glassetcher

Just looking ahead for the time I need to take the 8 if for service (just got it about 6 weeks ago and loving it). I'm closest to Hall Mazda in Brookfield. However, they had some bad press a couple of years ago when a customer saw their car, which was in for service, driving down the road late one evening, as I remember the story. A local news investigation said people in the service dept were driving customer's cars home at night. That's OK if it is customer approved to diagnose a problem, but this was not the case. I assume this problem has been rectified, but it still gives me some pause.

I've always been very leary of dealers for service, but in the case of the 8 I am really leary of independent service because of the 8's uniqueness. Also, I don't want to void the warranty because some independent service station didn't do the proper service.

Does anyone have any experience with Hall Mazda for service, or any recommendations for other dealers in Milwaukee not TOO far from the west side?

Thanks

Zoom, Zoom

oi812

The reason I own a RX-8 is because of the outstanding service department at Hall Mazda. I purchased a 03 MPV from them and the service department is why I keep going back to Hall, and ultimately what led me to the RX-8. I always talk to Matt the service writer, Tom is pretty good too. Randy is the certified Mazda tech and will take the time to talk to you if you ask. Randy just did an alignment after I installed the Racing Beat suspension kit and the car is perfect now. All three are excellent but very busy. Take the time to get to know them a little and explain exactly what you want done and they will all bend over backwards to make you happy. Tell them the guy from Buell sent you, your about the 5th guy I've sent their way.

By the way, the news story was about the Lexus dealer next door to Hall Mazda, not Hall Mazda. The TV news reporter interview with the Lexus service manager had a perfect view of the Hall Imports sign in the background during the interview. I remember watching the story on the news and thinking that Hall Imports is getting screwed by a story that doesn't involve them??

glassetcher

Thanks for the info, oi812. That makes me feel a little better about giving them a try. I'll keep those names in mind.

How long have you had your 8 and what other kinds of service have you had them do?

oi812

glassetcher,

I’ve had the 8 for about a year and a half, it just turned 15k last week. I drove it through the first winter with Dunlop Winter Sport tires on 17” rims. It worked well in the snow, but I had a difficult time dealing with the salt hanging off the bottom of the car for weeks at a time so I have a $1,200 pickup truck for my "snowmobile" now.

So far, Hall has done the airbag recall and I had a squeaky driver’s seat track taken care of in one visit. I had a check engine light that was related to the re-flash TSB, so I got the new flash and the TSB for the new squeak-free front brake pads on the second visit. I also had a piece of the e-brake handle replaced since it broke off last winter. All in all, it has been at Hall three times including the alignment I had them do on the third visit. I do my own oil changes and normal maintenance mostly because I enjoy playing with the car.

oi812

Oh yea, I forgot, one other visit. Shortly after the air bag recall, the air bag light came on. I brought it in since I thought Hall must have screwed something up. As it turns out, my kids had accidentally unhooked a connector under the passenger seat by snagging it with their shoes. Little foot prints and some mud all over the connector. Up to that point I was sliding the passenger seat all the way forward to make it easier for them to get in and out. I don’t slide the seat all the way forward anymore and haven’t had an issue since. No charge even though it took them a while to find the issue and it was my fault not theirs. So that brings the total up to four visits.