jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The local Honda dealer is offering free inspections and free tire rotation on certain days of the week. I wouldn't dare take advantage of that. Doing the free inspection, he will find a dozen thing "wrong" with my car. While rotating the tires, he will find a dozen more problems.

A local elderly woman received mail from her Subaru dealer offering a free "Twenty-Four Point Inspection." I kept talking her out of it, but when she received the third offer, she insisted that I bring her car to the dealer. Naturally, he found $400 worth of repairs that were needed. I maintained her car, and I knew there was nothing wrong with it, but she insisted on having the work done. So much for "Free."

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nope, I don't either.
I have a mechanic, over 15 years at this location so far.
He'll warn me if something will need replacing soon, but if he says "now", it really does.
No dealers for me except warranty work for that reason.

Morry Loc: Palm Springs, CA

[quote=jerryc41]The local Honda dealer is offering free inspections and free tire rotation on certain days of the week. I wouldn't dare take advantage of that. Doing the free inspection, he will find a dozen thing "wrong" with my car. While rotating the tires, he will find a dozen more problems.

A local elderly woman received mail from her Subaru dealer offering a free "Twenty-Four Point Inspection." I kept talking her out of it, but when she received the third offer, she insisted that I bring her car to the dealer. Naturally, he found $400 worth of repairs that were needed. I maintained her car, and I knew there was nothing wrong with it, but she insisted on having the work done.

Quite true. I have a 2021 Honda Accord. The local dealer that I have it serviced at is regularly offering free "this and that" most all of which I ignore. I have had this same dealer service my wifes Honda for fifteen years. She hasn't driven for 3 or 4 years because of health reasons so I sold her car and bought my new 2021 Honda. In purchasing this new Honda I at first went to this same dealer hoping to buy the car from them. When I saw the "deal" offered I knew I could do better. We have 2 Honda dealers in the greater area that I live in. I got prices at both of them and the price was very close to each other. So I did the following. I sent emails to 4 dealers within 42 miles of where I live . . . telling them what I wanted. I wound up buying the car from a dealer 42 miles away. I saved over $4000. discount less than the dealer I had my wifes Honda serviced at for 15 years. They even sent a car and driver to pick me up to take me to their dealership when it was time to pick up my new car. The transaction was flawless. It pays to shop around when buying a new car.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Interesting. Apparently all dealers are not alike. Our Honda Insight had a needs service light come on, so I took it in to the dealer, who told me that the light is on a timer, so to speak. He went on to say that because of the low miles on our car that I didn’t need that service, turned the light off, and sent me away with no charge.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Some are good.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

[quote=Morry]

We have an odd situation locally. Lia and Romeo are taking over the dealerships. Not much competition when there are only two dealers in town. I don't mind traveling to get a car. In 1980, we flew from NY to San Francisco to buy a Honda Civic. The 1980 was new and very popular. We had been on two waiting lists for four months. Then I found one in SF. I was concerned about buying a "California car" because of the stricter emissions requirements, but it was not an issue. We put about 150,000 miles on that car.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I took my car in for a free tire rotation, after seeing my car in the bay I kept an eye on it , 30 mins later It wasn't finished, I went and looked thru the window and saw my hood raised, and air cleaner box lid off and the rear brake drums sitting on the floor, I ask the service manager what was going on, he said Oh we do an inspection on every car that comes in, and the technician was on his break. I politely opened the door went to my car and started put my car back together, you can imagine his response
I told him it would be a good idea to get my car back together in the next 15 mins.and they were to put the lug nuts on By hand and I was going to stand there and watch them. He started to tell me about company policies, when I told about my "policies" He said he was calling the police. I just put the other drum back on and started to let the rack down. Then he had the technician put my car back together, They had a list of what my car "needed" a bit over $300 for a complete brake job ( actually replacing the pad and shoes and the air filter ) I drove the car another 50K miles before replacing the pads!! the Air I replaced for $12.95 .
When I got in the car he Said in a very loud voice Don't come back!! I just laughed and said have a great day then took the estimate to store manager of an another of the chains stores and filed a complaint. they looked at my brakes, they looked almost new!!
The company demoted the manager of the first store ( Their inspection policy stated they were to ASK if the costumer wanted the inspection)


After working 45+ year as a state safety inspector I can assure you that almost any car over 25k miles will need something.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

I also have a mechanic I can trust 100%. Worth his weight in gold.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MOST DEFINITELY!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's not at all surprising, unfortunately.

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

Funny how that works. I just had my three year old car in for service last week, with 22,000 miles on it. The dealer was running a special on tires - save $150 on four new tires, all of the signs said in the service area and waiting room. Just right before the completion of the service, the service rep came out to tell me I needed new tires, and they could replace and balance the tires for just shy of $2000. I have never needed tires at 22,000 miles and I declined their offer. I stopped by a local tire store and asked one of their techs if I needed tires. He said I had at least 10-15,000 miles left on them. The service before this one, last September, they wanted to sell me a solution they sprayed in the air circulation system to kill any bad stuff that was likely there due to COVID. It would only cost $299. Since I am the only person who drives the car, I told them I would decline the offer and take my chances of getting COVID. They followed up two weeks later with the same offer, this time with a $25 discount. Still declined. Still healthy.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Unbelievable!" should be my response. Instead, it's "Ho hum." Car dealers have somehow been allowed to steal from customers while suffering no penalties.

So, the dealer was saying that the tires he sold you on your new car were good for only 22,000 miles?

agillot

What is wrong in going fishing with a big hook . Common practice , they are just priming the money pump . Did work on cars for abt 50 yrs , 40 on my own .new cust show up and ask to double check a issue that a dealer want to fix .Find out that either there is no issue , or does not need fixing now , maybe in a couple of years or more .Next time you see the car , that issue got fixed . I guess they are better at selling unnecessary stuff that i was .Same for house repair .Phone call , we are in the neighborhood , want to do a free inspection on your house ??

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Every time I bring my car to the Subaru dealer they automatically do a 20 point courtesy inspection. One time I brought my wife’s car for my “free” annual NY State inspection. They “found” I needed 2 rear rotors, brake pads, and a rear caliper which had a stuck pin. I asked how much. They said $1400 + tax. I told him to put the car back together. I brought it to a Mavis Tire shop which I usually deal with. He charged me around $450 and greased the stuck pin in the caliper. Now why, if Subaru parts and service has all the parts, couldn’t they have replaced or greased the stuck pin?
Also, I experienced NO problems with the brakes before I brought the car in for the inspection.