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Recommended Dealerships for Service

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by sundevil, Sep 10, 2009.

  1. sundevil

    sundevil New Member

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    I have searched and haven't found a listing of preferred Toyota dealerships for service. Maybe, somebody could post a link if it does exist.

    This is my first Toyota after many Hondas so I would like to find a reputable service department in the Phoenix, AZ area that members would recommend.
     
  2. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

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    Sorry, I can't help you, but I concur, there ought to be a list of preferred dealers generated by us , the vehicle owners. Maybe not ones to avoid, but certainly a thread of ones that have done exceptionally well.
     
  3. hschen

    hschen New Member

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    I used to live in Scottsdale (my family still do). I have been using Right Toyota for all of my Toyota vehicles and Lexus car for the past 15 years. It's better when you make friend with one of the service advisor or better a service manager. You make sure you write an appreciation to their boss or good feedback on the survey when they do a good job for you. All these years, they never charge me for diagnosis or simple things and always think ways to give me discount. You may ask for Rick Weaver, service manager or Frank Vitaro, service advisor. You can tell them HS recommended you.
    Good luck.
     
  4. sundevil

    sundevil New Member

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    Thanks for the info. I bought a few Hondas from Right Honda which is probably right down the street from Right Toyota.
     
  5. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    I DO NOT recommend Toyota of Escondido (in the San Diego area) for service unless you don't mind overpaying. The quality of the service is fine but they charge above MSRP and add additional services you don't need without telling you they're not part of the required service (resulting in a $190 5K service, for example).
     
  6. hschen

    hschen New Member

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    Yes, Right Toyota is right next door across 78th street.
     
  7. tm2913

    tm2913 New Member

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    In the SD area, check out Kearney Mesa, Mossy and Frank Toyota's service dept. coupons. Can get the 5K service for $80. Oil change for $40 (0w-20 price). Agree that Escondido seems like they are trying to pay for their new building by charging extra for their service.
     
  8. Zesha

    Zesha Junior Member

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    I agree the General Service Manger is a a typical Smily Used Car Salesman type who is not to be trusted. The Service Dept of being Customer Care Oriented for many years,has gone totally down hill. Ill drive to Poway
     
  9. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    Bobby Rahal Toyota in Mechanicsburg PA is tops. Good pricing, top customer service, honesty and integrity.
     
  10. datrays

    datrays New Member

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    I wonder if the pricing will stay good when they move to their new mega location on the Carlisle Pike.:eek:
     
  11. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I live on the west end of the valley, so my recommendations will reflect such.

    I'm going to have to *not* recommend Right Toyota. I've used them a few times - and either the dash wasn't assembled correctly (Spedo disconnected), clips broken near the defrost grille, or they've pushed high cost services with non-warranty repairs (fuel injector flush w/ inverter coolant pump replacement). Fortunately it's not close to home, so they were only used when I was working in the area, or when I was "stranded" in the area by the coolant pump failure.

    I've been treated well and have had no issue with Avondale Toyota's service department (where my 2010 was bought, and had struts and A/C service done on the 2004). In the past, I've had other recall/warranty work on my 2002 and 2004, as well as 2004 post collision body work done by Larry Miller Toyota, also generally w/o issue. Avondale is closer to work, which makes it more convenient to use, and Larry Miller is closer to home when something more urgent comes up.

    Hope this helps
     
  12. hschen

    hschen New Member

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    Location:
    Irvine
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    Aside from technical capability, service is more of a personal relationship. I always tried to make friends with my service advisor and mechanic, if possible. Whenever I send car in for service, I would hang around the service area and chat with them. If they are not friendly, I would walk away next time. That's how I got to know my service people at Right Toyota. When they treat you right, you must make sure you give them the best feedback on survey, and write to their manager would be even better. Also, be sure to sign your name so they know who gave them the A rating. Next time, they will treat you even better.
    I just relocated to Irvine and I needed to select a Toyota dealer. I went to Power Toyota first. Without appointment, just to observe. I walked around the service bay area. No one came to greet me nor talk to me. I walked away and went to the next one, Tustin Toyota. A service advisor proactively came out and talked to me. He got my new business. His mechanic came out and chated with me on my new Prius and gave me a lot of technical insights. I thank him through his manager and told him I shall ask him to service my Toyotas next time.
    Develop a relationship with your service people and physicians so you can trust them.
    My 2 cents.
     
