Oil Service Special

[MattG]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Jesus Christ , $245 for an oil change?

I get mine changed at the Toyota dealer down the street for $60.

Leave your car in the hands of someone not trained in Lotus repair work and you could get Qball'd...

Much better to pay someone who has the factory training and tools to ensure the job is done right.

[CosmosMpower]

Honestly if you have enough smarts to be able to afford and operate the car you can change the oil with your eyes closed with a decent set of rhino ramps, a ratchet/socket and a Toyota filter. Yes dealers need to charge more to make a profit but no it doesn't take a speciality trained Lotus tech to change the oil, we're not talking about R&R the rear suspension. I can do mine in 30 mins in my garage and check the toe link torque at the same time.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by tsunami racer

$200 bucks is pretty standard for any car that cost around $50K+. with authorized dealer service.

if you change the oil yourself, more power to you but for those of us who don't, i sure as hell not trusting someone who services Yaris and Corollas to properly lift, remove and service the other parts of the Lotus that aren't supplied from Toyota.... uh... like every single part other than the engine and transmission. not to mention, you get the 'award winning' toyota dealer service (sarcasm).

now, by 'buy other cars', you mean kia, hyundai and suzuki, i'm sure their dealer service might be a bit cheaper than lotus or any other $50K+ luxury car i didn't realize people were cross shopping a new Elise with a Kia Rondo....

Thats the kind of elitist thinking that supports paying absurd amounts for an oil change.

Your engine is made by Toyota. Personally I think I would prefer to have my oil changed by a dealership that probably changes oil on that engine a few hundred times a month.

By the way, my $52,000 C6 Corvette cost $75 to get a synthetic oil change - and that car takes seven quarts.

[tsunami racer]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Thats the kind of elitist thinking that supports paying absurd amounts for an oil change.

Your engine is made by Toyota. Personally I think I would prefer to have my oil changed by a dealership that probably changes oil on that engine a few hundred times a month.

By the way, my $52,000 C6 Corvette cost $75 to get a synthetic oil change - and that car takes seven quarts.

it must be a california thing, cuz no one out here can get a 7 quart synthetic oil change for $75, nor would anyone pay $52,000 for a domestic chevy

[FLuXeXigeS]

changing oil is changing oil, but the other things invlovledin taking your car in for it's sched service at a lotus dealer is more invlovled than that

And not everyone has the time to do it On their own, or have the proper tools
And some just don't like to get dirty

But honestly I would rather have a lotus dealer do it, or me do it, than take it to a toyota dealer

[mp3moose]

It's $395 at the dealer here.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

changing oil is changing oil, but the other things invlovledin taking your car in for it's sched service at a lotus dealer is more invlovled than that

And not everyone has the time to do it On their own, or have the proper tools
And some just don't like to get dirty

But honestly I would rather have a lotus dealer do it, or me do it, than take it to a toyota dealer

The original post didn't say anything about a scheduled service, the price quoted was for an oil change.

I'll take my car to my Lotus dealer for its scheduled service but anyone paying $245 for an oil change is simply an idiot.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by tsunami racer

nor would anyone pay $52,000 for a domestic chevy

More elitist thinking?

[tsunami racer]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

anyone paying $245 for an oil change is simply an idiot.

some would say we're all idiots for paying so much for a dinky plastic car with a toyota engine

how's that for elitist thinking

[300hpMR2]

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

changing oil is changing oil, but the other things involved in taking your car in for it's sched service at a lotus dealer is more involved than that

got my car back. spent 4 good hours there. had some small things taken care of while they were at it. got to chat with the tech the entire time. learned a lot. i bought my car used in January so this is my first trip to my local Lotus dealer. so this oil service was a chance to build rapport with them.

i was very satisfied with my experience there.

sometimes an oil change is not just an oil change. there can be intangibles. i used to do the oil changes for my mr2 turbo. i'll probably do some of them for my Lotus.

[300hpMR2]

Originally Posted by mp3moose

It's $395 at the dealer here.

I'm speechless!!!

[300hpMR2]

I'm sure a significant portion of the difference in prices across the nation is related to overhead. The dealer closest to me happens to be in Newport Beach. Their sales dept is on Pacific Coast Highway. I'm sure rent there is much higher than a place like Cincinnati. Just look at housing prices.

Also, Lotus dealers will probably be in more affluent areas whereas Toyota dealers will also cover more modest areas.

