I've got an '06 RL about to go in for its first oil change, and I'm worried that the mechanic will lower the hood, and when it doesn't latch, he'll push down on it until it does. And that pushing will almost certainly put a dimple on the hood.

Many a mechanic did this same thing on my Legend (which I bought used, so I was a little less worried), and it drove me crazy. I eventually had "dingless repair" done on the hood (and trunk, as it turns out). I had an early Accord with the center hood crease, and once that got tweaked there was no fixing it. The RL has a similar center-line that I'm also worried about.

I have already seen many a new car with the tell-tale dimple of someone who pushed on the hood to close it rather than letting it drop down.

How have your (our?) hoods held up to oil changers, routine maintenance, etc? Do you alert your mechanic to only drop the hood rather than pressing down on it?

Rob144

 

Make sure you have the best Acura certified tech work on your car and you will not have issues.. I also tip my Acura NSX tech and the service manager, and I get insane service, it could NOT be better.
I also write a letter once per year to the owner of the dealership about these 2 guys.
The NSX tech is usually the highest trained guy.
I also have an NSX.

 

I've never tipped, but I have made the owner aware numerous times (both written and in person) about how much I appreciate their service. One time I also brought all the service writers and the manager a gift around the holidays to let them know how awesome I thought they were.

 

These are exactly the type is situation I want to avoid and is why I only want *qualified* techs working on my RL, when possible. The dealer might cost a few bucks more, but it's much better than having some oil change or local nobody shop do the work.

 

FYI, The FEW dollars I tip, I get back 10 fold, believe me/ maybe 100 fold over time.

 

I can't think of anything more distasteful to me at this moment than tipping at a car dealership!

Also, if you can find the right "local" guy, you will save what you waste in tips at the dealer. I bet you paid sticker price too for your car.

What works for me is hinting where I will buy my next car if I get good service, and it costs nothing.

Speaking of levels of service....I'm noticing now that I have an RL how much quicker things get done for me than when I had my RSX/S.

 

Well you could not be more wrong, by the way, I paid $38,800 for a NEW 06.
Tip your barber, and some no talent waiter, but not your tech, right, that makes sense.
The sales department has NO tie to the service department.

 

I dunno, how much cheaper, exactly, is your "local guy" for an oil change than $39? Because that's how much my dealer charges me, and saving $5-10 on it isn't enough incentive for me to risk there being something wrong with the car that I don't have ACS to bully for a remedy.... like a dent in the hood, or a cross-threaded filter, or simple ignorance.

I didn't pay sticker for my car, thanks -- my dealer gave me a good price because I've bought there before and always took it to the dealer for service.....

 

I am telling you, the service I get for that few dollars I tip is like I own the place. And I do not tip each time, that keeps it special rather than expected.
For example, my NSX had a nail in the tire, I noticed it on the road, I stopped put air in and called the dealer saying I was coming in NOW. They took me the moment I arrived and NO CHARGE to fix the tire, and I had no warranty or tire insurance. The no charge was nice, but the service is priceless. I have more like these. I stand next to the tech everytime he works on my car, we talk. I can go up to their breakroom and talk to him without any approval, etc., etc., and I NEVER bought a car from this Acura dealership. Been using them for 5 years. Again, there is no connection with sales and service, your salemen will be gone before you buy the next car.

 

Really? Funny, I had the EXACT issue with my RSX last spring(nail in the tire)...the dealer took me right in and fixed it no charge, and I never tipped anyone.

Also, I find it difficult to believe they let you in the service bays for insurance reasons.

When I go to the delaership for any reason, I expect to get treated the same as everyone else, which means good service for all, not just for those who tip. IMHO, you are in fact making things worse for the other customers who go there as the personell will start expecting tips from other customers as well.

I pay $32 for my oil change at the dealership. That includes a wash and Vac.

 

If my barber gives me a bad haircut, no tip. Good haircut, great tip. You're comparing Apples to Oranges. Also, Restaurant personell rely on Tip income. Totally different.

A service department is expected to give good service for the wage they are paid...no tip should be expected nor given at a dealership...if you were talking independent mechanic I would agree with you.

