Danomite

Hey everyone, I'm hoping to bring my RX-8 out of hibernation either April 1, or mid-April. I got my RX and Dufferin Mazda, but truth is those guys seemed totally incompetent. Does anyone have any good experience with a Mazda dealer in TO for service?

I figure I'll be taking my car in for it's first oil change, air bag recall, the damper recall, and hopefully a "L" ECU flash. I have a feeling that if I took my car to Dufferin Mazda for service, I would get it back with scuffs, and missing pieces and new rattles, etc.

Has anyone had any of the recalls or "L" ECU flash done yet? Was it hard to get the ECU flash?

Mr. Eccentric

Sol at Ajax Mazda. He's a "Master Tech."... one of only a few in Canada that Mazda has right now.

He had an 88 10th AE Rx-7 and he knows his way around the rotary well.

Sharky

I've been pretty happy with my dealer's service department. Downtown Mazda on Lakeshore. They've been real good to me (storing my summer tires and wheels for free), I've noticed that they service a lot of RX-7s (I've seen at least 5 different FDs there at different times - I guess this could be good or bad but I think it speaks more to the reliability, or lack thereof, of the twin turbos) and they have a convenient shuttle service to the core if you work downtown...

Immi

avante mazda richmond hill

amazing service, amazing people

Smoker

Heard the same thing about Avante Mazda in Richmondhill from many people. I know the owner of the Avante is really keen on providing good services to generate returning customers.

MyRxBad

iTrader: (1)

I'd like to know as well, but can someone w/an 8 comment based on experience only and not speculation?

Danomite

Yeah, it would be nice to have someone speak up if they've taken their car in for service already (preferrably RX-8). But don't let that deter you from posting what you hear from other people, since word of mouth is good too.

So far, the good dealerships seem to be Richmond Hill, and Ajax (has a Master Tech). I was hoping not to have to go as far as Ajax. Anyone else have good experiences with Downtown Mazda?

Steveo67

I had a horrible service experience with Downtown Mazda last spring....it was with our MPV though, not the 8. My office is at Yonge-Dundas, just up the street from Downtown, but I refuse to deal with them ever again.

I have had nothing but exceptional service from Kevin Gooden, service manager at Dave Wood Mazda in Newmarket. He knows the rotaries very well. I am taking my 8 in to Dave Wood Mazda next week for all the service bulletins and an early oil/filter.

cdnrx8r

My RX8 is the third Mazda I have owned, all purchased through Scarboro Mazda. These guys have been really great to deal with.
If there are issues, they deal with me honestly and fairly. Any questions I have posed, due to information gathered on this forum, have been answered - again, honestly and fairly. All I can ask for.

Chris

Marll3oro

There are several reasons that i have a terriable experience with Downtown Mazda....
1. From the begining to the end, I have 3 different sales person to deal with me about buying the 8....1st one quit his job rite after i have dropped my deposite for the car 6 monthes ago..2nd one quit his job and now working for Avante mazda in richmond hill rite after i have settle down the my trade-in 99' beamer's price.... and now i have to deal with a new salesman again..wtf is going on there...

2. Since there is a lots of changes in their sales department...especially to the salesman that everytime im dealing with....my 99's beamer 328i(e46) trade in vaule change dramatically unbelieve...ex. a week ago...they estimate will be 21k+ tax....next week they told me my car only worth 19k+tax...OMFG..how can i believe this...my beamer trading-in value DECREASES 2k just in a week woow unbelievable ....which i only drive it for appox 400km millage per week(of course no accidents occur during the time)

3. Even yesteday i had paid out the full amount of my 8's balance...they still let other salesman to demostrate my 8 to other customers in the showroom.. btw there are 2 more rx-8 gt model in that showroom....so WTF is that sold sign for on the front of my windshield...ppl still can access into the car if they wanna take a look in red color 8?

Conclusion: i have 2 cars before...95's 325i(e46) and 99's 328i(e46)...but i never have a such unforgivable nightmare when im buying any of my past vehicles... For sure, i will never want to deal with that Downtown Mazda dealer again...even if i will buy a new car in the future, it will be a hard decision for me to get a Mazda brand stuff.... btw, hopefully i can get my 8 on Next Monday for sure

Taffy

I bought my 8 from Gyro Mazda without any problems. I got a reference to deal with Westowne Mazda from a friend who is a Mazda Canada employee. I would have purchased a car from them if they could have got one for me in time.

Anyway, for servicing I have used Westowne once so far and they were fine. There again, how difficult is it to do an oil change but they asked some questions about the car based on some of the issues to date without me bringing them up. That shows they are up to date. I also believe that they have 2 guys who deal with rotorys.

They get my vote so far.

Pete

my friend works at avante mazda as a service manager. His uncle Frank (not saying last names) is really cool also.

But when it was hard to find the RX8, my buddy daniel at Prima Mazda took care of me.

So i'd have to say avante and Prima

Steveo67

I bought two cars from Al Balinsky at Scarboro as well. I ordered my RX-8 from them, but they had not received production allocation by the time I located one at Dave Wood Mazda in Newmarket (9 months later!). Al races a 2nd gen RX-7 and has been with Mazda for years - he knows cars!. Excellent dealership to work with.

Smoker

by the way, how much are you guys paying for Oil change and other services on average ?

ZoomZoomTO

Hi,

I will never deal with Prima Mazda again. Just picked my 8 up less than 2 weeks ago. I ordered the car in December, and I am very unsatisfied with me expereince from the get go.

