KKMmaniac

Hey all you (few) other RX8 drivers in the Twin Cities area:

Would any of you care to report on positive Mazda dealer service department experiences? I purchased my car at Morrie's Minnetonka, but I do my own basic service work, so I don't have much experience with their service department. I like the sales staff, but I'm not too impressed with the PDI procedures done on my car.

I will need to bring my car in soon for the recalls, and a couple other minor warranty issues. And I hope I can have the "M" reflash done without too much arm twisting. Like all of us, I want the best job possible done.

MilesBFree

Check out the Northstar Rotary Rocket club in your neck of the woods - the guys in that club are great, and I am sure that one of them can point you to a good local dealer. Also check out the vendor review section on their web site for reviews of local dealers. Here is the web site:

http://www.northstarrotaries.com/

Cheers,

Steve

KKMmaniac

Thanks for the response, MilesBFree. I have checked out the Northstar Rotary Club's website in the past, but the info on dealer service and repair isn't very extensive. I was hoping to get a few opinions from members of this forum on their RX8 servicing too.

The Northstar club looks pretty cool though: I'm glad we have such a resource in this region.

Vortex

I bought my 8 from Polar and I've had good and very bad experiences there, so has my dad.

I've only taken the 8 to them to have the recall stuff done and my free oil change. No problems then but I've had major trouble with them in the past.

They left the oil cap off 3 times on my metro when I took it in and never took responsibility for it. I took it in for a new clutch and they didn't fasten the tranny good either and I had a slick in the driveway and when I took it back in they charged me again for some "broken seal" and for fluid. They've also ran my dad through a couple of times with his chevy truck. After our bad run of luck we vowed never to take anything back to their service station and we try not to if we don't have too. I plan on taking it back to polar until the warranty is up, then I'll start looking elsewhere or doing things on my own.

I've just had too many bad experiences with Polar where I don't like going back if I don't have too. I'm sure there are people who love the service isle, but I can't bring myself to go back there after getting jacked around a few times. Don't know if its just their chevy mechanics, but I just don't trust them.

If you find a good place, let me know.

KKMmaniac

Thanks Vortex:

Yeah, I don't know what to think. I would guess it is impossible to find a dealer who does everything right every time anyway. It sounds like maybe your experiences were Chevy-mechanic specific, but it could also explain the attitude of the dealer in general.

OpticalGuy

I have had good luck with the service at Polar. But I am comparing to really bad service that I received back in IA. They have taken pretty good care of my '92 miata.

KKMmaniac

OpticalGuy, I think I may stop by Polar after work soon and have a talk with them. Maybe I can tell something from their general attitude?

For me, it's an agonizing decision. For some people it's "well, just keep going back until they get it right!" That philosophy doesn't give me any comfort!

I think I've heard Walser is pretty decent, I haven't heard anything about Luther Mazda. Hmmm, anyone else? (D'oh... why do I have to be so damn paranoid!)