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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1538 of 1610

#15363 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [sweendogy] by habitat1

Dec 14, 2012 (4:49 am)

Replying to: sweendogy (Dec 13, 2012 6:14 pm)
The free maintence thing is laughable as an advantage. I'll buy my own wiper blades for 20 bux to save thousands any day.
 
Not sure I follow you. In my comparative shopping of a new 2014 Cayman S vs. 2013 BMW M3, it looks like that in addition to a roughly $14k difference in actual purchase price between the two, the 4/50 free maintenance from BMW would cost roughly $3,500 on the Porsche (40k miles is a big one) using the dealer. If I need new brakes during that time, add another $1,500+ BMW advantage. So that "free" maintenance on an M3 really adds at least $2-3k in favor of BMW to the M3 vs. Cayman S, even assuming I go independent on the Cayman service.
 
As for Infiniti, that was a real joke between a friend of mine here several years ago. I had a 1995 Maxima, he had a 1996 I30. Exactly the same car mechanically, other than mine was a manual, his an automatic. I spent less at the Nissan dealer on service over 8 years and 120k miles than he spent in 7 years and 60k miles. Take Nissan prices for just about everything, multiply them by 1.5 or 2.0 and call them Infiniti prices. And then come up with a bunch of crap that the Infinii "needs", but the Nissan service manager never called for. Hopefully, your dealer experience is a little better than that.

#15364 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [habitat1] by stickguy

Dec 14, 2012 (6:52 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 14, 2012 4:49 am)
I have had a 2000 Acura 3.2 TL for about 4 years, and have always taken it to the Honda dealer. they were perfectly happy to service it. I am not even sure what the prices are at the local Acura dealer relative to them. But since until recently I also had 2 Hondas, it was a lot more convenient to get them all serviced at the same place!

#15365 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [stickguy] by habitat1

Dec 14, 2012 (7:24 am)

Replying to: stickguy (Dec 14, 2012 6:52 am)
Our hometown PA Acura dealer is more reasonable and o higher integrity than either our DC area Honda and Acura dealer, so we try to have our two serviced there when we are traveling back.
 
The latest sham is "cracked engine mounts". Chevy Chase Acura has told us that we need them replaced on both our MDX and TL. Local independent pointed out that the hard rubber mounts always get cosmetic surface cracks after a few years and it has no impact on structural integrity. Based upon our experience, Chevy Chase Acura is slightly above Bernie Madoff on the integrity scale, so if it's not warranty work that Acura covers 100%, we will never go there again.
 
Unfortunately, part of the problem where we live is "dumb money" owners that will take their cars to places like Chevy Chase Acura for service, get screwed with excessive charges for suspicious work, and talk about how nice the car wash and vacuum job was. Without realizing that their wallet was vacuumed as well. Final example. Our MDX had a loose hatch latch that caused it to rattle. When in for routine oil change, they quoted my wife $300 to fix it saying it would take 2-3 hours. Another woman in the waiting area had same exact problem. She told them "sure" to the repair; my wife said no thanks. Brought the car home and in about 8 minutes flat, armed only with a Phillips screwdriver, I undid the plastic cover around the hinge, found the loose screw that had fallen out of the hinge and replaced it - with a lock washer, this time. I washed my hands, we went out to a nice 2 hour dinner with a bottle of wine and came back $175 ahead.
 
Sorry for the Chevy Chase Acura digression, but for anyone in the DC area, be forewarned.

#15366 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [habitat1] by sweendogy

Dec 14, 2012 (6:36 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 14, 2012 4:49 am)
Regarding your post on a porshe and a BMW m3- Prob the reason you are not following me- this is Ellps chat - 14k difference minus the 3500 40k service, really, I'm talking apples to apples - I also mentioned the coupon and shopping around aspect of dealing with regular maintence costs- these cars are basically pretty easy- Gas, oil, tires and pads- most other "problems" are covered under the basic for the first 4 years - these cars have the engine upfront & trunk in the back- not vice versa- which I'm guessing makes them more complicated, thus costing more to fix.
 
