OK so I'm still looking for a good dealer in the greater LA area to trust my car to for some TSBs and other maintenance. Will you guys rate the dealers you've had experience with. How about a 1-5 rating scale (1 = perfect, 5 = shitty) using the following categories...

a. RX8 knowledge
b. service quality
c. service timeliness
d. parts availability
e. friendliness
f. warranty acceptance
g. overall rating

Lastly, if you have a particular contact worth noting, will you please do so.

Thanks everyone.

Feel free to add categories if needed.

 

Damn, I was looking for similar info dude. Looks like no one wants to help you out.

 

Damn, no luv people? Come on throw me a bone here. I need to find a good dealer in L.A. I'm sure some of you out there have opinions on the dealers here.

 

R u guys pissed at me or something? How can none of you want to talk about the dealerships in LA?

I would think a topic like this would be good information for a lot of us. No?

 

Had a long post about how awful Santa Monica Mazda was with my new 2 week old car but my browser crashed and I don't feel like writing it out again.

Anyway:

Santa Monica Lincoln/Mercury/Mazda/Subaru/Blah Blah Blah

Grade: F on all accounts.

Anyone know of a good dealer for service please help!

Any luck w/Galpin Mazda?

Let me know if you want the whole story (worst experience ever at a dealer for service)

 

Santa Monica Mazda
a = reasonable but not really of note
b = never had to take it back for same issue
c = always complete on time or early
d = usually have to order parts
e = quite friendly
f = not a problem, several repairs from trivial to mid-size all under warranty
g = decent. nothing to complain about or rave over.

Culver City Mazda
a = none. barely knew what the car was
b = never had to take it back for same issue
c = took an extra day while I was driving their piece of **** rental to tell me they needed to order parts, when I had already given them TSB# and part# before bringing car in.
d = see c
e = eh
f = no problem, they did the squeaking brake replacement with no issue.
g = bleh. just overall typical car-dealerish atmosphere. also location inconvenient for me personally.

 

Took mine to Browning Mazda in Cerritos today for it's first oil change and some TSB's. Will let you know how it goes.

They sent me to Enterprise for a POS Suzuki Aero. Not quite the same as the 8. I really hope I get her back soon.

 

Okay, so I had a crappy experience with Browning Mazda in Cerritos, CA. I read a couple of posts on this site claiming that they knew their stuff, but apparently not this time...

I went in for 3 TSBs and my first oil change (just got over full break-in and wanted fresh oil).

TSB's - all in all, the work seemed okay, sans the clicking problem
- Headlight film: they replaced the lights and seemed to do a good job
- Clicking sound on slow turns: still clicks, but not as noticeably
- Oil Pan replacement: supposedly, they replaced the oil pan, but I only had the light go on twice when the oil was clearly not running low, so I guess I'll have to wait to see if it ever happens again.

Oil Change - Can you believe they F'd this up? The bastards overfilled my oil!!! When I got home, I checked it and it was about a centimeter above the F line. I had to go to Pep Boys, buys some stands, then drain the oil myself. I was pissed off as hell. I called them and they were apologetic, but it was insincere and apathetic. They claim that their oil gun has a preset amount, but I checked that thing 3 times and it was clearly overfilled. All they did for me was refund the cost of the change. How can a dealer not get an oil change right???

a. RX8 knowledge: 3 - overall, they claim to be very well trained, but the oil incident makes me think otherwise - how could they not check the level afterwards?
b. service quality: 2 - still clicks; no check of fluids at the end of the service
c. service timeliness: 5 - same day, in and out
d. parts availability: 5 - had the lights and the oil pan in stock
e. friendliness: 3 - they were lukewarm at best
f. warranty acceptance: 4 - they weren't thrilled about adhering to TSBs, repeatedly telling me that they had to check to make sure they applied.
g. overall rating: 3 - again, how can you blunder a freakin oil change?

Hope this helps everybody. I will rate the next dealer I try in about 4500 miles - I'll change the oil myself next time!