I understand this is a forum for dealer reviews, but why are there no posts or other forums regarding alternatives to the dealerships in the Atlanta area? I am due for my 60K service on a 2003 WRX and the dealers want nearly double what I have been quoted from other shops that claim to do the same service. What do the dealers offer at this point that justifies that difference and who would anyone recommend to do the service besides the dealers? From what I have seen so far no one mentions alternatives besides the site sponsors; what's with that? Without mentioning names, the three main dealers in my area quoted $578, $799 and $820. A local automotive performance center I used with my old Celica and Acura quoted $450. My car is not modified (I know, lame...) and there is no warranty left, so does it make a difference? Please help soon. Thank you
Wow dude. I just had my 60k service done on my 2003 wrx at Gerald Jones Subaru in Augusta for around $460 this past weekend. I swear, the more and more I hear about the Atlanta dealers, the less I like. As far as if it will make a difference, obviously your warranty doesn't really matter anymore. The only argument some people will have is that Subaru technicians know what they're doing better than any others. But I mean if you trust this other service shop (which I'm guessing you do) I'd say just go for them. Either that or take a day trip to Augusta
I need to have this done shortly as well and I'm curious to hear if any of the dealerships can explain why they charge so much more than an Augusta dealership?....wouldn't it be somewhat universal in price?....a $400 upcharge for being in Atlanta? I know there's factors that can fluctuate it slightly but it's OEM parts and labor?
i take mine to SOG always... i figure that the dealership services more subarus than local shops do... hence they are more likely to know how to do it right... i mean i was in saint louis and went for an oil change to a local shop and the guy asked me why my radiator was sitting above my engine... needless to say, i took it somewhere else in the end, nobody is perfect and yes the dealership could make mistakes too... but based on my judgement, they are less likely to...
I'm just curious why the price seems to be different at 4 different dealerships. It just seems like one of those things that should be universal.
Parts mark-ups , labor charges, and sometimes even included services in various mileage srevices can vary from shop to shop and even dealer to dealer. I do all of my own work, of course, and price out parts for myself and the other subies that come to my shop. Classic, SOG, and, Royal can give you three different prices on the same part number. All dealers are like that, they operate independent of each other. As far as using the dealer exclusively I have no arguement against, but the quality of work you receive is dependant of the individuals that handle your work order, not the shop or dealer as a whole.
so what your saying is that basically any SOA dealership can mark-up thier prices and labor to basically whatever they can get away with?
It's not just a Subaru thing. If you price parts from World Ford on Barrett Pkwy., and then call Cherokee Ford the price differences can be pretty drastic. But the differences are not consistent, you won't save 10%, for example, every time on any given part. Sometimes both dealers hve the same price. In the Ford comparison though, Cherokee is almost always cheaper than World. That being said, any shop can pretty much charge you whatever they think their customer base is willing to pay. The last shop I worked for would price out a part from 3 different sources, mark up the higher part by 2.75, then actually purchase the least expensive part to install. That is one reason I don't work there anymore. There are no laws on limiting one's profit.
I am do for my 30K Service and will not pay $500. That is why next week I am going to do it myself. I believe the 60K can be done yourself also since it doesn't involve the timing belt, but I may be wrong. You might want to look in my Need Help thread. Milo posted the Service Schedule there, so you can see everything that will be done, and decide if you want to attempt it yourself. If you want, you can come by my place next week, and we can help you do your maintainence also.
After talking to WJM the other day, for my 30K Maintainence, about $300 is labor, and the rest is parts. I spent about $100 on parts, not including Mobil 1 and am pretty much ready to do this whenever. Still want to get a Fujimoto Oil Drain Valve before next week though.
Post Whoring in Full Effect Here is the link to my thread, Service Schedule is linked in there. http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11530
Wow, I really would like to thank everyone for responding so quickly to my post. This really IS an active community! I have always taken my car to the dealership where I bought it. As far as I can tell they do good work and I would like to continue taking it there...but I just can't. I just can't justify the cost when I think someone else could do as well for nearly half the price. Will they do as well? I can't say for sure; but they will most likely do better than I would if I try to do it myself! One quick story to further illustrate my position: You may have had a similar issue. Just below the door is a rubber piece that runs the length of the car where the doors are on both sides (I'm sure there is a term for what this is called). This small strip had come un-attached due to it getting rubbed by feet as people enter and exit the car. Well, it was hanging down on both sides but still attached at the ends. I had not really looked at it closely but thought it had come unglued and planned to repair it. I asked them to look at it at the dealership last time I was there. They quoted $500 to fix it!!! I told them to go to hell. Then I took a closer look at it myself and found that it slips into a very small track along the side of the car. It took me 3 minutes to slide the strip back into the slot along both sides; no glue, no tools. $500? That is criminal. Anyhooo, thank you for all the good information. You all have been very helpful. In a perfect world I would get good at doing these things myself and then I could be sure of the quality or service (or lack of) but I do not have the time or the time to develop the skills. I will let you know how things go with the service center I am considering for this work. If anyone has good recomendations I would be open to those as well. Anywhere from Gainesville to Roswell or so... Thanx
So...every single person in this community either does the work themselves or takes it to the dealership? I find that rather hard to believe!
and THAT is really where it's at... find yourself ONE good tech and they're worth their weight in gold. luckily will is not a very big guy
Work on my own.Work at a Toyota dealer sorry.Most (all?) dealers are pretty much independent of the manufacturers. They operate to make $. Like all normal businesses.
We own a Subaru specialist shop up off of exit 12 on 400. Its a family business, my brother is a factory certified Subaru Mechanic and now works with us. We are very competitive with our prices and can perform any type of service from an oil change to a 2.5L swap like some of you might have seen in Genya's Corner. If anyone is interested in any type of service, maintenance or performance, just let us know what you would like to do, and we can work up an estimate. The shop is Team 1 | Momentum Motorworx and the number is 770 751 7777. Talk to Brandon, he's the Subaguru.
If youre goin north on 400, take exit 12B. Take McFarland until you hit Hwy 9/Atlanta Hwy. Take a right and we're a mile down on the left in an industrial park called Nine North. It's the fifth building on the left. -Jon
We don't have a website quite yet, it's still in the works. Ill post it up when it's all finished up.