Can anyone recommend a good RX8 mechanic in the Los Angeles area (other than the dealers)? Am I the only L.A. RX8 owner who is unhappy with the service at the Mazda dealerships?

 

You're not the only one. What do you need work on? I might be able to help.

 

I second that. And by the way, I suggest everyone stay as far away from Culver City Mazda/Nissan as possible, especially sales.

 

hahha stay away from salesman!

 

Got a bad impression too when I visited the Culver City dealer, I ended up at Cerritos Mazda, I have no negative comments about their service so far( I am about to get my 15000mile service ).

 

raptor good luck with you're 15k service. Ive had nothing but bad expierence with my dealer (heritage in tustin). if you do a search about my post you'll find out what im talkin about. Thats why i work on my own car. I may not know everything about rotary so bare with me. If anyone needs help with their car, send me a PM and i'll do my best to assist you.

 

Wingman, I wish I had a semblance of mechanical skills but I barely know where my car battery is. I think I get ripped off by mechanics because I am a young female and its very obvious I know jack **** about cars (other than how to drive 'em really fast).

I bought my beauty at Thousand Oaks Mazda and the salesman was GREAT. He was a real pleasure to deal with but their service department is kinda assy.

 

If you're willing to travel to OC (and overcome your dealership inhibition), I was really happy with Ray's recall/TSB work at Tustin Mazda, given the modifications already on my car.

Give us an idea of what you need serviced on your '8 and maybe we can steer you in a better direction, i.e., electrical/radio/engine/tranny/body/etc.

 

I live in Valencia and there is a shop there called MazTech 661-259-6026. Rob Lanza is the owner and has forgotten more about the Rotary then I will ever know. He also services my Ferrari from time to time. There are very few mechanic's I trust and he is one of them.

I work in Thousand Oaks and I have been to the dealer there as well. Just yesterday actually to have the ECU flashed. I agree about them being kinda assy. I would dare say they are just plain asses.

 

Where in Los Angeles are you? I get my dealer work done at Galpin Mazda in the San Fernando Valley and they've been decent so far. Nothing spectacular but not as stressful as the other dealers in town.
If you're looking at custom rotary work, I think Signal does some rotary stuff...

 

I second Galpin... sorta. I was having great service but I'm getting the "we couldn't duplicate the problem" from them with my rough idle. My 8 hick-ups every 5 seconds or so. I think it's mis-firing but they won't check for codes - at least they didn't the last time I was there.

 

Try Browning Mazda in Cerritos, the warranty administrator there has an RX-8 and knows his stuff.

 

thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I'm going to try the Galpin in ye olde San Fernando Valley and hope that they do a good job.

 

tustin sucks *** and wouldnt do ANY of the TSBs i asked them to do, like the rattle on the left of the steering wheel, or the squeeking brakes and just drove my car around for 12 miles... wasting my gas!!! (i think he drove it hard cuz my tank was almost full and went down like 3 notches afterwards) Cerritos is by far the best IMO

 

hahaha 310guy, was it Scott who said "we couldn't duplicate the problem"?
other than that, Sam and Scott are nice. Very helpful in most of the ways. Couldn't get my brake pads replaced cuz he couldn't duplicate the problem.

 

I'm having brake problems too. My brakes keep squeaking and my car is about 6 mths old with 10,000 miles so I would think its too early to squeak like that.

 

You're kidding right? Read this real quick. The dealer will fix it for free.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com...cs/04-006.html

 

Thanks for that, Rotary. I took it to Glendale Mazda before with the "brakes are squeaking" complaint and they claimed to have checked it out and "fixed" it but obviously they didn't. Now that I have this for ammo, it'll help (but I'm going to Galpin in the valley now).

 

I have been dealing with Sam since the beginning. Nice guy but the rough idle is VERY apparent. Get the car warmed up and sit in the driver's seat, you can feel the "hick-up" from the driver's seat...

 

Thanks for the rec to San Fernando Galpin. They were fantastic (especially Scott). He not only was incredibly nice to me, but got me a rental car for the day, fixed my 8 quickly, and they even washed it. I was sooooo happy with the service there. And now no more squel on the brakes.