 

Never mind my comments, do as you wish.
If more people do what I do it will weaken my service. Save your tip money, tipping these guys is stupid, you are correct.

 

oh, and by the way, what did YOU play for your RL, I gave my price? Mine had 5 miles, no demo.

 

I paid 41k with some accessories thrown in.

Better not tell your waiter he's "no talent", unless you want something "extra" in your food.

No need to tell me I'm correct, I already knew I was.

 

Not taking sides here, but I've never even remotely considered tipping a dealership service tech or especially his manager. Frankly, I think I'd be insulted if I were a tech and someone tried to slip me a fiver (or even more). Tips are for waiters who get paid $2.25 an hour, bellboys, or strippers who perform good lapdances. NOT for professionals.

Now, I CAN see stopping by and discreetly slipping them a case of Coors for especially good treatment, or maybe during the Holidays, but cash is tacky.

Just my opinion.
.
.

 

Instead of tipping, another nice gesture is to buy the guys luch or something. My dad owned a car shop back in the 80s-90's and his staff always appreciated that.

 

LOL I'd call Coors an insult if it was given to me.

Now, if it were Guinness....

 

Maybe its not cool to tip, but I do. Why? I demand a lot and make it known. I want no finger prints, scratches, no sandpaper carwash, at the dealer(swirl marks). I let them know, I do not want my car parked in the lot(door dings). I tell I will inspect my car before I leave, for any scratches and, I want my car out front for me to retrieve. That is why I tip.

 

This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone tipping their sevice tech.

I'm paying $110 per hour for labor, and I absolutely expect and will demand, that I have no dings in the hood, scratches on the body, and a vehicle that is repaired or serviced without any problems what so ever. If the service/repair was performed exactly as it was supposed to be, their reward will be an excellent review when Acura or their service department calls to rate the service experience.

The other method I employ is to be kind, considerate, and patient. My previous experience with service techs has required that many times (you know like it should be ready by 1pm but its not till 3PM).

On the other hand if I get a car back from the service department and it has a ding in the hood, or a scratch in the door, you can bet they will hear about.



I did once give a tip to one of my service techs, in telliing him to plant his corn early this summer. It went over like a lead balloon.

 

Well said and exactly the way it should be.

 

Back to the hood integrity:

I was told that the hood and I think the trunk lid are made of carbon fiber. This is the reason, if you noticed, that the hood is very light. However I don't know for a fact, but I have heard that carbon fiber is very strong and resistant to dings, bends, dents and in fact is the reason why they had to put crumple zones in the middle of the hood. look at about the middle of the hood and on the sides, and you will see indents, so that in a crash the hood will crumple and not push straight into the driver.

Does anyone else on this forum know if the above is true?

 

The trunk lid and hood are aluminum, not carbon fiber.

 

yes because the service guy really cares about the rating that they get from the acura service department. he goes home everyday and says wow i did a good so good of a job that some guy whose car i worked on told the service department that he was satisfied with my service. hmmm maybe i wont kill myself today.

or would he prefer the persons car whom he worked on to come up to him and say hey you did a really good job here is a tip.

50 bucks says that he could care less about what the service department says.

waitresses are expecting a tip the service guy isnt. when he gets a tip its a treat to let him know you did a good job. when you tip a waitress all she says is thats it. B!tch thats 15% and you only refilled my coffee once and i have been here for 30 F-ing min.

 

Gee what a surprise...21.

 

Yup your right verified on acura.com. The dealer told me ah misinformed me that the hood was carbon fiber. Of course theyy also told me it had a timing chain so I should have known better. Thanks for the correction

 

I don't tip a waitress if she is a b!tch and I let management know as well. Waitresses salaries are dependent on tips, car mechanics or service techs are not tip dependent.

Furthermore I really doubt wheather they are even allowed to accept monetary gifts but maybe.

 

The drive shaft to the rear differential is carbon fiber....probably where the confusion originated.

 

what did that mean???

 

I rest my case.

 

so just cause im 21 i dont know what im talking about.
or do you have a reason.

