Looks like the dealers are running this program "Appreciation Week" in April - you probably have also received the card.

It offers free 45-point check.

What 45 points ? What does this involve ? what do they look at ?

 

I never got anything like that in the mail. I live in Texas, has anyone from texas heard of this?

 

I got the card and made my appointment. It's just a bunch of visual checks. If you leave the car and don't watch them, they may do what I saw once a long time ago at my dealer (the guilty people are all gone now so I think I won't get in trouble saying this). The mechanic asked if the service manager wanted him to check one of the newer cars and the service manager said skip it, it's too new to have anything wrong with it.

It is a factory program mainly designed to get you into the dealer, but it can't hurt, especially when everything is still under warranty so they won't be looking to suggest any costly repairs.

I had it done on my 1G TL when I was out of warranty and the mechanic said he couldn't find anything wrong, and I watched him check everything he was supposed to, so my dealer did a pretty good job there, and it is still the same dealer but with better people in the service department.

 

Yeah, got one yesterday...look at it this way, it's free, it can't hurt, so why not?

 

It will hurt when they try to scam people who dont know much about cars and tell them there are things wrong that really dont need to be changed.

 

That might be true for older cars, but most everyone here is still under warranty so the worst they can get you for is an air filter, which you should be able to figure out for yourself if you really need to change it or not. And you get a certificate good for a free future oil change, so they are actually paying you to come in.

 

Yep...and they purposely screw something up (that won't be covered under warranty) and you'll have to fix it later.

 

hmmm sabotage..that sounds scary

 

well did tell tell you what/where they "llooked" at ? or did you ask ?
And do you know how much time the tech spent on your car ?
Heck if it's like a 15-min once-over I might as well not bother driving 20 miles down there for that.

 

Salesperson who happens to appear as you are about to leave the dealership after your "free" inspection: "Oh, by the way, it would be a good time to trade your car for a new TL, since your TL needs about $5,000 dollars of work; not including the $29 to change your wiper blades. Did you happen to see all the shiny new ones on the lot and the A-Spec on the floor?"

 

No, I got one as in I got the post card. I doubt I'll actually do it as I'm in the same boat as you...not driving across town for them to check the things I already monitor.

That being said, Ron A, could you elaborate on the oil change certificate? I don't see that mentioned on my post card...is that something they tell you when you schedule your inspection or give you once it's done? A free oil change = $40 saved...that's worth a few minutes of my time.

 

Be carefull with this one. This is an old scam, that a lot of shady toyota dealers have been known to do over the years.
You get the free inspection, but darn, there seems to be a leak. Do you want your bake fluid leaking, or should we repair it?
Your strut rod links, are almost rusted through? Your axle can fall off, shall we repair it for your?

Take my advice on this, forget it, unless you can be there and see everything when they do this inspection. Sears has been sued for this, so many times, they just consider it a cost of business these days.

 

The post card says the following:

Acura Appreciation Week is April 3 - April 7, 2006. So bring in your Acura for an event you can't afford to miss.

This seems to be a factory promotion, so it should be standard for all dealers, and I am pretty sure Acura is reimbursing the dealer for all or most of the cost.

And as far as trying to scam you, how can they scam you when everything, except maybe a filter, is covered under warranty, unless you are one of those few people who might have gone over 50,000 miles. I know no one has gone over the 4 year time limit yet.

 

good point...hmmm so Acura/dealership is really x 8 trying to be nice

 

[
And as far as trying to scam you, how can they scam you when everything, except maybe a filter, is covered under warranty, unless you are one of those few people who might have gone over 50,000 miles. I know no one has gone over the 4 year time limit yet.[/QUOTE]

Well, they have their ways. Not everyone with an acura, is car smart. There are some people just an unknowledgable about cars driving acuras as there are driving mercedes and kias.
You might find(and then, its according to the honesty of the service dept), find them trying to sell new tires on tires that have life on them, brake pads on vehices with life on them. Its the old scare tactic routine. "Miss, we notice one of your tires treads are coming near the end of its desired usage, and could become in the future a safety hazard. More prone to going flat or blowing. Now you can ride that tire for a while, and nothing may happen to it, but if you want, we can give you a good deal on four new tires and we can do it right now, while you wait." " ITs up to you"
Same thing with brake pads, windshield wiper blades, etc.

 

Free inspection is more harm than good since your car is basically new.

 

Ron - Thanks. I reread mine last night after reading your post yesterday...didn't see the note about the oil change...guess I'll reread it FULLY tonight

flatfoot - I agree with you about scams on unknowledgeable/unsuspecting people. I can totally believe it has happened and continues to happen. However, car-savvy folks should have no problems...in fact, if I did it, it would only be to get the free oil change. And honestly, I don't think my dealer is the shady kind...but that could just be because they know I know what what's up so they treat me right.