FisforFast

Wal-Mart may be good to temporarily repair a flat, but I certainly wouldn't trust anyone my age anywhere near my F, unless it were an emergency.

$270 a pop will buy you a Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3. And the price hasn't been negociated yet. In fact, my father's tire shop sells them for cheaper than at Costco, where they are $272.99. In addition, the prices on tirerack.com are in US funds - I live in Canada. Pilot Alpin PA3 are $169, but once you factor in the exchange rate, as well as shipping, duty, fees, importation, you're basically saving $5 off each tire by buying off of tirerack.com. And then, the tires still aren't installed on your car, and most shops will charge you extra if you haven't bought your tires there.

Do yourself a favor and do a little research before you try your hand at defamation again, sir.

arima

you make it seem like $270 is the cheapest tire that is out there for an Acura TSX, which you and I both know its not true without any research. So anyone who drives the TSX has to buy those tries, which you know is not true. So do yourself a favor and don't try to belittle people for not spending 270 a tire for a TSX, just because that's the cheapest one you carry.

FisforFast

You'd be hard pressed to find something that performs as well as a Pilot Alpin for cheaper. But, this isn't the place for this discussion... if you wish to continue you may PM me.

mandyfig

The 350 has a paper filter and not a conventional one. Hence they probably had to order the part. Other than that, it should be straightforward.

I do not know how many qts it requires. Check your manual.

xfirechief

100% AGREE Lighten up & enjoy life.

1NICESC430

I don't want to play "Beat That Grief", but I just had an oil change ripoff myself. This guy has been in business over 30 years at his 3-bay garage and is well-liked in the community. He works on his wife's RX and my friend's LS.

A year ago this month, he inspected my RX, mounted four snows (already on rims), and changed the oil using Mobil 1 and a Toyota filter which I requested. Total was 80 bucks for everything. Not bad. This month, I brought my SC in for an oil change. Again, I requested Mobil 1 and a Toyota filter. Oil, filter, and labor only - $85.55.

The local Toyota dealer charges $3.50 for the filter (probably less to garages), but I was charged $12.00. Mobil1 retails for about $7; I was charged $10. I'm not one to deny anyone a profit, but this was a bit much.

It might have been his way of telling me he doesn't want my business. I guess I'll have to oblige him.

FisforFast

I just checked with my local Toyota dealership and an oil change for my F is $49.95, as opposed to almost a hundred bucks at the Lexus dealership.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

WOW. Nice way to repay a LOCAL, NON-CHAIN shop.

And people wonder why places 'close up'. Even still, prices go up on items with time.

By your logic you should stop eating, since ten years ago a cart full of food would cost you 200$ whereas today the same food costs you 300$.

Sorry, this is the dumbest thing i have read today. Complaint from someone driving a MSRP trucklet of ~50k$ crying over 5.55$

I go to a private shop that has been in business close to 10 years on their own, it is a family friend, they charge fair prices. Coincidentally, they work on Lexus', Toyota's VW/Audi's, MB, everything in between. And those are all repeat customers' that have bought cars there and will only service there.

To me it sounds like you wanted to get 'cost' or a good deal. Nowadays 'cost' doesn't even allow a mechanic to eat, let alone operate a business.

Go to Walmart next time, don't support a local shop that has to compete with the dummy's working at their Walmart 'car center'.

/rant

To the OP, they did what was fair, next time tell them to only give you 5 qts of oil, and drive the car on that much, it will be fine! 20$ saved, is 20$ saved.

When it comes to maintenance some are cheaper than the guy that services his Honda Civic at a friends' shop for 'a little more' since he wants to see him succeed & supports him.

-Mike

1NICESC430

Please read my post carefully.

The RX bill for changing four tires, inspecting the car, and an oil change totaled $80.
The SC bill for only changing the oil totaled $85.55
Got it? Maybe you should read it again. Go ahead, move your lips if you have to.

>Nice way to repay a LOCAL, NON-CHAIN shop.<
Repay? Do I owe them something?

>By your logic you should stop eating, since ten years ago a cart full of food would cost you 200$ whereas today the same food costs you 300$<
Comparing the increase in the cost of food over ten years to the contents of my post makes no sense whatsoever.

>To me it sounds like you wanted to get 'cost' or a good deal. <
You're wrong. I was looking for consistency, not a good deal.

I don't appreciate your comment that I am a "wannabe snob"; you know nothing about me. My post along with any other of my posts in this or the SC430 forum over the past eight years do not indicate anything of the kind.

But everyone is entitled to their opinion

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Your right, you don't owe anything to him. I am sorry.

>The RX bill for changing four tires, inspecting the car, and an oil change totaled $80.
1. Last time i checked, mounting tires is not a laborious task, realistically he included it in the price of one hour of labor, that's what my mechanice does!
>The SC bill for only changing the oil totaled $85.55
2. If i'm not mistaken the SC430 has a larger motor, hence requiring some more oil, second, prices can and will go up with time, its a given, so a little more markup must be used.

