Toyota Servicing...would It Put You Off?

[Stuno1]

I went to toyota (2 miles from my house) today to get a new Battery installed. It was a lexus Battery.

While there i asked for a quote in my next service:

Lexus woodford (my closest lexus dealer) - 980

Lexus Ipswitch - 850

Toyota - 750

Thats quite a difference and clearly they use lexus/toyota parts. Also, lexus woodford stated my pads would need changing soon but an indy tyre fitter said they are fine and toyota said they are fine. The woodford dealers were great but the pad thing did irritate me a bit.

I have been advised using toyota won't effect my warranty as they are basically the same.

So... would you be put off by an isf with toyota service history?

I have 2 options here. firstly, use toyota and risk people looking unfavourably at my ISF. use the toyota and ipswitch quotes to drive down the woodford quote?

Stu

[noby76]

is about you saving a bit of ££'s if you use Toyota and as you sated wont void your warranty as I bet the Lexus and Toyota tech's all get trained at the same place and Toyota will also have access to Lexus database and diagnostic software's to help them service your car so why would you worry about people looking unfavourably at your IS-F? its only a car which you chose to own so not any ones business I think...

[Peter P18]

Tough one Stu. :)

I'd personally be looking to get a reduction on the cost from Lexus Woodford (may well do as you and I have the same service coming up!). If the parts and labour are identical, what justification can Lexus offer for charging an additional £230?! As John has mentioned, the technicians are more than likely sent on the same training courses, use the same databases and tools etc, so what are you paying for? If it's just a Lexus stamp as opposed to a Toyota stamp, I'd be inclined to go with Toyota.

If the cost difference was negligible (say up to £80), I'd get Woodford to do it.

You're not the first person to say Lexus thought you needed new brake pads, when others have said they are fine either. :(

It's more difficult for you with your warranty, but if that isn't a problem with using Toyota, then give it a go.

Let us know what you decide regardless mate.

Peter :)

[jetskidia]

Pretty sure that my local Lexus/Toyota dealer use the same workshop?

[Stuno1]

Noby - I mean for re-sale. So toyota history not lexus.

May well call woodford and see what they say.

Hmmmm.

[Stuno1]

Pete - i was annoyed by the whole break pad thing.

Dealership wise they both (toyota and lexus woodford) seem great. The only thing making me hesitate is how future buyers may view the car with toyota history and woodford is a bit of a treck.

Stu

[noby76]

Lexus stamps looks good in the service booklet for when its time to re-sell for sure. whoever will decide to buy your Lexus off you might have already done their research about Lexus to realise its parent company is Toyota. as you already aware, a service is a service. an oil change is an oil change so I don't think Lexus would have done anything special when servicing your car compared to what Toyota engineers would have also done as they will have database information to change the needed parts based on your mileage or age of the car. and so long as the necessary parts have been replaced , checked and tightened Lexus can guarantee job has been done by Toyota to their specifications.. hence they confirmed your warranty will still be intact. but a lexus stamp will look good, you might get the courtesy car and some coffe and biscuits refreshment when you use Lexus. like I did when it was time for my cambelt change :)

[Peter P18]

Given anyone looking at one of these rare cars should understand Toyota and Lexus are affectively one and the same, I don't think it should detract from the resale value Stu.

I'd also question how much more depreciation these cars will take before they bottom out? With current prices around £16-20K for early cars, that's already a depreciation hit of £30K+ from the original cost!

If as I predict these cars continue to attract the right type of buyer, your cars condition, mileage and complete service history will be just as valuable if you have Toyota stamps as opposed to Lexus ones. If we were discussing Independent Specialists (which thankfully we aren't!), it would be a different story.

My thoughts are to approach Lexus Woodford though Stu. They've been pretty accommodating so far to both of us, so maybe they can do better on their service quote?

[stevet]

I bet Lexus Woodford will price match

[Keith_W]

Stu, this may be of use to you but I went into Lexus Cambridge this week to get a quote for the 6 year service - they said £750. I said that someone on here had negotiated theirs down to £600 and I was prepared to take my car to the dealership with the best price.

One minute later I was given the service receptionist business card with confirmation that they would match it. So I will be going back in July and paying £600 for mine.....at Lexus.

[stevet]

It was me! Yes i paid £600

[Stuno1]

Wow, top work.

I think ill try to get them down to 750 and if they match it I will use lexus woodford.

