I am about to buy a new car. One of my finalist dealers is offering free oil changes for as long as I own the car. Would you accept these oil changes and give up DIY or ignore them and still do your own?
Free dealer oil changes
- Thread starter Indydriver
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I would ignore them and change it myself.
I would accept the free oil changes on the new car and do my own oil changes on the other vehicles .
Read the fine print. My girlfriend's car has "free oil changes" but you HAVE to follow the dealer's maintenance schedule. They want to do an inspection the next time the car is in, when the car will have only 7k miles. The inspection costs about $100. If you don't pay for the inspection, no more free oil changes. I let her take it in for the first free change, but I'm not letting her pay for unnecessary junk like that. I can inspect it myself for free and do the rest of the oil changes from now on.
Free oil changes are just a "hook" to get you in there and to spend more money on a bunch of things that aren't really needed. I for one would rather do it myself and use high-quality synthetic oil and filters.
My new Corolla comes with the Toyota Care and the first oil change isn't until 10k miles or 6 months, and it's only covered for two years and/or 25k miles. To date, the car only has 1600 miles, I doubt I'll even drive it enough to get more than two oil changes. I just don't like the idea of going 10k on factory fill.
Have same deal with Subaru , we will see. Going in for 3k first change.Please avoid the abuse if they try that, because I have been there already, BUT I will be nice first time.
I recently given 4 free changes from GM for my saturn outlook. While the changes were completed three recalls were also found that needed to be fixed so all together i spent just under eight hours at the dealer. Also the dealer said they used mobil one synthetic oil but after the changes the receipt said they used ac delco oil and filter. So I will be doing all my own changes from here on out.
If you can handle the "engine shampoo" sales pitches you will get every time you go in it's probably OK. Just odn't send you wife in with the credit card or they'll sell her all kinds of "profit center" stuff. I own a number of Toyota products, good cars, but when I see a sale on "factory" wiper blades --- "installation extra" I laugh. You want to keep a customer's good will... send the LOT BOY out to change blades.
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Depends on the change interval, the motor, and what they use for an oil/filter. Even if it's something mediocre every 3k it's probably still fine.
Originally Posted By: exranger06
Read the fine print. My girlfriend's car has "free oil changes" but you HAVE to follow the dealer's maintenance schedule. They want to do an inspection the next time the car is in, when the car will have only 7k miles. The inspection costs about $100. If you don't pay for the inspection, no more free oil changes. I let her take it in for the first free change, but I'm not letting her pay for unnecessary junk like that. I can inspect it myself for free and do the rest of the oil changes from now on.
I have a friend that has a similar deal. They thought free oil changes were great, but the fine print was that you have to do all their other upsales ... Oops, I mean, recommended services.
Read the fine print. My girlfriend's car has "free oil changes" but you HAVE to follow the dealer's maintenance schedule. They want to do an inspection the next time the car is in, when the car will have only 7k miles. The inspection costs about $100. If you don't pay for the inspection, no more free oil changes. I let her take it in for the first free change, but I'm not letting her pay for unnecessary junk like that. I can inspect it myself for free and do the rest of the oil changes from now on.
I have a friend that has a similar deal. They thought free oil changes were great, but the fine print was that you have to do all their other upsales ... Oops, I mean, recommended services.
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Originally Posted By: Indydriver
I am about to buy a new car. One of my finalist dealers is offering free oil changes for as long as I own the car. Would you accept these oil changes and give up DIY or ignore them and still do your own?
I'd ignore them and try and negotiate a lower price on the car. Good luck with that. lol
Nothing is free. They might do a few "free" oil changes and then start with the up selling, trying to push services you don't need and soon a free oil change will have $200 in [censored] work attached to it. They are probably going to use the cheapest bulk garbage in your engine. Why bother? Even if you stand firm each time they try and up sell you, it still isn't worth the effort in constantly refusing the extras they try and hit you with.
I am about to buy a new car. One of my finalist dealers is offering free oil changes for as long as I own the car. Would you accept these oil changes and give up DIY or ignore them and still do your own?
