18
2008
Most Expensive Oil Change Ever
So, check out this fun little line on my bank statement:
Now, just in case you are sure what it says, it says that today I paid $95.81 for something at David Maus Volkswagen. So of course, you might ask, “Josh, what did you buy at David Maus Volkswagen?” To which I would reply…
“A basic oil change.”
And then, you’re jaw would literally fall off, because you would think that I was kidding. Then I would tell you…
“And that was with a $20 coupon.”
Yes world, you read that right. David Maus stole about $40 from me today, and honestly, I’m not happy about it. You see, in order to keep the warranty on our VW Jetta, we must have it serviced at the VW dealer. So, when we called to make the appointment, we asked which of the services we were scheduled for. Luckily, it was only the basic 5,000 mile service (the cheapest). Thinking it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 to $50, I just took the car in. Little did I know that my wallet would soon be attacked by the stuff that only nightmares are made of.
The guy tells me that the basic synthetic oil change was $118.00, and I basically stood there dumbfounded. So here’s what I did…
I sat in the middle of the waiting room and started calling the 8 other oil change places within 1 mile of the dealer (thank you Google Maps and iPhone), and I asked them each how much the same service cost. The answers ranged from $44.95 to $62.99. That’s a pretty far cry from $118.00, don’t you think? But I’ve got to hand it to the Midas guy. The conversation went a little like this:
Me: Hey, just wondering how much a synthetic oil change costs.
Him: $44.95
Me: Wow, because I’m sitting here at David Maus VW, and they’re trying to charge me over a hundred dollars.
Him: (laughing) Well, let me tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you a deal and only charge you $75, and then after that, I’ll take you out for breakfast, and let you pay. Then at least you got some breakfast out of the deal.
Me: …Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea.
So then, after the sales manager caught wind of what I was doing, he offered me a $20 coupon, trying to do “whatever it takes” to keep my business (which just so happens to be David Maus’ annoying TV commercial catch phrase). So, after accepting the coupon, I told him that he unfortunately had just lost our business, and we’d be turning in the car (since it’s a lease) within the next two months without releasing or purchasing.
Hopefully, the next time I step foot in David Maus VW will be the last time I step foot in David Maus VW for the rest of my life. ever. again. amen.
January 19, 2008 4:13 am
But what about the question we’re all asking…
Did you get the breakfast?
January 19, 2008 10:18 am
I was absolutely pissed that Maus had bought the dealership that my wife and I had been using for five years. We had purchased both our cars there and had every maintenance done there as well. I feel bad for the guys that work in the maintenance department, because they are the reason the Classic dealership had been so popular, and most likely people will leave under the new ownership. All I know is, I will not be going there for my oil changes any more, and most likely my wife wont either. They even took away my wifes free tires for life program! My personal opinion, but owners of Volkswagens want something more than a fast sale and a kick out the door. They don’t sell like Toyota’s ya know.
January 28, 2008 2:24 pm
BRUTAL! I’m glad I don’t own a car!
February 5, 2008 1:22 pm
I get my oil changed for only $15.95 and that includes all the fluids filled as well as greasing and tires checked. They also check my shocks and belt make sure they are good. It’s the cheapest in town but is also the best in town.
February 13, 2008 9:23 am
I hate to say it, but VW dealers historically are not an inexpensive place to get your car serviced. VW techs are not cheap, all the parts are genuine VW and the Price of synthetic oil continues to rise and most of the time, the work that gets done is true to the VW brand. But $118, wow!
We just cut a deal to buy in bulk to drive our price down and reduced our synthetic oil change from $77.50 to $59.95. But trust me, we’re not getting rich on our oil changes… I supposed if we started charging $118 for an oil change we would be, then again, we’d lose all our customers.
If you’re ever on a road trip to Upstate NY, stop by Nemer Volkswagen to get your oil change, then show your receipt to your local dealer.
- Chris
February 18, 2008 1:20 pm
i totally would have gone with the cheaper oil change and the breakfast. i hear midas guys are good company.
dealerships are such scams
February 18, 2008 10:03 pm
So, have you seen the new David Maus Volkswagon commercial?! He talks about not charging a lot of money and wanting to keep their customers! Hmmmm..wonder if he’s googled his new business lately? Ha, ha!!
February 27, 2008 11:49 am
[...] you see, in January, I wrote a post that I titled “The Most Expensive Oil Change Ever” after an encounter with a $118 oil change at the new David Maus Volkswagen in Orlando. Until [...]
February 27, 2008 11:59 am
I wish.
March 31, 2008 8:45 am
[...] her lease was up, and we decided not to purchase the car, but rather just turn it back in to the VW dealer. Now, I know what you’re thinking: If we turned in her car, what did we get to replace it? [...]
June 15, 2008 11:44 pm
If you got another VW, Royal VW costs about 59.00 for a full synth oil change and will keep you in warranty. If you had bought the car from me I usually give my customers my employee discount bringing it to about 45 bucks. I lived in St Cloud and drove all the way to winter park to have my Passat serviced there, now Im working there!
June 23, 2008 8:55 am
In orlando, DM is about the best you are going to do for VW repairs.
Took my car to Royal to get a headlight replaced. When I drove out of there, my airbag light was on. I’d said I’d never go back there after they loaded a timing belt change (without calling) but figured how bad could a headlight be. Oh, about $600, it turns out.
And Aristocrat is horrible, too. I went over there to get a fluid change and replace an oil pan. THey used transmission sealent on the oil pan (which blew oil all over the bottom of the car), dranied the radiater and didn’t replace it (I got a temp light in the driveway the next day) and the oil had never been looked at (the dipstick head was cracking with age, and had clearly not been seen to). I screamed bloody murder on that and got my money back.
But so far, DM is really the only dealer I can trust in Oburg.
Robert-
August 19, 2008 8:01 pm
I got here searching for repeats of what happened to me.
I have an 08 Jetta turbo. It went in this morning for its first oil change.
I got it home, and it dropped what little oil was left in it all over my garage floor. I had driven it over 50 miles with oil pouring out of it. It went off on a flatbed a few hours ago. (And my oil change was $90 too!)
September 23, 2008 5:51 pm
I have always driven Volkswagens - new and pre-owned - meaning within and out of warranty - there is nothing wrong with having oil changes , light changes ect outside of the dealer - you’re only concern should be major repairs and incremental mileage service - like 20,000 miles etc - you may also insist upon a certain price point and or comparison with your service advisor - try this next time - buy your oil and air filter from an normal auto parts store - go to Walmart and get the Synthetic Oil Change for about $45 - you must call ahead - not all Walmarts will work on VW - Kirkman will - not Apopka etc - but you must call ahead and bring those supplies - they will also deduct an amount for you bringing your own supplies - Vhe
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