Journal blinder's Journal: Oil Change 8
Warning: This is boring. I'm killing time. If you choose to continue, consider yourself warned.
Well, I went 3,043 miles between my last oil change so I had called to make an appointment. Fine, cool, rad. My appointment was yesterday morning, 7:30 a.m. Again cool. Its early for me, but again, not a problem. I didn't have anything on my schedule till 1:00 p.m.
My last oil change (this is at the dealer, Valley Motors in Cockysville, MD) they took about 45 minutes, bing bam boom, easy-peezy.
That being my expectation I had no problem just dropping off the car, and waiting. They have a really nice waiting area, and well wandering around the showroom drooling over the odd 911 turbo or GT3 is a pleasant diversion whilst they do the job.
When I checked in at the service desk, I also noticed they stampled "WAIT" all over the paperwork meaning, I was waiting so that the crew knew that they could just take their time (I will soon learn the sheer stupidity of this thought). Awesome, I'll be in to work by 8:30 at the latest.
Well, its getting towards 8:45, my car has been in the garage for nearly an hour now, nothing. 9:15, I then go up to the desk and ask if I could just get a loaner. The guy tells me they don't have any more! Great... more waiting, then finally at 10:30 I see my car finally creep out of the garage and parked right by the waiting area. Then the mechanic, with the paperwork and keys decided to help another mechanic work on someone's Cayenne (Porsche's SUV -- which is pretty cool IMHO) but I can see my keys dangling from his left-front pocket, taunting me! I needed to get outta there and to work! So after pacing around the waiting room, probably making the other people in there nervous, I see the mechanic look at my keys dangling from his pocket and I could see the light go off in his head! He takes off running into the building and a few minutes later this this stunningly beautiful girl walks in and asks if I'm Mr. Palmer. I drew a blank, is that my name? Of course! I responded "yeah, that's me" I follow her to the cashier desk, sign the paperwork, give her my credit card ($155 by the way... I'll get to this in a minute). Everything is all set, and I am expecting her to hand me my keys, which were sitting right there at her desk, and she says "oh I'll have someone bring these out to you, we'll have your car washed."
Well, I'm not one to argue with a pretty girl, I simply said "okay thanks!" and walked out to my car. About 5 minutes later a kid comes out, with my keys, and says "this yours?" I respond "Yeah it sure is." "You want it washed?" "Oh no, really, I have to get out of here."
So, finally, keys in hand, I finally get to go to work. I hope you weren't expecting any major battles, nuggets of wisdom or anything sensational in this. I don't even have a point. Well, I take that back, here's my point. It costs, on average $150 to get the oil changed on my car. Why so much? Good question, it has mostly to do with the fact that a Jiffy Lube or Pep Boys won't touch it, which sucks, both those places did pretty good jobs. What I need to do is, take one of the technical classes the local PCA offer so I can learn to do it myself.
Yeah, I know many people can change the oil in their car blindfolded, but mid-engine cars are a bit different, especially those with boxer engines... which is why I need to take the class!
$155?!?? (Score:2)
$155?
Do they actually create the oil right there for you, or what? That is unbelievable!
Re:$155?!?? (Score:1)
Ah, someone who has a car with a boxer engine (from a dealer that sells Porsches) can pay $155 for an oil change.
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
That was my point. :-)
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
But, and here was my (indirect?) point, I don't want to have to pay this, so being the type of person I am, I am going to learn to do it myself. So that in the future I no longer have to pay that sum for something I can do on my own.
Its a novel concept in our day and age, instead of just bitching about something, and ultimately taking it, I'm going to do something about it! Yeah, power to the people and all that jazz!
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
From what he said in the article it sounds like blinder drives a Porsche. And apparently most places won't change the oil in said porsche. Which results in a smaller supply of places that change the oil in this car. Which basic economics tells us will result in a higher price.
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
Which basic economics tells us will result in a higher price.
Economics is cool that way
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
Re:$155?!?? (Score:2)
But for $155 a shot, I'd get ramps and a pan and DIY that badbwoy. Not to mention the 3 hours of getting it done.