Stu

[ahmedali44]

When I got my spare key from Toyota parts desk gave it to Lexus they took it in to Toyota workshop (thats Lexus woodford) to have it programmed @ charges me£

60 to drive it next door as Lexus dont have workshop

[ahmedali44]

Lexus dont even own parts desk u pay for the name

[Keith_W]

It was me! Yes i paid £600

Yep, and thanks to you and this forum, so will I.

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

Well Lexus's are Toyotas however much lexus owners might not want to admit it lol. I'd have no problems going to Toyota, even with an ISF. :)

[North west beast]

My local Lexus dealer is joined onto the toyota showroom so they both use the same workshop ha. Use the toyota one mate , same parts and good saving , if my isf had a full history with toyota stamps it wouldn't bother me because like many have said there the same .

I think Lexus service is bollocks any way ,rip off alley but that's my views .

[North west beast]

One thing that annoys me is Lexus say they have highly trained technicians etc , that's bull too because it's just a normal mechanics job that anyone puts in for .theres nowt technical about changing oil etc . We pay for a stupid stamp .

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

In Lexus techs/mechanics defence, I actually know a couple of them and a Toyota main dealer tech. They are not allowed loose on any car until they have received their induction training and are shadowed by a senior tech while they're in their induction period.

They also receive a hell of a lot of training. They're going on courses all the time and when a new model is launched they go away for a whole week sometimes to get to grips with it and learn the car and recieve training on it :)

[North west beast]

In Lexus techs/mechanics defence, I actually know a couple of them and a Toyota main dealer tech. They are not allowed loose on any car until they have received their induction training and are shadowed by a senior tech while they're in their induction period.

They also receive a hell of a lot of training. They're going on courses all the time and when a new model is launched they go away for a whole week sometimes to get to grips with it and learn the car and recieve training on it :)

Yeh I agree that's why they repaired my stereo on my last is250 and scratched the console when they took it out .fully trained eh .

That's why when I dolled my isf my Battery was loose , wheels the wrong way around , tyre pressures all over the place , air filter not cleaned out , fully trained eh .

Two different dealers .

I'll get my coat .

[giorgoXXI]

Wow, top work.

I think ill try to get them down to 750 and if they match it I will use lexus woodford.

Stu

Any updates on this Stu? I haver my 60k soon and the lowest quote i've had is £830.

[Stuno1]

I don't have my 60k until November i was just asking toyota what they would charge.

I will haggle with woodford at the time. Toyota said the extra is labour costs only so is negotiable!

[blackcts]

the toyota stamp wouldnt bother me in the slightest, neither would a decent indy - only if it had premium oil and genuine parts receipts in the handbook.

[ChrisIS200SportTTE]

In Lexus techs/mechanics defence, I actually know a couple of them and a Toyota main dealer tech. They are not allowed loose on any car until they have received their induction training and are shadowed by a senior tech while they're in their induction period.

They also receive a hell of a lot of training. They're going on courses all the time and when a new model is launched they go away for a whole week sometimes to get to grips with it and learn the car and recieve training on it :)

Yeh I agree that's why they repaired my stereo on my last is250 and scratched the console when they took it out .fully trained eh .

That's why when I dolled my isf my Battery was loose , wheels the wrong way around , tyre pressures all over the place , air filter not cleaned out , fully trained eh .

Two different dealers .

I'll get my coat .

You had a bad experience and sounds like they let a numpty loose on your car so therefore all Lexus and Toyota techs must be untrained numpty cowboys.... Stands to reason doesn't it

[North west beast]

In Lexus techs/mechanics defence, I actually know a couple of them and a Toyota main dealer tech. They are not allowed loose on any car until they have received their induction training and are shadowed by a senior tech while they're in their induction period.

They also receive a hell of a lot of training. They're going on courses all the time and when a new model is launched they go away for a whole week sometimes to get to grips with it and learn the car and recieve training on it :)

Yeh I agree that's why they repaired my stereo on my last is250 and scratched the console when they took it out .fully trained eh .

That's why when I dolled my isf my Battery was loose , wheels the wrong way around , tyre pressures all over the place , air filter not cleaned out , fully trained eh .

Two different dealers .

I'll get my coat .

That's the one clever lad

You had a bad experience and sounds like they let a numpty loose on your car so therefore all Lexus and Toyota techs must be untrained numpty cowboys.... Stands to reason doesn't it