The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 7/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads! | 5/28: SAAB Evolutions/TSN T-Shirts $14
[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

95 Bulletin Board
1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only

[Main 95 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
charles river: overpriced (long...)
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by KevinH [Email] (more from KevinH) on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:52:44 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Re: Change oil in Cambridge, MA?, Henry, Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:21:16
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

A year ago while driving from DC to Boston, my brakes started to squeal. The wear indicators finally started touching metal. While on the road I called Charles River SAAB as I was headed to Boston anyway. CRS quoted some outrageous price just to do the front brake pads. I forget the exact price now, something around $350 or $400 - I just remember my jaw dropping.

I had been planning on doing this job myself for some time, and had previously quoted the pads - the EOM '05 Aero pads (low dust) could be had online for about $80. I figured there was a dealer mark-up, but the price was totally off-base. Not wanting to come right out and ask, what is the breakdown for parts / lab, I instead asked how long will this job take?" I figured that would give me an idea of how many labor hours, I was being charged?

The phone rep. said it would take at least a couple hours and they'd give me a loaner while my car was being worked on. I asked, incredulously, 'Two hours? Are you kidding me - this is a simple brake job?' Although I appreciate the offer of the loaner and the very thorough job I'm sure they'd do, this still sounded overkill for a simple brake pad swap.

Anyway, I called an indie I knew in Cambridge (CLM Motors). When I told them I was driving a SAAB now, he (cursed at first) immediately said he wouldn't put anything other than OEM parts into it. He told me to go to the dealership for the pads. I picked up the pads ($115) and headed back to CLM. After I drove the car into the back of the garage, I walked around the corner to a liquor store to buy him a case of beer (we've known each other for some years). By the time I got back 15 minutes later, my car was already on the street - done. No problems.

I wish dealerships like Charles River should understand that I would gladly pay 25% more to get my car serviced by SAAB professionals, but their rates are simply ridiculous. My D.C. area indie does a 90K service for around ~$400 (memory); however, the dealership wants $650-$700. Same parts and my indie has been through all the SAAB certified training as well. Heck, he drives another '00 Aero, so I trust him more than most. So what exactly am I pay the extra money at the dealership for - the instant coffee machine in the waiting room?

Ece97 just said CRS will charge $100 for an oil change? Does that really make sense to anyone? I understand SAAB techs are expensive to train; however, for simple jobs like oil changes, a dealership doesn't have to use a certified tech. If hospitals followed that sort of logic, everyone working in a hospital there would be expensive PhDs. Instead they use common sense and have nurse practioners, medical assistants, etc.

Tony, there are a more indie SAAB mechanics in Massachusetts than most states. I suggest you use this experience to find one, as the day will come when your vehicle will be out of warranty. Try to find one now, and throw him the business of the oil changes, so that when the time comes for more serious work you'll have a working relationship.

Good Luck,

KevinH
'00 Aero 103K miles

posted by 66.250.19...
Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
 Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).
Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)



StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)
This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot


Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!