ot: not a complaint, just an observation VW dealer service

[Ozz]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

That's not a terrible price if mounted/balanced for a 17" or larger Conti. ...We just experienced a slow leak in one of our winter tires (Q7/AWD). Local tire shop found a screw embedded in the tread, said it was too close to the sidewall to patch....Oh well...

A couple stories....

Took my wife's Q3 in for (first) annual service last year. We did the Prepaid Maintenance, so this should be a "free" service.... They called and told us the same thing ..."screw in tread, too close to sidewall to patch". We never noticed any air leakage or anything but since there is lots of construction in our area, figured it was plausible.....about $300 for new tire! Road hazard warranty on tires was the only one we didn't buy for the car.

Took my Honda Pilot in for 105,000 mileage maintenance last fall....timing belt, plugs, etc...the works. About $2000 or so in total....Tech Advisor calls me to tell me I have a small oil leak...labor to replace gaskets is normally $1200, but since they have the car pulled apart anyway, it will be $600 plus the gaskets ($100-200).

I have never seen a drop of oil on our driveway (new driveway, brushed concrete) nor am I ever low on oil when I check it....

Told the guy no thanks....

It seems to me that I consistently get an estimate for the service, but there is always a call that wants to add $300 to $1000 to the original number. I just get the feeling I am getting played somehow.....car is already in the shop, and they figure my time is worth more than a couple hundred bucks.

These two incidents rub me the wrong way about mechanics