So what’s the catch?

[AZViking]

Got a letter in the mail the other day from the dealer I’ve been getting my Vibe serviced at (not the dealer we bought our Vibe from). Anyway, the letter offers a ‘free’ oil change. Looks like the only catch is, they want to do a free "trade-in assessment" of the Vibe. We’ve only had our Vibe for six months, and we don’t plan on trading any time soon.I made an appointment for this afternoon. I guess we’ll see what happens. They’ve been good about maintenance so far, even honoring the extended warranty we bought at the other dealer. Anyone think this is too good to be true? Is the dealer going to start hounding me to trade my car in even though it’s not paid for and I have no intention of buying another car for probably another 4-5 years?

[michaelgt]

The purpose of the free oil change is to get you to come to the dealership, and then spend your time looking at the new cars while they provide the free oil change. I know of many GM drivers that have received the offer and have fresh oil, and none have been pressured into purchasing a new car.

[damronjr]

I wouldn't do it b/c they would start writing down my mods and void every little bit f warranty I have left! I wouldn't even get a chance to go back to stock and try to cheat the system if something went wrong!

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »I wouldn't do it b/c they would start writing down my mods and void every little bit f warranty I have left! I wouldn't even get a chance to go back to stock and try to cheat the system if something went wrong!LOL thats a good one. probably true too!!

[Jaxy]

I got one of those a couple weeks ago, oil change for $2.99. No problems, took about 35 minutes and I was outta there.

[mcgusto82]

when i work at chevy. the trade in assesments (apraisal) were done by the sales manager. he just went ou there with a peice of paper and marked on the condition of the car. nothing was ever put into the computer.as i believe. only the service manger can void a warranty. it also has to be on a case basis. you can't bring your car in for suspension work and void your muffler warranty because of a borla exhaust.if this happens, then someone is trying to pull a fast one oin you.

[Mavrik]

no one not even a manager can void your warranty unless the car has been writen off in an accident and according to GMVIS, has not been blocked. Then he can contact GM and get the block put on. The only time a modification can legally void even a part of your warranty is if it was the cause or possible cause/connected to the cause of the problem. If your engine blows and you have lowering springs on the car... that doesn't void your warranty. I got a warranty battery from an MI service advisor who had watched my cold air intake install lol.Subaru where I work now offers free oil changes as well once or twice a year in a car care clinic package. but its usually on older cars for two reasons. #1 the rate of older cars still coming to the dealership after the warranty expires is less then the amount of new cars coming in. this clinic gets them back in the door and while they are here, can look at whats new.#2 there will always be something wrong with an older car, so its easier to upsell a repair on something that isn't covered by warranty.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »I wouldn't do it b/c they would start writing down my mods and void every little bit f warranty I have left! I wouldn't even get a chance to go back to stock and try to cheat the system if something went wrong! Take your Prozac - o.k.?

[AKLGT]

take the free oil change. so what if they want you to look at new cars.... isn't that why you got the vibe in the first place? it's new... not like you need to worry about trading it in any time soon.

[drunkenmaxx]

definitely take it! while you wait, test drive something you can't afford just for fun!

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by drunkenvibe »definitely take it! while you wait, test drive something you can't afford just for fun! Ya man, a Solstice or maybe if it's a Chevy dealer, a Cobalt SS.

[AZViking]

Well, I'm definitely going to take the free oil change. Our Vibe will probably stay stock, at least until this May when we add a carseat. I wonder if they'll let me test drive a GTO?

[mcgusto82]

Quote, originally posted by AZViking »Well, I'm definitely going to take the free oil change. Our Vibe will probably stay stock, at least until this May when we add a carseat. I wonder if they'll let me test drive a GTO? this is what you do. go in the garage, leave the car and walk away. if a sales' man see's you walking from your car, don't talk to him.keep walking. once away from the vibe, start looking at the GTOs.DON"T go in looking like no bum neither. once you look, someone will come and try to talk to you.they will ask.. (and you will say)hi, how are you?(fine)what bring you to joe's?(my car needs a new tranny. it's in the service area.)what is it?(something 5 yrs old or so, fast, and not cheap. maybe a 01 trans am) this is why you don't want to talk to the first guy that sees you. he would know you are lying.did you buy that new?(YES)since you are here. why not drive a GTO? maybe we can put you in one today.make sure you don't look like you are browsing too much(ask to see the keys for one) be assertive and say (bring plates)voila!!! go for a drive.after that, you are on your own.

