orangematics

I just got back from anaheim mazda, looking to get the free scheduled maintenance done. I am only at 2500miles, but its been 4 months since i purchased my 8; so i figure it qualifies as free scheduled maintenance, but the dope working in anaheim didn't know anything about this... stating that its the first rx8 to come into service...so i began to explain to him the whole deal... but he did not trust me, and he supposedly called the mazda corp for confirmation and told me nobody answered so he left a message. Then he asked me to get the oil change while waiting for confirmation. Then he said if they don't call back i would have to pay for the oil change. i was like this dumb *** isn't gonna screw me and so i left...

which dealer in socal knows what they are doing??

XDEEDUBBX

hahaha what an ***... try browning mazda cerritos..those guys are dicks but they have sold many 8's..

Kaliken

haha.. I got mine at Browning.. yeah it took a while but they were willing to deal.. I am not too sure about their service dept. though

mikeb

tustin mazda has helped me
two oil changes
replaced my oil pan
fixed cel code
reflashed my ecu
and they washed my 8 last time

slavearm

I wont let the dealer wash my car, but Heritage Mazda in Huntington Beach has the best service department I have ever dealt with.

Slavearm

mikeb

why not let them clean it?

syntrix

It's a trust/bonding thing with your car. If you let them wash it, and you find a scratch later, you'll be pizzed!

Sometimes they even do major tire dressing that goes all over the rim and brake rotor, too!

YMMV, but IMHO, since I'm a detailing freak, I also don't let the dealer wash my car

Like I said, YMMV, and maybe they will do a great job!! It will vary from dealer to dealer!

slavearm

Considering the fact that I bought a freaking leaf blower to dry my car, use Zaino frequently, and own a black car, I certainly don't want someone else washing my car with some woooly mit and then drying with shop towels. I have nightmares just thinking about all the swirl marks that would be left in my paint. Obsessive... probably, but I bet my black has a nicer finish than most.

Slavearm

8_wannabe

Damn, I'm gonna drive to Tustin from San Diego just for service. I had my first free service at 5000 miles, the dealer didn't want to rotate the tires. He said he'd do exactly what's in the manual, and it don't say rotate. It's not in the 10K check either meaning they will never rotate. Anyone else get this from their dealer?

I bitched long enough that they finally did it, but the 10K check is coming up and I see the same flap arising. I'll end up talking to the service manager and make a deal: "Look, rotate my tires at every check without giving me flak and I'll bring my car in every 5000 miles. You give me grief, I'll find a service department that wants my business."

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? I know its a small thing, but there's a principle here. I just gotta figure out what it is.

mikeb

tustin rotated my tires at 7500

it is a small thing but principal is important like you said

I clean my car about twice a week and I'm obbessive about it too.

But they really did a good job cleaning it

8_wannabe

I feel the same about washing. They may get it squeaky clean, but what is the condition of the rags/sponges they use? If they're embedded with dirt and grease then they're damaging the finish on your paint. I thoroughly clean mine after each wash, so they're like new all the time. Take a look sometime at your favorite car wash of the condition of their cleaning supplies. Consider a badly dirty rag as like fine-grit sandpaper their rubbing all over your car. Ewwwww....

Outlaws eXtreme

Even though I reside in Cerritos, I would go to Tustin, or Van Nuys Galpin for service. Both very good. I would never ever go to Cerritos Browning, not only are the techs dumb <filled 6+ quarts of oil in my friend's 8, then they screwed up the oil pan, it was jiggling>... on top of that, their sales dept is by far one of the rudest I've ever encountered. I even called their manager to state my complaint, and he said.. "Don't worry kid, it's nothing personal." Uhhh I'm 26.

stangmatt66

OMG!! DO NOT GO TO TUSTIN MAZDA!

I have had the worst service ever there. Their service department knows nothing about the RX-8. I took mine in for the CEL, they couldn't figure out what caused it so they turned it out. It came back on within 12 hours. Took it back, same thing. They couldn't find the problem, so they turned it off. It again came back on within 12 hours and is still on to this day.

