mdplaya

The prices for the new TL's in the Washington DC metro area are too expensive. I plan to purchase a new TL in NY because I can get 1500 off MSRP on a Navi version.
My question is this:
For those who have bought their cars in different states, how do you handle servicing your car?
Every car I've ever owned, I've always had it serviced at the dealer. In this case the dealership that I purchased the car from is 243 miles away (very impractical).
How do others handle minor problems (i.e. problems that ofter creep up in a new car, etc)?
How do dealers treat new car problems when a customer has purchased their car our of state? Do they say tough luck and go to your home dealer....or are they accomidating?
Any help would be appreciated.

svtmike

Your money is the same color green whether you bought from them or not. Just go to the local dealer and don't sweat it.

Mike

Novice

I had a same question. I asked Rosenthal Acura about it (bought it somewhere else). They told me that they'd love to have me as their service client (tells you they make a lot of money doing this).

VTEC=happiness

I often go to the next closest dealer (not the one I bought the car from), and have always had a fine experience. They want to earn your business, so they'll work the same as the dealer you are buying from (in theory, at least)

vtechbrain

Where you buy your car is immaterial. All dealers have perform warranty service on their brand regardles of where it was bought.

mdplaya

Good to know and thanks for the help.

greenseed

Yup, think about it. If you moved with your new car, would you be afraid to take it to a dealer in that *NEW* area? Or are you going to drive all the way back to that original dealer?

When you buy a car from a dealer, they try and sell you on all this crap on why you should come back for service. Like free lifetime inspections, etc. They try and bring this up during bargaining time. I tell them I don’t care about that crap because the next vendor offers that as well.

need4spd

yes, they change back Acura for all the warr repairs. The dealer does not take it on the chin unless they do not fix it the first time.

meathead

and i know at least w/ bmw, if they mistreat you in any way b/c you didn't buy from them and you complain to the company they will get in trouble from the company.

04REDTL

A Bit different twist on the same question.

No Acura dealer locally here (contrary to popular opinion Iowa is not really ONLY cornfields and hog lots - the local Acura dealer was purchased by a "Mega-dealership" 4 years ago and Acura would not transfer the dealership unless they built a stand-alone Acura building - Mega-dealer refused - no local dealership - long story). There is a dealership in Des Moines, but Chicago is a bit closer and has bigger, more competitive dealers.

So, I can get my regular service done 2 1/2 hours away in Chicago where I am buying the car - OR - the local Honda dealership where I purchased my wife's new Honda Pilot. I would obviously go to Acura for warranty work, etc.

What would Jared do?????

svtmike

Jared would call the local Honda dealer and see if they can do Acura warranty work.

Mike

04REDTL

Good idea. Unfortunately, I tried that back in 1998 when the local dealer left town and I owned my 1st Gen TL. The answer was no. The local Honda dealer could accept the turn in of my TL when the 39 month lease expired (and they did, it went fine), but could not perform any warranty work.

Perhaps policy has changed in the past few years, I'll ask again.

VTEC=happiness

Nope...policy is the same. I really like my local Honda dealer, yet they were unable to perform warrentable repairs on my '01 CL in '02. But they were able to perform service no problem...and it is slightly cheaper than my local Acura

svtmike

If your nearest warranty service is 243 miles, I'd pick a different brand. Does the warranty even cover a 243 mile tow?

Mike

NBP04TL4ME

Not sure about warranty work, but my Honda dealer wants me to bring my new TL to them for regular service. I'm a little gunshy in doing this only because the new TL is so, well, new. Most Acura dealer still don't have a lot of experience with the new TL

neuronbob

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! AAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Sorry, I had to, I was one of the few people who found that commercial funny.

Seriously, I'd go to the Honda dealer for routine service and travel for warranty service.

VTEC=happiness

If I am not mistaken, the Acura TLC does allow for a tow to the nearest Acura dealer w/o restriction.

svtmike

I still wouldn't want to deal with a 243 mile trip for warranty work. That's a real haul.

Mike

Modeler

And now that you understand that you can take it to any dealer, let me make a suggestion: DON"T! That is don't take your car to Acura dealer for routine service. They will RAPE you with a smile. You will pay three to five times more than at an independent mechanic.

DC area has tons of great mechanics specializing in Honda/Acuras. If you're in Northern VA, Moore Automotive in Fairfax is great. Very highly rated by Consumer Checkbook. I got great service at a great price there.

mdplaya

I didn't expect so many replies. I'm happy now that if I buy the car in NY I wont get "jail lovin" for service in the DC metro. I just talked to Criswell in Bethesda, granted their service department sucks, but they would love to show their manly service love to me . In terms of what Jared would do, I have a feeling he is 400lbs again because his 15 minutes of fame is up and he can't hold a job because he ate his local McDonalds out of business. I so can't wait to get my TL! Is it normal to think about the TL ALL the time?