It's Grand Theft Auto.

[Trade]

No, my car wasn't stolen. It's a 2009 Honda Accord and the risk/reward ratio of a 16 year old car probably doesn't have a lot of appeal to potential thieves. What I'm talking about is what the Honda Dealership charged me to replace a worn out ignition switch. $1,405.10! It's Grand Theft Auto!

 

[Kadee]

OMG , i think you was charged ….OVER ….$1.000 for fitting ……My hubby was a mechanic in his working days he said the switch would range for $100 ~ $190 depending on the model ….that’s Aussie…. $$$$
Id be questioning that price ….is switch …gold plated

 

[Naturally]

I have a 22yr old Jeep and try to do all work on it I can.
Got 3 engine fault lights on the dash in the last 6 months.
- One fault code I cleared by replacing a ruptured rubber vacuum line.
- Second code was an O2 (oxygen) sensor. Checked all connections, cleared code and it hasn't come back
- Just yesterday, code for Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). Bought one today at Auto Zone and replaced it.
Sure glad I didn't have to take the Jeep to a mechanic.

But worst case scenario had me checking new trucks online last night.
No way I'm paying over $500 a month for the next 5yrs on a new vehicle. Nope.
Will keep driving my Jeep ... and Volkswagen Passat ... til the doors fall off.

If I can't fix something, there's a good mechanic who is reasonably priced and within walking distance of home.
He replaced all brake pads AND rotors last year on the Jeep, with high quality parts and under a grand.
I avoid dealerships whenever possible. Maybe you too could find a good independent mechanic?

 

[Aunt Bea]

It sound like there must be more to the story.

Still it’s only two or three car payments in today’s world.

 

[squatting dog]

No, my car wasn't stolen. It's a 2009 Honda Accord and the risk/reward ratio of a 16 year old car probably doesn't have a lot of appeal to potential thieves. What I'm talking about is what the Honda Dealership charged me to replace a worn out ignition switch. $1,405.10! It's Grand Theft Auto!

A quick internet search shows from 160 to 250 dollars for the switch and keys, however... I noticed that it requires re-programing. Add that to the labor and ( plus allow a wee bit for some greed), and it comes out about right. Not saying I like it though.

 

[Trade]

It sound like there must be more to the story.

Still it’s only two or three car payments in today’s world.

Nope. That's all there was to it. At least I don't have any car payments. And the next car I buy I will pay for with cash. But I won't tell them that until I have an OTD price. They make a lot of their profit on financing. Although the biggest money make for a dealership, ot should I say Stealership is from their service department. I was pretty much over the barrel with the ignition switch. The key was getting harder and harder to move in the switch or remove it. I was afraid it would leave me stranded somewhere with the key stuck in a position where the battery was being drained.

I've been looking at new vehicles and I like the Subaru Outback. Aound here that's kind of a chick car because all I see driving them are women. The good ole boys down here in the Bible Belt mostly have these monster 4X4 pickups so that they can feel like men. But I think I could handle being seen in a Subaru.

 

[Trade]

A quick internet search shows from 160 to 250 dollars for the switch and keys, however... I noticed that it requires re-programing. Add that to the labor and ( plus allow a wee bit for some greed), and it comes out about right. Not saying I like it though.

Yeah it had to be reprogramed with all new keys. They charge an arm and a leg for labor at Honda. They also charged me $179 just to diagnose it and that went on top of everything else. And then there's the 10% City of Mobile Sales tax. I had about $1500 cash in my wallet and I asked if they would give me a discount for cash and they said no, so I threw down my Mastercard and said OK, then you can eat the 3% that the credit card company is going to charge you. It wasn't much. but it made me feel a little better.

 

[Manatee]

No, my car wasn't stolen. It's a 2009 Honda Accord and the risk/reward ratio of a 16 year old car probably doesn't have a lot of appeal to potential thieves. What I'm talking about is what the Honda Dealership charged me to replace a worn out ignition switch. $1,405.10! It's Grand Theft Auto!

That is highway robbery.

 

[OldFeller]

Yeah it had to be reprogramed with all new keys. They charge an arm and a leg for labor at Honda. They also charged me $179 just to diagnose it and that went on top of everything else. And then there's the 10% City of Mobile Sales tax. I had about $1500 cash in my wallet and I asked if they would give me a discount for cash and they said no, so I threw down my Mastercard and said OK, then you can eat the 3% that the credit card company is going to charge you. It wasn't much. but it made me feel a little better.

I only dealt with Honda dealership once. They said I needed my air bags replaced on a recall.

I was in there an awful long time. Then they came out and said I needed all 4 brake pads replaced and that it would cost me $800. I asked what if you only do the front wheels? And they said that would be $600. What? How come it's not $400? So I said don't do it.

I don't remember if I replaced the front pads myself (probably) or if my mechanic changed them for $250.00.