The Nissan Infiniti statement is funny, wouldn't a good friend tell his buddy - you have a maxima (i30) take it to the Nissan dealer for those oil changes. The upselling in service is not limited to luxury cars btw.

#15367 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [sweendogy] by habitat1

Dec 14, 2012 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: sweendogy (Dec 14, 2012 6:36 pm)
I concur, the BMW free maintenance is much less of a benefit if you are comparing a 328i to an Acura TL than an M3 to a Cayman. I'll try to stick to ELLPS comparisons.
 
Unfortunately, my friend with the Infiniti lived in Virginia and his closest Nissan dealer was a bit of a crook, as well. My Nissan dealer in Maryland - or perhaps just the "red team" service manager I was assigned to when I bought my car - was very honorable and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, dealership changed ownership and he retired a few years ago, so that's no longer the case.
 
You are right again about upselling service not being limited to luxury cars. A couple of years ago, the local TV station did an undercover sting and caught the VW dealer charging for additional services that were not only unnecessary, but they didn't actually perform. Idiots tried to charge one elderly customer for an air conditioning recharging service on an older car that didn't have A/C.

#15368 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [habitat1] by tlong

Dec 14, 2012 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 14, 2012 7:24 am)
Our hometown PA Acura dealer is more reasonable and o higher integrity than either our DC area Honda and Acura dealer, so we try to have our two serviced there when we are traveling back.
 
I was driving to Orange County, CA to do some repeated consulting and my '05 TL started developing a power steering noise. I took it into a local Acura dealer where I had never been, figuring I would be out a few hundred $$ to get it fixed.
 
I was SHOCKED that this was, by far, the best dealer service experience I have ever had. They writer was very nice, and he wanted the mechanic to hear the noise, so he had him ride along with me in my car (!!!). Then I got a ride to work. At the end of the day, I went to pick up the car and they fixed it FREE! They implied an o-ring might not have been installed correctly, so no charge! And they also torqued some bolts in the suspension to see if that would eliminate a creak I had. Top it off with a car wash, all at no cost.
 
They could have easily taken me for a ride, and I wasn't even a local customer. Tustin Acura in CA.

#15369 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [tlong] by habitat1

Dec 15, 2012 (5:53 am)

Replying to: tlong (Dec 14, 2012 8:38 pm)
Too bad they are 2,500 miles from me. Was the car still under warranty at the time?

#15370 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [habitat1] by tlong

Dec 15, 2012 (12:28 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 15, 2012 5:53 am)
Too bad they are 2,500 miles from me. Was the car still under warranty at the time?
 
No, over 100K on the car.

#15371 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [tlong] by graphicguy

Dec 16, 2012 (4:41 am)

Replying to: tlong (Dec 15, 2012 12:28 pm)
tlong....great experience from that dealer. I've always said, whether it's the most basic Civic, or the most expensive TL, the dealer will either make or break the owner's opinion of that particular brand.
 
Several years ago, my Mother had a Cadillac STS that was under warranty, and at the time, the selling dealer was really taking her for a "stooge". She got me involved and I started questioning everything they charged her for that was supposed to be warranty work. As I started to find more and more malfeasance with this particular dealer, I decided to file lemon law on behalf of my Mother. Long and short of it, after many fights (since the Caddy dealer tried to deny they charged for work that should have been taken care of under warranty), GM agreed to buy the car back.
 
I swore I'd never buy a Cadillac for as long as I lived (and have stuck to that promise). Cadillac lost two customers (probably more given my negative word of mouth) over one dealership's service dept.

#15372 of 16087 Re: Preferences vs. "Better" [graphicguy] by sweendogy

Dec 16, 2012 (6:56 am)

Replying to: graphicguy (Dec 16, 2012 4:41 am)
I agree dealership experience is important - I like not having to go to the dealership at all-'or as few times as possible -

Messages Page 1538 of 1610

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