 

You'll probably have to come back and read your post when you're in your 40's to understand, but let me enlighten you on at least one point: there *is* such a thing as job satisfaction. Not all certified automobile mechanics go home at the end of the day wanting to kill themselves. Many (most?) enjoy their work. There are actually people who (gasp!) take pride in a job well done! And, believe it or not, it *does* make a difference to most folks when they receive words of "well done" from their manager.

I've never considered tipping my service guy for the work he's done on behalf of the dealer, either. It's not "traditionally" done. I *do* know a Toyota tech who was also an MR2 freak do some work on the side for me before (valve adjustments on the 4AGE/4AGZE motors require having a bucket of shims of various thickness at your disposal and a special tool). He's done three adjustments on different '2s for me for $100 and I'd give him $120. I've tipped the help at my buddy's paint/body shop before, as well.

Dealership service is overpriced from the start and the techs are paid well without my handouts.

As to there being a link or no link between the service department and the sales department: think big picture folks. Think like the owner/manager of the stealership. You sell cars on a slim margin, but the REAL money made in the stealership is in parts and service. If your service is crappy, you won't sell that newer, upgraded model in a couple of years when your customer is itching for a new car, either. There are tie-ins to be sure. Do you not think that excellent service like the guy who had the nail in his NSX tire isn't going to be relayed to other potential customers? Oh, yes...it will. And will those customers consider buying from Podunk Acura when they find out how well Podunk treats their customers? Yep.


Os OT as this thread got, I'm glad I read it. I didn't know there was an issue about how to close the hood. I thought it a bit odd that everything else on the car (doors and trunk) close so well, but the hood balked a bit at closing cleanly...

 

Preach, brotha, preach! Completely true. So why do I still go to a dealer for service? I have found no good reliable import shops here in Cleveland that can handle all the electronics on the last two Acuras I purchased. As far as tipping, I don't, but when I get exceptional service I call the service manager and mention the tech by name who helped me. Should be good for something, huh?

Anyway, this topic is WAY OT.

I've never had an issue with the hood on my car in the manner described by the OP, but I'll have to watch for it.

 

i know about job satisfation i love my job. i hate the people i work with but i love my job. and i was going to the extreme when i posted that. i was just trying to get my point out. i dont tip. but i also do all my own work too.

 

Right on!! The main reason I went back to my dealership was for the service I have been receiving from my dealership for the past 7+ years. '01 TL, and a '93 Vigor before that.

I have written letters, and I have spoken to the owner often and I always tell him how great his service department is. Just recently he and I were speaking and he mentioned that his service manager always mentions when I have stopped by. I have come to be on a first name basis with all of them. I have never tipped, all I have ever done is bring by a small gift basket around the holidays to let them know how much I appreciate their service and above all else honesty.

 

the gift basket is similar to tipping in the fact that when you tip you are showing your appreciation for all his/their good work.

 

Yes and No. Yes you are showing your appreciation, but it also coincides with the holidays. I visit the dealer much more than once a year and I'm sure that they don't expect for me to give them another gift this year. It's more of a token of appreciation and thanks. A TIP becomes expected after a while.

I'm not doing a good job of explaining it here, but I do feel it is different.

 

I don't know about anyone else, but every time I have taken my vehicle to the dealer for any type of service, each and every time I have been called to rate the service or sent an rating form. There is a war for between dealerships to have the best rated service department and for that matter sales department and overall customer satisfaction.

The reason this is so important to them (the dealer) is because it could eventually equate to the bottom line MONEY. When a dealership has the highest ratings in several departments, especially the service department, they get top consideration for benefits from the manufacturer. What type of benefits? Maybe the right to expand another Acura dealership in X city, maybe recieve the first delivery of new models or specially equipped cars.

If you don't think the rating you give is important, the next time you get surveyed to rate the service experience, try giving them a negative rating on one question asked. I gurantee you will get a call from the service manager begging to make things right.

Especially if you complained that there was a ding in the hood or a scratch on the door.

 

I was told the service rating is important for allocation. The better the rating, the more cars get allocated to that dealer. Bad service equals less cars. Makes sense. The manufacturer wants the dealers with the best service selling more of their cars.

 

The Trunk Lid, Hood, and front fenders are all Alum.

 

Old news, posted MANY times, and this is in the sales booklet.