Lexus service is nice and all, but seriously, the repair prices are just stupid.

[Meghan54]

Especially when you compare their prices to what a Toyota dealer wants for the same exact work on the same exact vehicle.

For instance, had to visit a Lexus dealer to get a new key cut for our GX. Outrageously priced key, but we knew this going in. Asked about a timing belt/water pump replacement as the 90K service was coming up. Got quoted $1228, incl. tax, for just that. Said thanks, and began the trek home from Boston to the Cape.

As we were passing Hyannis, decided to stop by the Toyota dealer and ask for a quote for the same exact service. Price quoted: $775, incl. tax.

Seriously? Almost $450 cheaper for the same parts on the same vehicle? I don't think Lexus's "luxury" service is worth that much. True, all the tables in the waiting area were granite or marble topped while the Toyota dealer used laminates, or the Travertine tile on the floors was nicer than the "cheap" flooring at the Toyo dealer, or that the Lexus dealer had a bar for snacks with an attendant vs. the serve yourself one at the Toyota dealer, but seriously, is that worth $450?

Not to me. Got an appointment booked at the Toyota dealer for Monday.

 

[kitatech]

Better bagels?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Better bagels?

Free loaners. For me it is worth it for the convenience.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Free loaners. For me it is worth it for the convenience.

Given that the price difference here was over $400, the loaner isn't in any way "free."

ZV

 

[mmntech]

My mom stopped going to Lexus after she took her ES300 in for an oil change that ended up costing about $200. She had told them specifically that's all she wanted and not to do the package, but they did it anyway, didn't bother to notify her, and didn't refund her.

I really hate taking any car to the dealer because they always try to rip you off.

 

[madoka]

I recently hit 60K on my Lexus. The local dealer quoted me $1106 for the 60K service. I looked in the owner's manual and broke down every service involved. I asked how much for each service a la carte. It came to about $500 if I did all the services individually as opposed to doing it together. That is crazy. I'll post the details in another thread once I finish and have the final totals.

 

[T2urtle]

Free loaners. For me it is worth it for the convenience.

That would would be once point.

I recently hit 60K on my Lexus. The local dealer quoted me $1106 for the 60K service. I looked in the owner's manual and broke down every service involved. I asked how much for each service a la carte. It came to about $500 if I did all the services individually as opposed to doing it together. That is crazy. I'll post the details in another thread once I finish and have the final totals.

what was included in a 60k? Figure $100 oil change, $150 trans flush. $150 rear diff (if you have RWD), $50 cabin filter. $50 air filter. $150 for T-case (if your AWD).


I've often considered taking my car in for the $30 oil changes @ infiniti. Mainly to get a free omelet breakfast and bottle of Fiji ( i dunno is thats right) water. I was too scared to ask them if they would give me a loaner car over the phone. Now that would be bad ass for $30.

But to address the OP price difference, if it VERY VERY common for people to do Lexus ~> toyota or Infinti ~> nissan, Acura~> honda dealerships. It doesn't really apply for Audi and VW in some cases. But its the labor rate per hour, i've seen infiniti ask for $159-179 per hour compared to Nissan's $129-159. That and possibly lower markup on parts. Dealerships can mark up w/e they want on parts, its often 150-200% over cost pending items. So i can see maybe $300-500 differences, it pays BIG time to shop around. Even cheaper to buy online OEM but not many places will install parts that they didn't sell you.

 

[Zenmervolt]

what was included in a 60k? Figure $100 oil change, $150 trans flush. $150 rear diff (if you have RWD), $50 cabin filter. $50 air filter. $150 for T-case (if your AWD).

I would also guess a brake fluid flush and a coolant flush. Possibly spark plugs too depending on the car.

ZV

 

[madoka]

what was included in a 60k? Figure $100 oil change, $150 trans flush. $150 rear diff (if you have RWD), $50 cabin filter. $50 air filter. $150 for T-case (if your AWD).

