Re: Dealer blues

["Mr. Daniel P. Grady" <dgrady@mail2.nai.net>]

> <jeffm@fatcity.Corp.Sun.COM> writes:
>
>>Took my '95 A6 into Carlsen yesterday.  Car was idling rough
>>$595 dollars later they tell me it had two fouled plugs.
>>I guess that 'dealer' expertise doesn't come cheap.
>>I find this damn upsetting.
>>
>>"Chump" in Palo Alto
>
>
That's terrible! In highschool, I bought an 83 Datsun 280SX turbo that was
running like garbage. I was new to fuel injection at the time so i brought
it to Simsbury Tire and Auto in CT (no affiliation) to have it fixed. They
called me back an hour or three later and told me the
throttle-position-sensor had been unplugged and the #1 plug had fowled.
Charge? $6 for the plug plus $12 for installing it. Turns out they do a free
diagnose. If it turns out to be something I can fix for way cheaper, I give
'em $10 and say thanks ( don't want to abuse the deal ). They even warned me
about worn rear pads on my quattro when I brought it in to have the gearbox
fluid changed and also warned about wet half-shaft seals. When I asked the
price to do the seals they said it's a big job and recomended i didn't have
it done there. It's not that big, I've done them on other Audis, but it was
nice of them to let me know they'd have to bill me big time for it.
I guess my point is, the dealer blows! Find a good independent and don't
abuse free services.
Drive fast!
-Dan!!!