I'd ignore them and try and negotiate a lower price on the car. Good luck with that. lol
Nothing is free. They might do a few "free" oil changes and then start with the up selling, trying to push services you don't need and soon a free oil change will have $200 in [censored] work attached to it. They are probably going to use the cheapest bulk garbage in your engine. Why bother? Even if you stand firm each time they try and up sell you, it still isn't worth the effort in constantly refusing the extras they try and hit you with.
I suppose it can't hurt to let them do the first "free" OC, and see how they perform. If it's nothing but a scam to upsell you, then don't go back. If they do what they promised to your satisfaction, let them do it during the warranty period then DIY after that.
Ain't nothing FREE
I dont' mind having the dealer do them for free, I used to have dealers do it and never had a problem.
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Free oil changes are just a "hook" to get you in there and to spend more money on a bunch of things that aren't really needed.
That's how I see it, too. Every time you go there, they'll be nagging you to get you to do other stuff. Some of it may be needed, some not. If the stuff is needed, fine, just keep in mind that getting it done at the dealer may not always be the most cost effective. You can always say no, I guess.
Free oil changes are just a "hook" to get you in there and to spend more money on a bunch of things that aren't really needed.
That's how I see it, too. Every time you go there, they'll be nagging you to get you to do other stuff. Some of it may be needed, some not. If the stuff is needed, fine, just keep in mind that getting it done at the dealer may not always be the most cost effective. You can always say no, I guess.
I just leased a car (but the offers is the same if you buy) and the dealer is the highest volume in the country for a specific brand, so they throw incentives around like crazy. free lifetime oil changes unlimited first year, and free every scheduled maintenance time for the lifetime after that, plus free lifetime inspections. It is going to kill me to hold back from wanting to do my own oil changes, etc. but since it is a lease and since times are tough in the world today, they are going to do them since they are free like this. Why spend money or dirty my hands if they want to for free?
Originally Posted By: BillyTheKid
I just leased a car (but the offers is the same if you buy) and the dealer is the highest volume in the country for a specific brand, so they throw incentives around like crazy. free lifetime oil changes unlimited first year, and free every scheduled maintenance time for the lifetime after that, plus free lifetime inspections. It is going to kill me to hold back from wanting to do my own oil changes, etc. but since it is a lease and since times are tough in the world today, they are going to do them since they are free like this. Why spend money or dirty my hands if they want to for free?
In the case of a lease car that I'd be returning in say 3 years I'd let them service it for free too. I'd turn down every up sell they have, and honestly wouldn't care what oil or filter they use. OTOH if I was buying the car the only time they'd see me is if it required warranty work. Free isn't for me in that case.
I just leased a car (but the offers is the same if you buy) and the dealer is the highest volume in the country for a specific brand, so they throw incentives around like crazy. free lifetime oil changes unlimited first year, and free every scheduled maintenance time for the lifetime after that, plus free lifetime inspections. It is going to kill me to hold back from wanting to do my own oil changes, etc. but since it is a lease and since times are tough in the world today, they are going to do them since they are free like this. Why spend money or dirty my hands if they want to for free?
In the case of a lease car that I'd be returning in say 3 years I'd let them service it for free too. I'd turn down every up sell they have, and honestly wouldn't care what oil or filter they use. OTOH if I was buying the car the only time they'd see me is if it required warranty work. Free isn't for me in that case.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
In the case of a lease car that I'd be returning in say 3 years I'd let them service it for free too. I'd turn down every up sell they have, and honestly wouldn't care what oil or filter they use. OTOH if I was buying the car the only time they'd see me is if it required warranty work. Free isn't for me in that case.
That is exactly what I am going to do. Same thinking here. However, even if I did buy it, I may use and abuse the free unlimited changes by them the first year, and the free inspections. If they claimed I needed something, I would turn it down.
In the case of a lease car that I'd be returning in say 3 years I'd let them service it for free too. I'd turn down every up sell they have, and honestly wouldn't care what oil or filter they use. OTOH if I was buying the car the only time they'd see me is if it required warranty work. Free isn't for me in that case.
That is exactly what I am going to do. Same thinking here. However, even if I did buy it, I may use and abuse the free unlimited changes by them the first year, and the free inspections. If they claimed I needed something, I would turn it down.
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