Thoughts on using ToyotaCare?

It's not like they're not being trained.....

 

When I bought my truck, I told them I probably would not hit 10k in the 2 yrs. He said I get 2 oil changes & I could take them anytime during the 2 yrs, regardless of miles. We will see how that plays out when I have them do the 1st oil change soon.

 

Do it. I asked for oil change on first one. Was $60 so for me was worth it. Roast me for paying it but I don't have the filter kit yet, didn't have to go out and buy oil and filter, was just easiest to pay $60. Will do it again at 15k.

 

At least for me the toyotacare was not worth it. Waited 4 hrs for a tire rotation and 5 hrs for an oil change with an appointment and was told I needed to change my air filters but wasn’t covered under toyotacare. Didn’t go back and did it myself. Total waste of time, I can see why the Toyota service dept has 3-4 stars near me.

 

I used it only because it was free. I don’t feel good passing up free stuff and my dealership is decent enough. After my last free service at 25k miles though, I’ll be doing my own maintenance.

 

The last 2 posts from Tacomike 18 and RicerRabbit are kind of where my head is at. I can get my tires rotated in 20 minutes at Discount Tire, and I like those guys, I can change my own oil and know I did it right in a reasonable amount of time. I do like "free" stuff, even though, we paid for it against our will. They're not giving out free oil changes out of the goodness of their heart. Spending a good chunk of my day for $30 dollars worth of oil and a $5 dollar filter, hoping they do it right, is kind of a toss up.

 

New enough to this world, but here is my $0.01 (probably not even worth 2 cents) ...

My Corolla was all "technicians" but that was before I became a groweded-up ...

I like my engine skid and do not want "just anybody" removing the skid for an oil change to avoid splashing it. So I bought a Fumoto valve and assumed oil change duties unless special circumstances appear and will deal with the technicians then. Same with differential/transfercase fluid changes so that I can do those for parts-cost instead of $350-$700 and the transmission fluid when those becomes necessary.

No propeller zerks on my 2022 OR ...

But the OP can find a trustworthy shop if the $$ are a good trade for convenience, as it may well be.

 

This is my experience to and why it’s such a massive waste of time to go to the dealer. Then add on being treated poorly because the whole thing is a big dumb, slow, moving organization, and each person has their job, feels like very little incentive to do well exists there, and so the customer ultimately loses out with poor service, so they can upsell you on filters that are four times the cost then they should be.

 

Shout out to Discount Tire!
I get my tires there and they are freaking great about getting me in/out to install/rotate them - if I arrive early, they get me in early and I am on my way in under an hour. Since I bought the tires there - they rotate em for free. They also let me drive my car + truck in/out myself - both are 6spd/MT; they don't give me any shit for telling them 'i'm gonna move my car'

I change my own oil and also find that's a good time to inspect everything under the truck.. eg. is anything else leaking or lookin' out of sorts.

"free stuff" is never free!

 

+1 on Discount Tire, they are great!

 

agreed! Plus my dealership makes it so easy. Book online and drop off truck. I'm close enough I can walk home, usually takes 1-2 hours.

 

If my dealer charged $60 for a 6 qt synthetic oil change, I'd have it done in a heartbeat by them. Unfortunately they quoted me $160, on top of it, I have to drive 28 miles to them.

 

Dealer by my house was able to change the oil every 5k.