From: stecz@pencom.com (John Steczkowski)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Good/Bad Mazda Dealers?
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:15:00 GMT
Reply-To: stecz@pencom.com
Distribution: austin
Organization: Pencom Software

In article <ldbuikINNfg8@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM> barnesm@vavau.Corp.Sun.COM (Mark  
Barnes - SMCC/CTE/OS) writes:
> In article 2620056@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM, lea00@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Larry Akers)  
writes:
> >    MADZA does not care about its customers after they have purchased a  
MADZA. 
> 
> Absolutely true.  Lip service.
> 
> 
> >I told them that no one ever contacted me.
> 
> Same here.
> 
> I HATE MAZDA I HATE MAZDA I HATE MAZDA I HATE MAZDA I HATE MAZDA.

My experiences with my Mazdas have been great, last week, I put my '89 MPV in  
the shop to have the brake booster replaced under recall (people complained  
about the pedal pressure being to high).  The van has 73,000 miles on it  
(warranty is 50k miles).  I bought it used in Atlanta.  I live in Austin.  When  
I took it to the dealer (Roger Beasley Mazda, Austin TX), I also complained  
about the valves ticking on start up when the engine is cold.  That afternoon,  
I called the dealer, and they said the van would be ready that day, when I  
arrived, the new lifters they installed, turned out to be bad, so the van  
wouldn't be ready.  Beasley gave me a free rental car, I didn't ask for it, I  
have another car to drive, they just offered it to me.  The van was ready the  
next day.  When I picked it up, there was a two page reciept with a total  
charge to me of $0.00.  They had done the following:

Replaced Brake booster (recall)

Replaced front rotors and pads - they noticed that the front brakes pulsed  
under braking (warped rotors).  I told them I was aware of that, but chalked it  
up to towing a 2200 lb car with no trailer brakes.

Installed new part to keep hydraulic lifters pumped up, and replaced all  
lifters (3 valve per cylinder V-6).  The only leg I had to stand on for this  
repair was that there was a redesigned part, but I'm way out of warranty, and  
it doesn't really affect the operation of the engine, the valve ticking is just  
a nuisance.

Did a state inspection - usually cost $10.50, they did it free

Replaced muffler - they noticed that the rear muffler was rusting, so they  
replaced it for free.

When I picked up the van, it has also been washed and filled up with gas.

They didn't charge me a cent!  It was not covered under an extended warranty.   
The bill said warranty for everthing, so I guess Mazda is paying the bill.  I  
was very happy that they took the time to notice other maintenance items that  
needed to be taken care of, and repaired them.  All of the service experiences  
I have had on my MPV have been great.  Another example:  At 48,000 miles (2k  
from end of warranty) my battery died.  Beasley replaced the battery while I  
waited, and the Mazda warranty covered the complete cost of the battery  
(usually battery warranties are pro-rated).  

Count me as a very happy Mazda owner.  In fact, after this last service  
experience, I feel guilty about buying a Nissan Sentra SE-R!  I should have  
bought an MX-3.  Not that I've had any problems with my SE-R, it's just that I  
KNOW that I won't get the kind of service on it as I'm getting from Roger  
Beasley Mazda.


--
  John Steczkowski                        stecz@pencom.com
Are you truly willing to take the risk of being severely
or even fatally injured just for the thrill of roadracing?
- As Quoted from New Rider Information Booklet of the CMRA