  13. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I'd agree 100%. At Avondale, I've chatted w/ both the advisor and some of their techs from time to time. When I eluded to the idea that I may attempt a valve adjustment on the 2004, he told me to feel free to ask him any time if I needed any help or advice, and gave me some times on how to approach that wouldn't have been in the service guide.

    As for OC, Tustin Toyota always treated me right when I lived there and had my 2002 and 2004 serviced - "Earl" was the gentleman I worked with there. This was back when the 2002 MY steering rack issue started to surface.
     
  14. howiemail

    howiemail New Member

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    2010 Prius
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    If you're slightly south of the the Albany, NY area i recommend Kinderhook Toyota on Rt. 9H in Ghent. Always pleasant, always fair... and competent.
     
    1 person likes this.
  15. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    III
    Regarding Rahal Toyota...Having dealt with them since 1996, I would bet yes.
     
  16. Blue Sunfish

    Blue Sunfish New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    III
    I just relocated to Irvine and I needed to select a Toyota dealer. I went to Power Toyota first. Without appointment, just to observe. I walked around the service bay area. No one came to greet me nor talk to me. I walked away and went to the next one, Tustin Toyota.[/QUOTE]

    Power Toyota of Irvine has never failed to disappoint me. I had them replace my Previa's sliding doors twice over the 10 years of its ownership.
    On these two occasions, I had to go back there three or four times to complete the repairs. I mean just the sliding door repairs. They did not keep the replaced parts when I asked them to show the parts to me.
    Also last November, I asked a mechanic who happened to be in the waiting area how I could check transmission oil on 2010 Prius.
    He said there was no transmission oil on Prius. Huh!!
     
  17. downeastah

    downeastah Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Well, it might be a bit of a drive, but I'm likin' Downeast Toyota in Brewer, Maine.
     
  18. Martin37

    Martin37 New Member

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    2010 Prius
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    :eek::eek::eek:AVOID Rogers Toyota in Lewiston, ID until they get their s..t together. Just yesterday I received a letter from them advising "The following important services are recommended . . . 5W30 EXPRESS LUBE". I understand that 5W20 is OK for a brief period of time but 0W20 synthetic is the recommended oil. Get it together Rogers Toyota:eek::eek::eek:.
     
  19. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    It's a darned form letter from the Service department. Get real! I very much doubt that this qualifies as the definitive word from Rogers Toyota as to what you need for your car. If they tried to return your car with the wrong oil in it, then you have something to complain about. I would bet a whole lot of money that they know what oil is recommended for the Prius.
     
  20. Martin37

    Martin37 New Member

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    Well Joe166: The letter specifically says "our records indicate your 2010 Toyota Prius . . . is due for its next regularly scheduled maintenance. ...recommended at this time: 5W30 express lube". Your suggestion "to complain about it ... if they tried to return ... car with wrong oil in it" just sets me up for an extended service appointment doesn't it? I did alert the dealership to what I perceived as a faulty message from them in hopes of avoiding this very thing for my self and other 2010 Prius owners obtaining service there. :cool:

    THIS JUST IN: Thank you for e-mail. Our service reminder is computer based and generated as general purpose reminder. We confirm the correct oil required when performing services on vehicles and install the correct weight of oil. I do appreciate you catching our error on the reminder and have notified our vendor. We will change the service reminder to read "express maintenance" and not specify and exact oil weight. Again thanks for bringing the error to our attention.

    Ryan LaFord
    Service Manager
    Rogers Toyota-Scion
    Lewiston, ID 83501



    Joe166, I feel better now that the dealership confirms use of correct oil when servicing vehicles and appreciate their "thanks" for bringing this matter to their attention. :)