Dealership Litmus Test?

[Mr. Pockets]

I visited the local Subaru dealership, Ann Arbor Subaru, on Saturday. A salesman immediately came out and asked me, 'is that a 93?!?!'

'Yes.'

'You know,' the salesman said, as if I would be shocked to hear it, 'they only made 300 of those.'

'Yes. I know that.'

Their service department was not open. Ann Arbor Subaru, despite being the #1 Subaru dealership in MI, is a tiny place. And sorta scary. One metal building houses everything and there's barbed wire around the lot, which can hold maybe fifty cars.

I would like to visit Ann Arbor Subaru's service department and somehow gauge their level of competence. No, I'm not looking for someone who knows the SVX inside and out. Intimate knowledge, in my experience, can be substituted with a desire to search for the best way to do something.

I don't want to show up in this shop and give them a pop quiz, but if you Subaru techs out there (ahem...eddycat...ahem) could give me some pointers on how to determine if a shop is good or not, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

[jscorse]

I know this seems like I'm asking for trouble (i.e. LIES) but just ask them how many SVX's they've worked on in the past few months. Ask to see the certifications. I did.

When I lost a coolant hose in VT and my car was lifted to Braddleboro I asked. They where honest. "Haven't really worked on these much" he said. I was ok with him replacing a hose and I appreciated his honesty.

Another example: Drove into Concord, MA Subaru to get a 30K estimate. There was one SVX parked on the edge. The mechanic walked over to me and, in a nasty tone of voice asked, "What's wrong with IT!" I said nothing and got back in my car.

If they seem offended then they are lying. (My judgement!) My service guys where NOT offended and proudly showed me their credentials. They were CLEARLY experienced with the SVX, they had several on the lot and they DO know the car. Nashua Subaru BTW.

Just like selecting a doctor. How they respond to the question tells a lot.

IMHO

[eddycat2000]

Originally posted by jscorse
Just like selecting a doctor. How they respond to the question tells a lot.

IMHO

That's probably more concise and right on spot than I would have put it. Just look for the certifications and ask a couple of questions. I used to beam when I heard my writers say over the phone..."he's been doing it for twenty years and I trust him." Of course they were full of some sort of animal feces, but hey, stroke the guy makin' the money right? <G>

[jscorse]

Hey,
What's this about stroking guys.... NOT ME!
heh, heh, heh.

Couldn't let that just 'hang' out there.....