Quote:
Originally Posted by wiirenet
Oh I haven't heard/read anything about prepaid maintenance. So its 2,000 for stuff like oil changes? And they told you if you go somewhere else the warrenty wil be void? Did you get them to admit they lied, or did you just go ahead and get oil changes somewhere else and nothing happened? I feel like its going to be hard saying no to maintenance because I don't know where else to go, and I would think the dealership would give the best maintenance since they know the car. But yikes, 2000+ I don't want to pay that.
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I didn't argue with them about the maintenance; I just refused it. The dealership is 50 miles from my house and nearly 100 miles from where I work - there is no way I'll drive it all the way over there for an oil change. There is a place down the street from me that does oil change/fluid check/brake check/tire rotation for $30. Wal-Mart does it for about $35. As long as I have a receipt or some sort of proof that the maintenance was done at the specified intervals, I am fine as far as warranty is concerned. I called Toyota and asked.
If there is ever a major issue with the car, I probably will take it to the dealership, but that would be covered by warranty anyway and has nothing to do with maintenance. I got water in my fuel tank a week after purchase, and I just called the closest dealer. They towed the car, gave me a rental, fixed it (gas station had to pay), and I was back on the road. Cost to me: $0.
I have a friend who works as a car salesman, and that's how I learned a lot of the hidden costs that get thrown in at the dealership. Every bit of money they charge over the actual cost goes to them. When the finance guy added that extended warranty, the extra $1500 went right in his pocket. When I cancelled, I had to wait 30 days because they had to give him time to come up with the money.