service - Jalopnik

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The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is Virtual Reality Augmented Reality!
What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
Routine 18,000 Mile Nissan GT-R Service Price Tag: $2,000!

The Lotus Elise Should Probably Be Serviced Anywhere But Orlando
Toyota Drops A Big And Heavy 2007 Tundra Full-Size On Dealers And Customers

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Turboner
09/03/09

In reply to The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is ~~Virtual Reality~~ Augmented Reality!
Is it just me, or isn't there a better application for this technology. Like having sex with cars that look like women?
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Mobius
09/02/09

In reply to The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is ~~Virtual Reality~~ Augmented Reality!
So,

a)spend 10 million dollars on a new AR goggle mechanic training system,

OR

b)spend 10 million dollars making more reliable cars.

Option a), every time.
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lilwillie
09/02/09

In reply to The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is ~~Virtual Reality~~ Augmented Reality!
Fine, as long as they have the VR of being able to throw a hammer when the damn bolt you are wrenching on is rusted to fuck.

Will there also be skinned knuckles and forarms in it?

and where are the techs Nitrile gloves?

ah hell, it has been a long day in the trenches so it is Miller Time.

and they don't have a the cold beer VR in there when the jobs done.....
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TimTim
09/02/09

In reply to The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is ~~Virtual Reality~~ Augmented Reality!
Great, now not only will my mechanic not possess a proper full set of end wrenches or a rudimentary ability to troubleshoot automotive issues they won't even be able to get started without skynet whispering in their ear "righty tighty, lefty loosey". Why leave that level of interpretation required between instructions and execution. Just make a robot mechanic and do away with the menial labor.

This is real fancy and all, but I'd rather spend the extra money for someone with a proper mechanical aptitude and a knack for knowing what tends to go wrong with automobiles.
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lilwillie
09/02/09

@TimTim:

golf clap from a Auto Tech.
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Hello Mister Walrus
09/02/09

In reply to The Future Of BMW Maintenance Is ~~Virtual Reality~~ Augmented Reality!
Is this why BMW technicians charge like $500 per hour?
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Clown Shoe Pilot
09/02/09

@Hello Mister Walrus: techs don't charge that, dealerships do.

that's why my car either goes under my own wrench, or to a local indy shop.
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TheGuinnessTooth
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
Are these cars shipped back to Germany for the full service?

When I went to visit the Porsche museum about two years ago I saw quite a few GT's with non-german plates. I saw one with Oregon plates, one with Canadian plates, a few Asian/ Arab ones, and then Euro plates all over. It was cool seeing a car with Oregon plates sitting in a parking lot on the outskirts of Stuttgart.
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FrankGrimes
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
Anyone else think this thing looks like it would be easier to work on than a crap box camry?
At least I can actually see the parts. Rather than being shielded from my sensitive eyes with black plastic shields.
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Iron coffin doesn't swerve for pelicans
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
$8,000! Who said Germans don't have sense of humour?
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FleetAdmiralAutobahn
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
If any of you knew anything about this car you'd realize that it needs to be up in the air, and the belly pan (which covers the entire underbelly of the car) needs to be removed. It's not a one man job until you get that off. You'd be better invested in a car lift and offer the neighbor a beer to help. I'm sure they wouldn't mind for a GT.

Yeah, like most VW/Audi dealers it's just a check ripoff that any lamebrain can do themselves. You'll pay them to check your tire pressure? Come on.. you have to really be incompetent or not care about your car.

As for the $1.5k for the timing job on a TDI, that's a ripoff too. I've had the Porsche dealer do a 2.7 A6 for $750 - the works. This place had a carrera GT in the bay also. Taking the front end off is easy, messing the timing up will be too.
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skulldriveshaft picasaweb and youtube
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
In other news, expensive cars are expensive to maintain.
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Novaload
08/28/09

@skulldriveshaft picasaweb and youtube: Game, set, and match.
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brickyard
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?

Failed to add comment?
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Novaload
08/28/09

@brickyard: Excellent!
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Comrade Clockwork
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
You gotta wonder if they at least leave your change in the ashtray....
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acarr260
08/28/09

@Comrade Clockwork: I keep change in the ashtray of my Silverado. I keep gold bullion in the ashtray of my Carrera GT.
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PDQ2
08/28/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
Can you say "Private Mechanic"? Why must it go to the dealership?
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gravit8...drives with the lights on
08/28/09

@PDQ2: Would you honestly trust some shade-tree mechanic to look over your uber-expensive fire-prone highly strung sports car?

If you can afford the car, you can damn well afford the check up...
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lilwillie hides autos in the attic promoted this comment

chrishw
08/28/09

@gravit8: Not all mechanics are "shade-tree" mechanics just because they don't work for dealerships. I work for a parts company and deliver to many independent shops and hardly any are. In fact, many of these mechanics used to be techs for the dealerships. There are obviously some exceptions, there always are. This goes for independent shops and dealerships alike.

Just because you CAN afford something it doesn't mean you should waste your money.
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Alex Conley
08/28/09

@chrishw:

Some things are learned by working on the same cars day in and day out plus getting specific model training. Special tools needed and so fourth.

If you buy a top quality car, getting service from a proper dealership is just part of the cost.

I know some very bright mechanics, but i'm sure even they would tell me to take my crotch rocket with doors to a proper dealer mechanic.
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comedian
08/28/09

@Alex Conley: Porsche only ever made 1,270 Carrera GTs, so I doubt any mechanic anywhere in the world is "working on the same cars days in and day out".

As for not believing in non-dealer mechanics, realize this: Good, honest, factory-trained mechanics grow sick of getting screwed by dealership pay antics, procedures and poor management every day. The ones with skill and a low tolerance for dealer bullshit go to work for well-run independents. The ones with skill, a low tolerance for B.S., and ambition set up their own shops.

What is Hennessey, Jack Raby, and/or Farnbacher-Loles if not mere independent, non-dealer mechanics in your eyes?
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lilwillie
08/28/09

@gravit8:

"Shade Tree" huh? Thanks for the insult to all us privateers in the Auto Industry.
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gravit8...drives with the lights on
09/01/09

@lilwillie hides autos in the attic: *censors self

Really, 'cause I can afford to take my uberexpensive ultra-rare sportscar to the local garage, where they havent the liability coverage to pay for it when the tech damages an unobtaium-coated wheel bearing. From my brief time in the Porsche tech program (a couple grand pissed away there, no problem, I'm just in debt FOREVER), I know firsthand that you havent got the tools to change the effin air filter at the local garage, let alone properly diagnose even the slightest misfire in that engine.

Yeah, I'll be frequenting a garage that offers 'ladies day' for oil changes in my half-million-+-dollar 200+mph car. Notice the +++'s? See also: adds costs to any repair. Its a German thing.
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Novaload
08/27/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
Eight grand for how many hours? I would need a mechanic with a lower diamond rating.
Too much looking, not enough wrenching. Wenching. Now where's that Amex Black?
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gravit8...drives with the lights on
08/28/09

@Novaload Welcomes the Returning Jezuits !: Hopefully you havent been hopping curbs and such...If he's wrenching at all on any of these things you've got a pretty serious problem and might want to consider not beating the piss out of it. A track day every now and then is much different than doing doughnuts in the wal-mart parking lot, if you follow me here, and you wouldnt want to be hitting 200 mph if your tie rods are loose.
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Novaload
08/28/09

@gravit8: I've written that down and put it on the fridge. To remind me, when I get one of these things. Which should be about...never.
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segfault
08/27/09

In reply to What Do You Get For An $8,000 Porsche Carrera GT Service Appointment?
For $8k, it better include the personal services of a nubile German female.
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