I suggest we get as many email addresses as we can for both the service and spare parts departments, then I (or someone) can send a standard email to them all to find out what their attitude is to servicing and providing spare parts for us. This letter could also explain that results will be posted on SC for ALSC members and possibly ask for some prices on a small range of parts and/or services.
From that, we can add personal experience and then build a reasonably reliable list of who will look after us.
Question: Should the list in the first instance just be restricted to official Toyota dealers, then look at recommendations for your favourite garage as a separate issue?
Any other suggestions as to how to approach this are welcome.
I have just been talking to Gary at Salisbury Toyota in SA, they are happy to support Soarers in the parts dept, and will give ALSC members trade prices.
Examples: V8 Thermostat, normally $22.73 - members $14.77 V8 Thermostat Gasket, normally $9.35 - members $7.71
Great, lets get it happening, I know a place called SSS auto parts that sell new headlights for our cars, the bloke also said that if I bought say, 5 pairs he'd do a good deal for us, I think business' besides Toyota are interested obviuosly if they know they'll make money, which they will.
They'll most likely sell the parts cheaper than a Toyota dealer as well, I dunno about giving my Soarer to a Toyota dealer for a service, I would'nt want an apprentice 'tinkering' around with my pride and joy, I had a bad experience with my Honda with a dealer once, and knowing the attitude most dealers seem to have with imports, i'd much rather hand my car over to a Motsons or Marlew, at least I know they have respect for the car's heritage and performance.
A lot depends on the work required. As an example for normal Soarer servicing in WA the 2 places that I would recommend would not touch a 1UZFE re-shim/bucket replacement. For that Lexus of Perth are the best option. Lexus are not the place to get your bushes replaced or TT tuned. No one in WA seems to able to rebuild Soarer Diffs properly. It may be necessary to break the capabilities into categories to get a more useful resource.
Keep in mind Toyota Australia's official parts policy for Soarer's is they will supply anything but the dealer wears it if the wrong/broken ex-Japan part is supplied and no returns are accepted or credited.
This sometimes gets surreal. I have seen a Lexus service manager unable/afraid to tell the parts division they had supplied the wrong part by keying two's in place of seven's from a correct, double checked printed electronic parts request he supplied. In his words "they would make my life impossible if I pointed out their mistake" It was easier for him to wear their multi hundred dollar stuff up than get offside with the parts organisation.
I ordered a new CD changer for my non EMV Soarer and after providing the original unit, VIN, Chassis number etc. to Toyota Parts to match up they supplied an EMV version after a five month wait. No one in Toyota Parts up to the State manager will under any circumstances credit it or admit it is the wrong part. The can be complete Ars____s if it might mean admitting they made a mistake.
Toyota have done the right thing on keeping many key bits in stock around the country and have reduced prices on parts that were unaffordable like the air struts. I have done a rough comparison with new Camry prices for equivalent Soarer bits and mostly the Soarer parts are competitive. Other items like Front Bars which are ludicrous prices ($2,800) can be readily sourced from wreckers.
Peter is that the big Supa-Yard across from Parafield airport? If so there is a young lad that works there (cant for the life of me remember his name) who's clued up on 1J-2JZ motors, good to know come service time.
If we'd thought about it a bit earlier, we could have invited some Toyota/Lexus service staff/reps/whatever along on the Canberra cruise....get a bit of networking going with them. Show them how much money they could make from us. Get some ALSC banners happening with proudly supported by Canberra Toyota, or Lexus of Canberra or both printed along the bottom. We advertise them, in return for trade prices Australlia/New Zealand wide. Do you think it's possible to get this happening. I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this.
I mentioned in another thread that I have just gotten my car back from its 100k km service. Lexus of Blackburn are a customer of ours, and every time i went in, they would ask when I would bring it in. I joked saying, didn't think you guys would WANT to touch it. Apparantly their head tech there loves Soarers and has a couple himself I believe.
They did the usual 100k km service, replaced water pump, idler and pulley bearings, drive and cam belts, checked distributor caps, leads, replaced the rotor buttons, replaced 2 exhaust flange gaskets, checked shim clearances and replaced 2 valve buckets for $1426. Plus, I got an RX330 loan car for a week
Sunday, August 28, 2005 - 05:37 pm, by: Dave & Bee Ruler(Davette)
Yeah i think i'm with Danny on that one, thats why i drove all the way from Toowoomba to MARLEW PERFORMANCE on the Gold Coast to get my 100,000km service and Vlam Bushes done by a Professional.Adding to that thought,both Andrew and Lew made the decision to have my Beast serviced with Vlams Bushes and Lew doing the job a hell of a lot easier.I could'nt have got two nicer people to deal with,people that have a deep appreciation for a fine piece of motoring history instead of some numbnut(no offence to those apprentice's out there)who would'nt know a spark plug lead from a radiator hose.So guys and gals, do yourself a favour and use a Soarer/Lexus ENTHUSIAST not a wannabe!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 07:56 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
I've been getting a lot of parts from Brighton Toyota in Melbourne. The best guy to deal with there is John Murray Wallace, He generally gives me trade or better. The other guy i'm dealing with at the moment is Steve but he's a bit slow. But generally its been ok with brighton. Plus they often have hot chicks working there.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 09:49 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Phil
What work/service do you need done. If you want a one stop shop, Lexus are an option (not inexpensive and only for V8's) and they do shop out to reliable workshops what they can't do. If you can give me some idea of what you need done I'll give you a list of places.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005 - 10:54 am, by: Peter Burrett(Burrett)
I just got back from a 3200km trip from Canberra via Lakes Entrance to Adelaide and back. Being disorganised, I didn't get a booking in time for my 5000K service interval with Neil - he was off to Queensland for a few days. So I lobbed in to Peter Davey Toyota, Main North Road, Prospect 5082, on spec, and asked if they could do the oil and filter change. First response was "not for a week";} we had a chat, and they gave me an early morning slot two days later. Did the job, $100, which I think was good value, and they were very easy to deal with.
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