With close supervision I guess I'd trust a Toyota dealer to do an oil change every once in a while, but I would still go to a Lotus dealership every now and then just to make sure everything is up to spec.

I know I wouldn't trust my local Toyota dealer with my Lotus. I've had two different dealers at two different ends of CA botch up my mr2 turbo on several occasions. Broken oil level sensor from resealing the pan, replaced a clutch with a bad one, missing or improperly torqued axle bolts, stolen amp while on the lot, leaking valve cover 1 month after having it resealed, improperly reinstalled exhaust, just to name a few.

[FIRME]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Your engine is made by Toyota.

Someone paying $245 for an oil change is no more of an idiot than someone taking their Lotus to a Toyota dealer for an oil change because they think toyota makes the engine on the Lotus. ...ahem, Yamaha.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by FIRME

Someone paying $245 for an oil change is no more of an idiot than someone taking their Lotus to a Toyota dealer for an oil change because they think toyota makes the engine on the Lotus. ...ahem, Yamaha.

The engine block is manufactured by Toyota, Yamaha did the head work.

Regardless, Toyota mechanics certainly know how to change the oil on this engine.

[300hpMR2]

Okay, before we start going hard core with flaming let's just conclude that there's more than one way to do something.

Bottom line from me: If anyone is considering Lotus of NB for an oil change, there is no doubt in my mind that they can handle it.

[xtn]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Regardless, Toyota mechanics certainly know how to change the oil on this engine.

Anybody who's ever changed oil on any car knows how to change the oil on this engine. Uh, there's gotta be a filter somewhere. Check. Uh, there's gotta be a drain plug somewhere. Check. Uh, I've got to pour the new oil in somewhere. Check.

A honda mechanic could do it. A chevy mechanic could do it. Most of us can do it ourselves unless we are just adverse to getting dirty or something. Even the punks at the quicky-lube type places COULD do it, but you can bet your ass I wouldn't let them!

So the real differences are not about changing the oil itself. And I'm not talking about the fact that somebody may or may not notice a toe-link problem while they're under there either. I'm talking about little things like: Is the guy used to putting the arms of his 2-post lift under the body seams of most cars, or is he aware of the special care required for the Lotus? Is he going to use his catch-all impact driver to tighten down the underbody bolts, or does he know to start them carefully with his fingers and then gently hand tighten? Things like that make the difference between a good Lotus tech and your average Jiffy-Lube guy.

xtn

[Brennon]

Originally Posted by tsunami racer

it must be a california thing, cuz no one out here can get a 7 quart synthetic oil change for $75, nor would anyone pay $52,000 for a domestic chevy

Girlfriend's $40k lexus is $60 at the dealership... and Lexus does have great service. I enjoy a free muffin and coffee at their cafe and hop on their free wifi while I wait and 45 minutes later it comes around.

Gotta admit, $200+ on an oil change is borderline extortion.

I change the oil on the Lotus myself because I can't justify the cost to have it done for me. The lexus goes to the dealership because I don't want to waste the time.

[LBC111]

Let's also not forget the air filter that's so fun to change.

My car gets it's routine 7500-mile service maybe once a year, which is really the only time it gets seen by a Lotus mechanic. Can I change the oil and filters myself? Yes. Do I want to. Not really. Is it necessary for me to pay a couple hundred bucks for a full-time Lotus-trained mechanic to poke around under the car every year or so? For me it is.

BTW, I vacuum out the oil in-between each routine service myself, since the intervals are so long - which takes me about 15 minutes.

[Dmbrown34]

Originally Posted by tsunami racer

$200 bucks is pretty standard for any car that cost around $50K+. with authorized dealer service.

if you change the oil yourself, more power to you but for those of us who don't, i sure as hell not trusting someone who services Yaris and Corollas to properly lift, remove and service the other parts of the Lotus that aren't supplied from Toyota.... uh... like every single part other than the engine and transmission. not to mention, you get the 'award winning' toyota dealer service (sarcasm).

now, by 'buy other cars', you mean kia, hyundai and suzuki, i'm sure their dealer service might be a bit cheaper than lotus or any other $50K+ luxury car i didn't realize people were cross shopping a new Elise with a Kia Rondo....

Its closer to 4 bills for mercedes. Even the intro C series.

[Dmbrown34]

Originally Posted by tsunami racer

it must be a california thing, cuz no one out here can get a 7 quart synthetic oil change for $75, nor would anyone pay $52,000 for a domestic chevy

There is a difference between full synthetic and the other blended synthetic brands.