Oil change, differential fluids, air filter, cabin filter, spark plugs, and brake fluid.

I'll give a detailed breakdown in another thread/rant I've planned after I get all the final numbers.

 

[Meghan54]

Free loaners. For me it is worth it for the convenience.

And we are getting a free loaner from the Toyota dealer on Monday when we drop off the GX for the belt/wp replacement. (It was offered, we didn't even ask for a loaner.) Sure, it won't be a Lexus loaner, but I'll sacrifice that for the $450 difference in price.

 

[T2urtle]

And we are getting a free loaner from the Toyota dealer on Monday when we drop off the GX for the belt/wp replacement. (It was offered, we didn't even ask for a loaner.) Sure, it won't be a Lexus loaner, but I'll sacrifice that for the $450 difference in price.

I would too, maybe you'll get a hybrid of some sort. Most timing belt's labor rates are 3.0 hours and above pending on motor and etc. So its an all day job.

I would also guess a brake fluid flush and a coolant flush. Possibly spark plugs too depending on the car.

ZV

i thought there was some law that passed in CA that made you required maintenance items under 100k. This was around the time all brands moved 60k-80k timing belt and 60k spark plug intervals to 105k. I know acura does it, my 05 infiniti did it.

 

[Meghan54]

what was included in a 60k? Figure $100 oil change, $150 trans flush. $150 rear diff (if you have RWD), $50 cabin filter. $50 air filter. $150 for T-case (if your AWD).


I've often considered taking my car in for the $30 oil changes @ infiniti. Mainly to get a free omelet breakfast and bottle of Fiji ( i dunno is thats right) water. I was too scared to ask them if they would give me a loaner car over the phone. Now that would be bad ass for $30.

But to address the OP price difference, if it VERY VERY common for people to do Lexus ~> toyota or Infinti ~> nissan, Acura~> honda dealerships. It doesn't really apply for Audi and VW in some cases. But its the labor rate per hour, i've seen infiniti ask for $159-179 per hour compared to Nissan's $129-159. That and possibly lower markup on parts. Dealerships can mark up w/e they want on parts, its often 150-200% over cost pending items. So i can see maybe $300-500 differences, it pays BIG time to shop around. Even cheaper to buy online OEM but not many places will install parts that they didn't sell you.

Loaner for an oil change. Now that'd be service!

But about some of the prices...we also got estimates on some of what was listed in madoka's post, incl. $298 for rear diff & transfer case flush, $98 for the cabin air filter (no labor included). I bought the same Denso filter from Rock Auto for $13 shipped--got here this morning.

As for buying parts and having them installed, I've found most dealers hate that and a lot refuse to do it. Even some independents hate that, too. Did finally find one that didn't give us static with me bringing in parts and having them installed and began using them exclusively for things I couldn't or wouldn't do before we moved up here to the Cape.


As for the impending 90K service on our GX that's being done this Monday, for what the Lexus dealer quoted for just the timing belt/wp replacement, the Toyota dealer is doing the timing belt/wp (and it also includes a new serpentine belt in the $775 price, too), transfer case and rear diff flush, brake sys. flush, power steering flush, new spark plugs, and cooling sys. flush.

Of course, if I really felt secure in the fact that the timing belt is good for a few thousand miles more, I'd have the job done down south where the labor rates are much lower than up here in MA. But with the GX's engine being an interference engine, rather be safe than sorry, esp. with a 1200 mile trip coming next weekend.

 

[Murloc]

I didn't know dealerships had snacks or waiting areas, I've never been in a luxury one though.
But they give you a courtesy car so it's not that useful honestly.
Unless you're a good customer they give you an old barfed car though, that sucks.

 

[nerp]

I own multiple cars so loaners aren't important to me.

 

[KDKPSJ]

I own multiple cars so loaners aren't important to me.

Actually.. you don't understand the convenience of loaner at all. Sure, you may have more than one car, but you only have one body and can drive only one car, you know?