>Repay? Do I owe them something?
3. You are right, you don'r owe them anything, but i figure it is rather harsh to leave a shop that has claimed to do a bunch of work for your family friends and your vehicles for a few bucks. Good service is a rarity and getting harder to find IMO.

>Comparing the increase in the cost of food over ten years to the contents of my post makes no sense whatsoever.
4. See above, prices fluctuate and go up with time/economy. Perhaps not the ideal example on my part, again, apologize here.

>You're wrong. I was looking for consistency, not a good deal?
5. Fair enough

>I don't appreciate your comment that I am a "wannabe snob"; you know nothing about me. My post along with any other of my posts in this or the SC430 forum over the past eight years do not indicate anything of the kind.
6. Wasn't aimed at you, just a couple of other posters' in this thread, but i was too lazy to multi quote it.

>But everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how stupid it is.
7. Yessir!

Good day to you. This is pointless. I in no way tried to create conflict, just make a point and voice my opinion as a few of your points struck me, if you will.

LexFather

Stereotypes,"wannabe car snobs" and "morons" is not how we post around here. Going forward please make your points without having to insult someone/people.

There are good points being made and I don't want to close this b/c of some people.

My 2 cents, some people don't get to afford luxury cars by spending and not watching every dime. They have very good money management skills and do look at every dollar spent.

I've had/heard good/bad experiences at Lexus, Wal-Mart, Jiffy Lube, independent shops etc. I decide who deserves my money. Hell I've changed my own oil in different Lexus for over 10 years. That way I know what was done and I get to have some fun with my car.

I would never take my Lexus to Jiffy Lube and I would be hard pressed to take it to Wal-Mart UNLESS I knew somebody or the store was recommended. Too many horror stories. Funny but there is a thread now in the IS-F forum where the dealer didn't put enough oil either. So again, you can't make sweeping statements but chances are the Lexus dealer will be better.

As for tires, it is amazing such an important part of a vehicle is very overlooked and people simply look for the cheapest tire, which is usually the worst tire. Its not just luxury car buyers its most everyone.

Adamjeeps

I think another point to be made is even if you do not do your own maintenance, please, for your sake, at least know exactly what service is to be done, how much the shop is going to charge, and most importantly, learn basic maintenance and inspect the work (check oil level and for other fluid leaks) the shop has done before leaving.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

I agree with what you said. Money management is crucial, but you seriously have to draw the line somewhere, Walmart/Jiffy Lube, really?

If one can afford and buys a luxury car, i sure hope they did take into account potential repairs that may end up on the pricey end of things!

With regards to tires, i wholesomely agree. Tires are very crucial. And going back to expenditures, it is about managing money effectively! I like getting all my proper tires at the price of a lower end model's MSRP/store price.

Lil4X

As Sick mentioned, there are some good points to be made here, but please refrain from personal attacks. Our purpose is to provide information and help to our members, not disparage them for their own personal decisions.

It's true that Lexus dealers do charge a good deal more for their services, but as the old adage goes, "if the buyer is concerned about the price, the seller has not explained the value". Lexus, is not putting a gun to your head to patronize their service shop. They do provide Lexus-knowledgeable mechanics, responsible service, and most of the time, a "free" carwash, a nice lounge area, and "free" lattes. If those factors are important to you, the cost is reasonable, if not, that's why there's Walmart and the chain oil-change places.

Understand that in an automotive shop of any kind, whether your dealer or a fairly large general service shop, you won't be getting the most skilled or experienced mechanics to change your oil. From a management standpoint, that's not a good use of their time. The "tech" changing your oil is most likely a new-hire, or the most junior person in the shop - and that can be problematic.

I had my first oil change done on my old Civic back in '95 done by the dealer . . . it was free (sue me). The mook that did the work managed to cross-thread the oil filter, causing the engine to pump its oil overboard between the shop and my office. Long story short, with the addition of a few quarts of oil, I limped back to the shop where they changed the filter, re-filled the crankcase, and sent me on my way. Suspicious, when I got home I checked the oil - they'd put 4 quarts into a 3 quart pan. Back to the dealer for another drain and refill. Needless to say, when the job was done - and I'd personally checked the dipstick - I left for good. I found a good Honda specialist shop that wasn't cheap, but was less expensive than the dealer and provided excellent service.

The quality of service you get should be equivalent to its cost, but it is often not. You have to find a balance with which you are comfortable.

rcy

You don't actually think a Toyota or Lexus technician is doing oil changes at the dealership do you? The trained technician is doing other repair or more serious maintenance work like brakes, alignment, A/C etc. The guy changing the oil is the same guy Wal-Mart hires - he just happened to apply to the Lexus dealership.