Anybody in here from Sacramento, CA area. I understand there are 2 dealers:
Lasher and Niello. If I purchase my car from somewhere else and would like to get it serviced (major service) locally, will I get a loaner if the car is not purchased from them. Would like to find out from someone who actually has purchased not locally but getting it serviced locally here in Sacramento.

 

FWIW: Not Sacramento, but similar situation.

I bought my car in Winston-Salem, NC - thats about 90 miles from home. When getting service locally (Hendrick Acura, Charlotte, NC), I DO get a loaner if the service meets their loaner requirement (i.e. > 2 hours) and a loaner is available. Never been a problem.

I think to some extent it depends on the individual dealer.

 

loaner cars are at the dealers personal expense- they will normally try to get you one fora major service- just ask in advance and dont try on a thursday-friday, when everyone is trying to get a new car for the weekend!

You do NOT have to have the car serviced at the dealer for warranty purposes
A licensed shop can do it- keep the receipt and stamp the book
There are several dedicated honda/acura shops in your town-with techs who actually know the cars
look in the real phone book for one with our car named or depicted in the ad

What major service do you need?
the 105k miles is the real service, until then its oil change- brake fluid change- air filters-

 

Rental cars can be arranged thru Enterprise- which does a special rate for `cars' in the shop' if you really need a car for the day-

the differance just in labor rates can pay for the rental and some extra goodies for your car~
The free loaner from the dealer is geting paid for somehow~

 

The service dept is seperate from sales and does not know or care where you bought the car-- for loaner or warranty purposes.
Its all about how many people need a loaner, they only have so many (beyond that they will rent from enterprise and give it to you ~free~)
how long their car is going to be down, hours-days, how much a job is worth, and if you are a nice person--being a demanding ass gets you nowhere in life (or so my wife repeatedly tells me)

IMO-Its a good idea to go meet the service writers and manager before you need them, a goodwill offering of donuts is always nice~ then you get treated really well later!

 

did you get a good deal at Flow?

 

Excellent. Twice (2002 & 2007). Versus other offers saved ~$4k in '02 and ~$3.5k in '07 over the term of the agreement.

Entire deal, both times, except for the signing, completed via e-mail.