[Mavrik]

in a few days we'll see a "sold Vibe for a GTO" thread.

[mcgusto82]

one more thingif any of the sales guys comes up to you and if the first thing out their mouth's is, how can i help you?ignore him or just say you are looking. always avoid the dinosaurs.

[Toolman]

Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 »this is what you do. go in the garage, leave the car and walk away. if a sales' man see's you walking from your car, don't talk to him.keep walking. once away from the vibe, start looking at the GTOs.DON"T go in looking like no bum neither. once you look, someone will come and try to talk to you.they will ask.. (and you will say)hi, how are you?(fine)what bring you to joe's?(my car needs a new tranny. it's in the service area.)what is it?(something 5 yrs old or so, fast, and not cheap. maybe a 01 trans am) this is why you don't want to talk to the first guy that sees you. he would know you are lying.did you buy that new?(YES)since you are here. why not drive a GTO? maybe we can put you in one today.make sure you don't look like you are browsing too much(ask to see the keys for one) be assertive and say (bring plates)voila!!! go for a drive.after that, you are on your own.Or you could just ask to drive one. That is what I did and the sales guy rode along, and dont think that they expect you to loaf around either. The guy that went with me insisted that I drive it like it was mine. **CAUTION** After driving it I HAD to have it. So be warned!!

[angelkisses]

Quote, originally posted by Toolman »Or you could just ask to drive one. That is what I did and the sales guy rode along, and dont think that they expect you to loaf around either. The guy that went with me insisted that I drive it like it was mine. **CAUTION** After driving it I HAD to have it. So be warned!! *****YEAH BE WARNED***** CAUTION***** WARNING**** man sees car, man drools on car, man drives car, man buys car!!! Tooman is no longer allowed to "test drive" cars for no reason LOL or he will answer to the wrath of the wife!!!!

[angelkisses]

I gotta admit though, I love my Vibe, but I LOVE the GOAT too especially if we go out just the two of us, but when we got the little guy I like to take the Vibe, but ask the 6 year old & 9 times out of 10 he'll want the GOAT too, its nice but if we have another baby, we will NOT be putting a bassinet in & out of the GTO when we got a 4 door vibe...got a little baby fever, my sister just had one Oct 18th & I got to watch the little guy last week, sooo precious

[joholste]

watch out toolman, make sure you want a little one too if not don't let her go around others with little ones.

[AZViking]

Well, after all that worrying, I never saw a salesman. I just pulled into the service department, showed my letter, and sat in the waiting room until it was done. They even washed it for me too. I was impressed. Most times, when I have a coupon for an oil change or some other sort of service, the mechanic will come back claiming he found something else that needs replacing, costing way more than the service I originally went in for in the first place. Now I just hope they send me another letter in 3000 miles

[angelkisses]

Quote, originally posted by angelkisses » its nice but if we have another baby, we will NOT be putting a bassinet in & out of the GTO when we got a 4 door vibe...got a little baby fever, my sister just had one Oct 18th & I got to watch the little guy last week, sooo preciousha ha ha I said bassinet in & out of the car, I meant baby carrier, BLONDE moment!

[JenniRedd]

well my first oil change was free care of my dealer and it was done. the one thing I will miss about Saturn is that they always gave you a free car wash. Hmm who knows I might just take the Vibe to Saturn to get that free car wash and show off my new, reliable car. LOL!! Ok so most people like their Saturn's but i didn't have the best luck with mine!

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by AZViking »Well, after all that worrying, I never saw a salesman. I just pulled into the service department, showed my letter, and sat in the waiting room until it was done. They even washed it for me too. I was impressed. Most times, when I have a coupon for an oil change or some other sort of service, the mechanic will come back claiming he found something else that needs replacing, costing way more than the service I originally went in for in the first place. Now I just hope they send me another letter in 3000 miles No trade in assessment?

[AZViking]

Nope, thankfully. We just bought our Vibe this summer. And we plan on driving it for a long time, and it probably won't have much of a trade-in value once we're done with it either. The vehicle we traded in to get the Vibe had 159,000 miles on it, and my family had that since it had 22,000 miles.And as far as any mods to our vibe go... the only one we'll be adding is a carseat in the back this May.