I won't go into details, but the salesperson I dealt with basically told me they could get me the car I wanted within 2 weeks, when all other dealers said it would be 8 to 10 weeks. I even asked him to confirm on the phone, and he said he's sure he can get it.

Well, I get there and all of a suddent he can get me one without a moonroof, or in a different colour, but not the car I wanted. Tried to sell me on those, but I just ended up ordering the one I wanted and waited.

They were not aware of anything on the Mazda Canada site i.e. interest rates .. the rate they quoted me was over 8%, while the site said 6.7%. The PDE amt they tried to charge was slightly higher than that on the site. They dont even know their way around the site !!

Anyways, he assured me it should be here in 6 to 8 weeks, but the contract gave them 10 weeks (just incase), got the car 1 day after the 10 weeks with almost 70 kms on it !!

Anyways, that's just part of it ... so I won't be servicing my car there.

RXATE

I've had good experience with Downtown Mazda. Phil in Parts found winter rims for me when my original dealer could not and on his own initiative oredered and installed a mat hook and new floor mat for me. I had one ther earlier models without the hook. Convenient shuttle to Downtown.

cdnrx8r

Yes, Steve, it is Al that I deal with too. He does know his cars. And he always loves to explain the mechanicals to me -- I have learned a lot from him. He is currently working on putting together another RX7 race car ..... They take very good care of me. He sold two RX8's in the time I was deciding to buy my Black GT. Traded in my silver 2002 Miata - called it Zoom Zoom with the decals - it was Al's demo before I bought it last summer. He put it in the new car showroom last week.

Steveo67

I remember Al driving that Miata...he spoke very highly of it. His only complaint was "not enough power". I've heard rumours that the 2006 Miata will be built on the RX-8 platform and rotary powered. The 8, Miata and return of the RX-7 in 2008 will be a nice line-up.....just about when my lease comes due on the 8:D

Roxy

Since everyone is chiming in with their favourite service people, I'd like to cast a vote for Mike Smith at Avante in Richmond Hill.

Yes, he's kind of hard to look at (blind in one eye?) but the man sure knows his rotaries. Someone at the dealership told me that Mike is a master mechanic with over 20 years experience and I have no reason to doubt it.

He gave me a full rundown on everything I needed to know about the car when I picked it up (with the reflash already performed!) and he was very friendly and thorough. Highly recommended.

Danomite

Here is another thumbs up for Avante Mazda (@ Yonge & Steeles). Their service department is top-notch, and you get a free loaner car. My loaner was a crappy Hyundai Sante Fe SUV, but it was free, so I'm not complaining too much.

I had both recalls done, my first maintenance, and new spark plugs replaced as well as my PCM reflashed. I had no new scuffs, and no rattles resulting from their work (no broken glove box either). They will even wash your car after service is done (I politely declined).

I tried getting details on the calibration they flashed it to, but to no avail. The service order does not display the code any where. The service guy said they flashed it to their latest version, but we all know that doesn't necessarily mean the latest version Mazda has out there. So I have no idea if I have L, or M, or whatever. I tried doing the 20 times with the brake in 8 secs, but does this work for the M? I know it is supposed to work for L.

Anyways, on the plus side, the car idles much smoother, and it turns over on starts much much quicker. It's almost instant now. I think the car has gained some power in the lower end too. Not sure if this is true, but right away I could feel more "pull" as I took the car off the lot. I will monitor my fuel consumption to see if the flash gave me better comsumption.

On the minus side, I think my clutch feels "heavier". I'm not sure if this is as a result of the damper recall service.

All in all, happy to have the car back and zooming again. :D

BARK

I'd avoid Dave Wood Mazda like the plague... their idea of an oil change & "A" service is to have an incompetent tech add 5 litres of oil and charge you $76.91 for it.

I was in the middle of Calgary - Denver - Chicago - Toronto - Winnipeg - Calgary trek and didn't notice the overfill until Marathon.

I'm looking forward to an explanation from Mazda Canada on how something like that could occur.

Cheers

TODreamer

OMFG thats terrible!!! Thats a BIG No No. Once the deposit goes in, the car should be locked up immediately. Its good you told me that. Now I know never to go to Downtown Mazda because if that was me that caught that.....I'll raise the roof for real!

01Racing

Thank you for the comments about our Service Department from my great customers. My name is Alan Balinsky and I am the General Manager of Scarboro Mazda. We do race a 1990 RX-7 with a bridgeport (J) rotary. Our service manager is a gentleman named David Millband. David used to work for Mazda Canada as the head of technical training and other postions. He also spent 6 years working for McLaren, yes thats the F1 McLaren when they ran Can-AM cars. David built the cars and engines for those cars and did an engine program with Traco Engines back then. He also has tons of rotary experience and is the one who sets up our race car. I dont think you can find a more qualified person at the dealership level right now. You can contact him at 416-752-0970
Thanks
Alan
Scarboro Mazda

cdnrx8r

Al

And might I add, you were right about Dave. Great knowledge, took care of the Cat problem and has ordered a new glove box just to make sure my 8 is perfect.

Chris.

So, did you get racing on the weekend?

01Racing

We got out testing on April 23 and we found the car wont stay running on right turns! Damn carburetors! Anyway Dave looked at the Weber and told me it wasent what we thought we had, so we switched it for a holley 650 double pumper. Dave is in the middle of setting it up (he has tons of Holley and Weber experience) and hope to get back out in the next couple of weeks.
The car ran within a second of the RX-7 in drove last year, and thats with a car starving for fuel on 70% of the track. When we get it right it should be a rocket.