STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

twinkle · Coach

Dumb car question...

Hermes

do you have a maintenance book that needs to get stamped for your maintenance? are you supposed to present this book or receipts for the maintenance at the end of your lease? if so, you may find yourself in breach of the contract when turning the car in and getting slapped with a penalty. if not, go for it - take it to a mechanic that specializes in Lexus maintenance though - at least that's what I would do - there's more to the $600 scheduled maintenance than changing oil and a filter.

I'm kinda surprised that they charge you for scheduled maintenance for a leased vehicle - I know BMW does it for free for leased vehicles (if you buy a BMW you have to pay for it out of pocket).

RyanJ · Coach

My parents car cost $575.00- just for the inspection and mine is almost $600 too. That is just to look at it. That does NOT go towards the payment if anything needs to be fixed.

My dad was told that if I don't bring my car in for insepction every 6 months than the whole warranty or part of the warranty could be void. My parents take theirs to the BMW dealership because my dad feels they know more about the car than a normal body shop. It does seem crazy that is cost that much just to look at.

crystal · Kate Spade

just tossing in my two cents, u will want to verify this w/ the dealer, but as far as i know, as long as you keep the receipts from any related maintenance u could do it urself if u wanted to. $600 sounds like a major service so i would take it to a mechanic & show him ur handbook detailing what service needs to be performed at 15,000 miles. keep all paperwork & use that as evidence that u held up ur end of the bargain. it will be a LOT cheaper at a mechanic as opposed to the dealer. A LOT!

sfclinevandy · Coach

I've got a Lexus too and it sucks getting it serviced. And mine is a lemon so it goes quite often (I will NEVER drive another, but that's another store). I've always taken mine to the dealership because, while it's always expensive, I'm worried that a cheaper place could screw it up and since the dealership only deals with Lexuses, are less likely to mess up and if they do they are accountable for everything. I also like the nice lounge and complimentary car wash/vacumming everytime I have to have something done.

halleybird · Hermes

quote:
Originally posted by: crystal
"just tossing in my two cents, u will want to verify this w/ the dealer, but as far as i know, as long as you keep the receipts from any related maintenance u could do it urself if u wanted to. $600 sounds like a major service so i would take it to a mechanic & show him ur handbook detailing what service needs to be performed at 15,000 miles. keep all paperwork & use that as evidence that u held up ur end of the bargain. it will be a LOT cheaper at a mechanic as opposed to the dealer. A LOT!"

agree 100%. Plus, the dealership markup on maintenance is pretty high. The ONLY time I'd take my car to a dealership would be if the part that needed fixing was very specific to the brand.

My husband and his dad do all our regular maintenance, etc..they just keep detailed records of what was done.

ETA: be really careful just taking it to a random car place...a lot of those rip people off, especially women (happened to my sister). I'd ask friends/family for a recommendation.

-- Edited by halleybird at 19:05, 2005-02-15

twinkle · Coach

Thank you SO MUCH everyone- this is incredibly helpful!!!