Does car dealer make a difference?

[gingersmom]

I think I worded that awkwardly :)

 

I'm sitting at local Honda dealer waiting for oil change.

 

It is the nicest, most pleasant experience always.

 

I have a Honda CRV I like but don't love (after 6 years)

 

I'm going to be in market for new car and really want a Subaru. The Subaru dealer gets good reviews but Honda dealer gets even better reviews.

 

What if I buy Subaru and hate the service department?

 

Does the dealership make any difference to you? Am I overthinking this?

[TammyS]

I never use dealership service departments, except for recall work.  They are too expensive, too slow, and often want your car for hours or a whole day for even simple oil changes.  I also believe that they don't actually like to do serious car repair.  As soon as a car gets some age on it and develops a weird problem, they want to talk to you about replacing it.  I think partly they just like doing easy services and partly because they aren't exactly without incentive.  Also the reason that I don't buy glasses at the eye doctor. 

 

 

[Guest]

Dealership is important. But even within brand your experience will vary from dealer to dealer. Higher end cars definitely seem to have better service experience, but that seems to have trickled down to other brands. I have a friend who has a Subaru and she raves about the service. You might want to visit a couple of dealerships and just check out the service departments while you're shopping. You can always take your car to a different dealer from where you purchased, but some give special perks if you purchased there. I bought my Suburban used at a Cadillac dealership and they still offer me the same concierge service where they come pick up my truck at my house that they offer to Cadillac owners. Definitely a nice perk and I didn't even have to buy a Cadillac. :)

[SparklyUnicorn]

Important to some extent yes, but either way I rarely use the dealer services.  They tend to charge quite a bit more for stuff.

 

 

[Tess in the Burbs]

It matters to us.  We looked at a new car with the dealer close to us.  They had no cars in stock for what we wanted.  We came back again but standing around no one came to talk to us.  We decided to go try the dealer south of us.  The guy I emailed with encouraged me to come in.  We had a great time talking.  Ended up buying something on the list to come in several weeks later.  So they didn't have the car either, but the sales guy didn't just say no and let me go.  We talked pro/con of my options and let me decide.  When I go in, he's friendly, and anytime I have a question he walks me to the person in service I need to speak to.  Relationship matters if you go with a dealer.  I would go with your gut.  

 

We do use the dealer for service since it came with it.  I had a 10 year old minivan and that dealer never once asked me to trade in.  I have had horrible issues with regular mechanics and that is why I pay to go to the dealer.  

[Tap]

I have used the Subaru dealership for all of my Subaru oil changes/warranty work. I go to one about 30 minutes away because I do not like the one closer to me.  I have never had problems with the people being nice or talking to me about buying another car.  My sales person on 2 different Subaru's was amazing. 

 

It really varies due to location though because the one close to me, has the types of sales people that take all day and try to get you to spend more than you need to.

 

The one I go to, offers better prices and I have never been pressured to buy anything or even buy an upgraded/add on item from them.  They offer what they have via showing a brochure/display and when I said I wasn't interested, they moved on. 

 

I go to Gresham Subaru in Gresham Oregon, and will never again set foot on a Dick Hannah Sales lot in Vancouver, Washington. 

 

 

ETA: oil changes and such do not take any extra time at the Gresham location.  The times when I needed to leave it for half a day or more (having a hitch installed) they gave me a Subaru loaner car for free.

Edited May 19, 2016 by Tap

[Guest]

I think you should get the CAR you want, but find the best dealer for it.  We got a new car in 2013 (and yes I know it is a waste of money to buy new...but I do it anyway because I like it) and the difference between the three dealers within 20 miles was enormous.  One was a scalper  (totally--for the same car) and rude on the phone.  I can't imagine doing business with this company.  The second dealer, we have dealt with in the past, and I completely do not trust them.  They were going to charge $2000 for a repair I got at another dealer for $800.  I think they were playing the "you're just a stupid woman" card.  Wrong opponent, fella.  The third dealer was the farthest away, but we were able to close a *really good* deal over EMAIL and they have been as nice as pie ever since, as well.  The *manufacturer* is now sending us emails, "would you like to upgrade???" (no) but I think we would be getting these regardless of where we have our service done.  The other telling thing, to me, was that a number of the people at the dealership have worked there for more than 20 years.  They are *happy* to be there, and I asked some of them why...they said it was because they get to do a good job, and do right by the customer.  

 

So yeah, I'm sold on our dealer.  I don't know if I will buy the BRAND again (nothing against it--it's just that it will depend on what is available when we are in the market again, which will be a LONG TIME).  But if we buy this brand, I am very likely to loyal.

[Pawz4me]

It matters a LOT to us. The service department at our Honda dealership is a very big reason that we keep coming back to them.  They're wonderful.  They've always treated us fairly over the years and are quick and courteous.  And the waiting area is very comfortable with free coffee and fruit. ;)   I don't mind at all taking the cars in, and we've been loyal customers for so long that we get lots of perks (like a free loaner car anytime we want, among other things).  I shudder at the thought of having to go anywhere else!

[Artichoke]

Dealership matters to us as well.  We really like to purchase used Volvos and had a great dealership nearby.  That dealership closed and there was only a cruddy dealership forty-five minutes away.  When we heard there was a fantastic independent Volvo mechanic who had opened shop about twenty minutes from us, we felt comfortable purchasing a used Volvo again.  Dh does a lot of our own work, but it's nice to have a mechanic nearby if we want to outsource a repair or maintenance.   We also have an older Mercedes and still receive wonderful service at the dealership, although it's thirty minutes away.  The Mercedes has  almost 300, 000 miles on it and is still going strong.