It seams that most dealership service centers don't know a great deal about the C6. I was surprised by all the "don't know" answers I have gotten from most dealership service techs. That really surprises me! Luckily I found one realatively close that appears to know what to do and how. If you are in the Atlanta area, I suggest Maxie Price. Is this a common issue across the country?

 

Yes. Still looking.

 

Matt,

Our vettes have gotten so complex that its understandable for a dealership not to have a vette specialist on their payroll. But they do have access to area service reps who are more then capable of helping out.

 

I would think that before a dealership invests in a 'full time' Vette technician they would have to justify the expense. Since the Corvette is a low volume vehicle, the one that can do this are the ones that sell the most. You have to use a dealer who is on the top of the list of Corvette sales for your zone. The 'other' dealers have to depend on a tech showing interest and getting trained under fire.

 

Really wasn't trying hurt any feelings . . .and I do understand the complexity and expense issues. I don't for a minute think it is an issue with the dealership - but maybe a training issue from GM. You spend that kind of money on a luxury item, you have certain expectations. I am a GM man - period. The dealership I finally selected IS a high volume corvette dealer. That leads to experience, etc. . . .

 

It's not always the complexity of the car, many Techs do not want to work on vettes. Why? Because the lack of pay. When it comes to book time and the extra TLC for the work, and dealing with the customer the tech is not paid extra for that time. It's more of a hassel as opposed to working on all the impala's aveo's whatever.

I love working on vettes it's my thing but not everyone (when it comes to techs) really feels this way.

One key thing to note is that the Corvette owner/customer doesn't have the same perspective as the GM Technician ect. And it's hard to see how things operate and are layed out from our perspective.

I don't know...
-=Rick

 

Thanks for your perspective Rick. Too bad you are not in Atlanta . . . I will keep your comments in mind when I go in for service. Try not to be whinnie and hard to deal with.

 

LoL.. I almost wish I was down their it's COLD up here!

BTW I didn't mean whinnie and hard to deal with, I ment the extra time to go over things and to make sure everyone is on the same page. Usually people with sports cars are car enthusiast or have more interest in the workings of their cars then the average car owner. So if you spend 15-20 minutes talking with a customer about their car and service ect your not getting paid for it. be it on the phone or in person or whatever the case is.

BUT I do find that when customers are not being "hard to deal with" or particular or whatever it makes everything go alot smoother. When a customer is all particular or comes in upset angry ect it makes the business side of things put up their defense. Tech, mechanics, ect are not all out to rip everyone off now I'm sure there are some exceptions but most techs ect want to do honest work.

-=Rick

 

My Yukon XL has electronics just as complicated as my Vette, so don't think this is a C6 (or any other Vette) problem. All cars have gotten more complicated, making techs seem less knowledgable than they were when cars were easier to work on. It's really not their fault, or the dealer for that matter, that the engineers design & build cars that no one else is smart enough to master.

Techs specialize in certain systems these days, so depending on your problem, you will likely find the best answer from someone trained in that area, NOT necessarily a Vette specialist.

Dave

 

This is true, not to mention that every new model year ect there are changes being made.

Even though systems are becoming more and more complicated, sometimes you just have to stick to the basics. I've seen many techs follow the wrong path while diagnosing a problem when the cause was very simple. I've done it myself even where you over look something and then spend time chasing your tail.

The automotive industry is not easy. We have customers that need their cars and have trouble leaving them for service, we have the sckeptics who question everything we do because they are afraid of being ripped off, we are always trying to beat the clock to make a dollar, and then there are intermittent problems that can be a pita to find because it isn't happening right this minute and we have to waste time we cannot be paid for to find the problem. All types of stuff.. Not to mention the grease, dirt, rust busted knucles, minor burns ect. and the 100$ labor hour who do you think is making the money, it's split up techs get a SMALL amount, the shop or dealer gets the rest, but where does it go, it goes to pay the bills to keep the place heated, cooled, the energy for lighting, air compressors, shop equipment insurance UNIFORMS... there is a never ending list so when you complain about labor rates remmber that there is more to it then OH it cost this much to do that.

Thats my .02

-=Rick