I've been looking at RX-8's. The closest dealer doesn't want to deal much, and has all kinds of add ons ($599 paint sealant, $299 fabric protection, etc). That dealer is ~20 miles away. The other dealers are 40-50 miles away.

Does where you bought the car make any difference in service? Will I have problems taking it to the nearest dealer, having bought it at another?

Thanks.

I drove out of state 3 hours each way to get my car mainly because i felt like the dealers here were giving me a run-around. Any mazda dealer will be able to do standard repair on anything covered in the bumper to bumper warrantly afaik.

the free oil changes and such are what are limited to the dealer whom you purchased through. Also, i would assume a dealer is going to be more 'freindly' if you purchased through them.

Mazda has to offer warranty and service to you no matter which dealer you purchased your car from. Don't let them give you a hard time about it and buy it where they treat you the best and offer you the best deal. It helps to if you secure your financing before you go in. Shows that your serious and that you are an informed consumer. Going in with prior financing is like walking in with cash.

Service Departments (at least mine) have operating budgets to meet and are quite happy to service your cars. Also quite happy to install Mazda accessories purchased from Tommy at Rosenthal much to the chagrin of their parts manager who adds 20% to Mazda suggested prices.

Sales and service are two different (and competing) departments at the dealer. They hardly talk to each other. I find it's much better to get on the good foot with the service department than the sales department becuase it's the Service guys that take over after the sale. :)

--kC

^ exactly.

Chances are very high that even if you bought the car at your local dealer and took it there for service, they wouldn't even know that you bought it there!

Yep, just hide your face when you enter the car in the service area .. they won't notice. :D The turn over of salesman can be fast too. Like I had my Audi serviced at where I bought it, and after 2 years - all salesman I knew where gone. But the service manager is still there and knows me.

From someone that works in the industry, the left arm (service) doesn't know or care what the right arm (sales) is doing (hell, we don't even really like each other). :)

Buy from whomever gives you the best deal and service it at whomever gives you the best aftersales care,

The truth is that many dealers make far more on service and sale of used cars then the do on sale of new cars. They are quite happy to service your vehicle. I drove from Buffalo to Columbus OH to get the Rx-8 I wanted...

I bought my car at a dealership 30 miles away because the local one didn't even respond to my online inquiry (at the Mazda USA website). But I've been pleased with the service at the local dealership.

I'm in my 4th year of Mazda ownership. I've had service at a few different dealerships over the years, but only found one that I really liked. When I bought my '8, I bought it from the dealership that gave me the best service on my wife's old car (Irvine Mazda). I never had a problem taking my car to other places, except that some places have better service than others.

i'm already having an issue w/this, i bought my car about 2 hrs away since I got the best price from them

the service department locally (Whitten Brothers) has already screwed up on an oil change, I checked the level and they filled it up way above the Full indicator on the dip stick.... needless to say, i'll be doing the rest of my oil changes

they are putting on my new brake shims today though, i hope i get the car back w/wheels