I own two cars, one of them is almost garage queen. But I always find loaner to be much more convenient than asking my friend/family member to drive my other car to the dealership with me and go to the dealer with me and drive my other car back when my car's service is done.

The biggest advantage of loaner is that you can do everything by yourself. You don't need to consider someone else's time when you schedule the service and you don't need to ask them to spare their time twice (when you drop the car off, and when you pick it up). You just drive your car by yourself, leave it there, get the loaner, leave, come back with loaner, and take your car back. All can be done with one person with one body.

 

[ND40oz]

Actually.. advantage of loaner is that you don't have to bring someone else to drive your other car to the dealership with you. I also own multiple cars, but I always find loaner to be much more convenient than asking my friend/family member to drive my other car to the dealership with me. Sure, we may have more than one car, but we only have one body and can drive only one car, you know?

Exactly, when the dealership is a 30 min drive away, I don't want to have to worry about taking multiple cars/people over to drop off and pick up. Even if the dealer doesn't typically offer loaners you can have it written into your sales contract that they'll provide one when you come in for service.

 

[Dari]

Why is the OP complementing the Lexus service area (arguably the best in the industry) but bitching about the prices? Those things aren't free and aren't included in the price of the car. Maybe you should've just bought a Toyota.

 

[madoka]

Loaner for an oil change. Now that'd be service!

Porsche typically gives me an Audi A4 as a loaner when I get an oil change. It's trying to stomach the $300 oil change that is a challenge.

 

[thirdeye]

Our first and only service done at the dealer while we had our IS250 was $170 for an oil change. Screw that, that's an outright ripoff. I took it the local repair shop I trust and had it done for $40 from there on out.

 

[ND40oz]

Our first and only service done at the dealer while we had our IS250 was $170 for an oil change. Screw that, that's an outright ripoff. I took it the local repair shop I trust and had it done for $40 from there on out.

What type of local shop is doing a synthetic oil change for $40 or are you bringing your own oil and filter?

 

[Zenmervolt]

i thought there was some law that passed in CA that made you required maintenance items under 100k.

I literally have no idea what this sentence is supposed to mean...

ZV

 

[Murloc]

I think he means that he thought that there was a law that passed in CA that made it compulsory to do maintenance on certain items before 100k or something like that.

 

[phucheneh]

The prices tend to be stupid, but hopefully fair for the work performed.

As in, you PROBABLY don't need a 60k brake, diff, or coolant flush. Maybe if 60k took you 4-5 years or more to accrue.

But the prices for those services are probably fairly standard...maybe an hour of labor a piece. Of course, when I did them, I'd be doing it all in as simultaneous a fashion as possible, meaning a 3-4 hour service might consist of an actual hour spent on fluid/filter changes. Maybe 1.5-2 hours total when you factor in a couple test drives.

That last bit is kind of important. You're not going to get any special attention doing maintenance a la carte at the Toyota dealer. They do volume.

Luxury dealers are out to make the most per vehicle. Hence an initial test drive...1) that 60/90/120k service ticket probably has other complaints on it that may need to be felt/heard while driving and 2) I'm looking for other things to sell you.

Hay there I see your brakes are pulsating. Then I see pads are like 4mm all around and I'm like 'that's close enough' and then I'm in ur service history, checkin ur files.

I'm gonna sell you some brakes for damned sure. But also, I'm lookin' to see how much you buy, if you buy upsells, if any maintenance has been missed...good dealer techs are often non-exactly-unclever and will try to sell as much easy work as possible. And pretty much any maintenance (including regular 'unscheduled' stuff like brakes, belts, ect) is easy work. Part of what you're doing it paying me for the warranty squeak/rattle complaint I lost my ass on earlier that day. Or the customer-pay repair where I apparently diagnosed the wrong thing, and now I gotta continue diagnosing it for free and hopefully the right part won't cost any more money and if it does hopefully the service advisor is a smooth motherfucker.