When I first pulled it in, their service manager Gary told me he didn't even have the software to read the RX-8's computer yet. He had to wait to get it from his brother at some other dealership. This was in November and the car has been on sale since June, and he didn’t even have the proper tools yet to service the car!

Also, I dropped my car off at 7am on Friday and they didn't start working on it until 11am Saturday morning--2 hours after I scheduled to pick it up. I wasn't able to pick up my car until 3pm because Gary told me they were working on a “problem car” that was taking up all his time. Not acceptable.

Also, Gary is completely unprofessional and never returns phone calls or makes courtesy calls. I always have to call and check up on my car myself. Never have I gotten a call saying my car was complete or ever gotten an update call from him. If I hadn't called, I would have never known it was done. I have witnessed him sit as his desk and yell at customers who have pulled up in the service drive. He doesn't get out from his desk and walk out to the service drive to great them. He just yells, "Can I help you" in a condescending tone; almost as if they are interrupting his day.

And to top it all off as I went to pick up my car the last time, he tosses me the keys and says "It's in the back," and then walks away. I had to walk into the back lot of the dealership to find my own car, remove the plastic from the seat and paper from the floor mats and rearview mirror and then drive the car out myself. Again, not acceptable.

Out of all the times that I have taken my car in for service, the only things they got right were the install of my spoiler and appearence package. I have to say their body shop guys did a beautiful job. But their service department has not gotten a single repair done correctly.

Maybe I'm asking too much from a dealership, but I have never been treated with this much disregard. I am a nice guy who has never had words with Gary so there is no reason I should be treated in this manner. Maybe I was spoiled with my last car and dealership--Commonwealth VW/Audi in Santa Ana, you guys rock! If any dealership wants to see first class customer service, they need to take a look at these guys! WOW!

I WILL NEVER RETURN TO TUSTIN MAZDA FOR SERVICE!!!

Sorry guys, had to vent…

mikeb

wow, that sucks

Gary and all of their staff has been very proffessional to me

sferrett

Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a "special purpose" leaf blower on their list...

Simon.

S3/P3/E2

After "quality service" of this sort, sounds like a few words with the general manager would be in order. You might be busy. You might have other customers. Good for you. Bottom line - I'm your customer, too. Not enough time...problem cars? Too bad - hire more technicians. If I drop a car (or anything for that matter) off with a promised time that it'll be ready, then I expect it to be ready when I show up for it. You're a business, and if you expect to keep my patronage then you'd better perform like you want it. Toss my keys at me and expect me to bring around my own car - wrong. You can have my keys back (hope you can catch), and you can have someone bring my car around. I'll be waiting right here.

Unacceptable customer service is a direct result of us (the consumers) allowing businesses to get away with it. Again - you want my business? You'd better be willing to earn it; otherwise, just like buying a car, if you can't give me what I want then someone out there will.

Dealerships take notice - the days of stiff-arming your customers are over.

8_wannabe

hear hear (or is it here here?) Anyway, well said.

TownDrunk

I bought mine at Irvine Mazda. I've read (on this forum, not this thread) that others have had problems with their service dept, but I never have. My wife's Tribute has had most of its service performed at Irvine Mazda for the past three years and they've been helpful and great. When I bought my '8 it was easy. They called me when it came in, they had all the paperwork waiting for me when I got there. I test drove (alone), signed and went home in a matter of 30 minutes or so. Richard Knowles was my sales dude.

We originally bought our Tribute in Tustin when it was called McPhearson Mazda. They were OK, but closed about 2 months after we bought the car.

I found the service at Laguna Hills Mazda to be a joke. They tried to stiff me for new brake rotors after our Tribute only had 10K miles. Then, they couldn't give me a price just to replace the new pads until after they could tell me if Mazda would warranty the rotors (I think they wanted more cash). Their appointment don't mean crap (I waited 3 hours before for an oil change with an appointment watching others get oil changes coming and going without appointments).

Anyhow, that's all my Mazda dealership experience. Hope it helps.

Oh... None of the dealerships offer alcoholic beverages while you wait. That kinda sucks. A glass of wine would be nice.

stangmatt66

Right on! Exactly!