a little dismay.

 

We are jumping to conclusions..OP still hasn't responded to my questions which can change the price

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And it said detail as well / thats 500 bucks on the very cheap side
He got away easy at 1600

 

I'm sorry my post has caused so much arguing. In answer to the questions. It was just a bulb. I'd rather not disclose the service centers name. And to my knowledge no other fluids were touched.

 

Look, if you are minimally mechanically inclined you can do all the above for approximately $300 - on your time (provided you have a way to lift the rear of the car). It's pretty basic stuff.

If you either don't have the time or inclination (I respect that) then you be the judge of what price is fair. At least now you know the cost delta.

 

Then yes you paid too much ..sorry .

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Probably a better solution to not paying more than you figure is to get an estimate first. Then when the shop gives a sixteen hundred dollar estimate, you can call some other shops instead of experiencing sticker shock. While a "detail" may have been done with the oil change, this can be a quick wash and vacuum or a two day deal. Easy to place a five hundred dollar price tag on a detail, but five hundred for the more standard quickie wash and vacuum is also steep.

An oil service for my 458 spider at the local Ferrari dealer was around 700, and that included a "detail" also. 458 has a rather large panel that has to be removed to access the oil, where the Testarossa is wide open. Doesn't take more time to do a Testarossa than a 458 so I think it would be pretty tough to justify the $1600.00 price tag. My local Ferrari dealer certainly has an equally high overhead, and still managed to change oil for nine hundred dollars less on a pretty equal car. The UFI oil filter may be a hundred dollars more than the cartridge filter on the 458 however. so an eight hundred dollar differential.

 

Down understand how pil change a s detail is expensive at 1600

 

Ferrari of Ft Lauderdale recently charged a member here $2500 for annual service. I assume that included changing all fluids. He posted about it in FL section. That's twice as much as an independent. I know firsthand. As I've said before, are their hands guided by God?

$1600 is a bit more than most.

 

I'd need to know more of what "detailed the car" entailed -- at my wife's MB Dealer that can be a $500-600 thing.

 

WOW - For many years I have always respected you, thought you were a classy guy.
I said nothing to deserve that.

 

A dump and fill with filter on a TR is about 450 bucks in parts..the damn filter is 200 alone. 2 hours labor..whatever thier shop rate is..what...dealer rate 200 an hour? So 850..bulb..no more than 5 bucks..Maybe they charged .5 labor..so 100 to change a bulb..450+400+100+5=$955.00. Air filter..I can't recall the price..then detail.. then tax..1600 isn't far off at all really.

 

All about the level of the detail. Just a detail could be $1600.

 

Don't take it literally. It was about the $500/h comment.

He's both classy and genuine. Lots of chuckles if you don't take things personally.

 

I'll be the contrarian and say (and said it before) it was a ripoff but then again most basic service activity on a Ferrari or any exotic catering indy shop are to.

- Why pay 3-100 times more for a part that cross references to other basic fiat, brembo, or bosch lists, but doesn't come in a yellow box?
- Does shop mobil 1 cost more that Sams Club mobil 1?
- Detail cost...the definition of a "detail" can be anything from a "wash'n vac" to true polish/paint correction. I've seen the simple wash'n vac go for $500 on an exotic car and the owner thought he got deal

Keeping mind there is nothing overly technical about the basic items like alignments, changing brakes, fluid/filter changes that a kid in auto shop or a fesh out of school tech at the local indy shop can't do, yet its inflated to exponential proportions because its basically accepted within the tolerance of someone driving a six figure car and the shops that perform the work cater to the clientele (usually worrisome and needy) and have significant overhead costs (training, equipment, liabilities, etc) to work on the cars.

 

I may not have much to offer on this topic, but it appears many contributors may have reading comprehension issues or how many guys (i.e. “He”) with a first name “Julia” any of you know ?

P.S. Even OPs profile states “Female”.

P.P.S. @Hipporacer, did this local, independent shop provided you with a detailed invoice, breaking down time and material charges per each service, including “detailing” and did they provide an estimate you agreed on prior to performing any of the aforementioned work ?