I've probably said too much by now. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN THE BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

edit: also of note, there is hopefully one good plus...but it's dependent on the shop and the mechanic. I've always taken care of people who come in for all their regular services. I acknowledge that they're a good customer paying good money to keep their car in good shape. So I'll pop that loose piece of trim back in correctly. Adjust that door that closes a little funny. Ect. Anything that can be done in a few minutes or less and will make the customer happy. If they notice it (or requested it).

But some shops still just treat their most lucrative customers like trash. You're lucky if your car is clean and undamaged, let alone actually with less defects than when it came in.

 

[manimal]

The prices tend to be stupid, but hopefully fair for the work performed.

As in, you PROBABLY don't need a 60k brake, diff, or coolant flush. Maybe if 60k took you 4-5 years or more to accrue.

But the prices for those services are probably fairly standard...maybe an hour of labor a piece. Of course, when I did them, I'd be doing it all in as simultaneous a fashion as possible, meaning a 3-4 hour service might consist of an actual hour spent on fluid/filter changes. Maybe 1.5-2 hours total when you factor in a couple test drives.

That last bit is kind of important. You're not going to get any special attention doing maintenance a la carte at the Toyota dealer. They do volume.

Luxury dealers are out to make the most per vehicle. Hence an initial test drive...1) that 60/90/120k service ticket probably has other complaints on it that may need to be felt/heard while driving and 2) I'm looking for other things to sell you.

Hay there I see your brakes are pulsating. Then I see pads are like 4mm all around and I'm like 'that's close enough' and then I'm in ur service history, checkin ur files.

I'm gonna sell you some brakes for damned sure. But also, I'm lookin' to see how much you buy, if you buy upsells, if any maintenance has been missed...good dealer techs are often non-exactly-unclever and will try to sell as much easy work as possible. And pretty much any maintenance (including regular 'unscheduled' stuff like brakes, belts, ect) is easy work. Part of what you're doing it paying me for the warranty squeak/rattle complaint I lost my ass on earlier that day. Or the customer-pay repair where I apparently diagnosed the wrong thing, and now I gotta continue diagnosing it for free and hopefully the right part won't cost any more money and if it does hopefully the service advisor is a smooth motherfucker.

I've probably said too much by now. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN THE BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

edit: also of note, there is hopefully one good plus...but it's dependent on the shop and the mechanic. I've always taken care of people who come in for all their regular services. I acknowledge that they're a good customer paying good money to keep their car in good shape. So I'll pop that loose piece of trim back in correctly. Adjust that door that closes a little funny. Ect. Anything that can be done in a few minutes or less and will make the customer happy. If they notice it (or requested it).

But some shops still just treat their most lucrative customers like trash. You're lucky if your car is clean and undamaged, let alone actually with less defects than when it came in.

I love u man!

 

[Zenmervolt]

I think he means that he thought that there was a law that passed in CA that made it compulsory to do maintenance on certain items before 100k or something like that.

Then he thinks wrong. CA has a more extensive emissions control system warranty, but that's not in play here. Spark plugs are covered, but only for 3 years/50,000 miles whichever comes first. Belts aren't covered at all.

Now, the "PZEV" rating does stretch required coverage even for the spark plugs out to 15 years/150,000 miles, but that still doesn't cover belts or fluids and many vehicles still are not PZEV certified.

Here's a decent summary of what's covered under Federal emissions warranty, CA emissions warranty, and PZEV emissions warranty from Honda.

As in, you PROBABLY don't need a 60k brake, diff, or coolant flush. Maybe if 60k took you 4-5 years or more to accrue.

Even if you drive 30,000 miles a year, you sure as all hell need a brake fluid flush. Brake fluid needs to be changed every two years; it's time dependent, not mileage dependent.

And most people only drive between 10,000 and 15,000 miles per year, so for the vast majority of drivers out there that 60,000 miles absolutely will take 4-5 years.

ZV