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Review content:
My son brought in his 2000 KIA Sportage yesterday (Blue Book value in excellent condition = $2190) because the driver side window would not go up or down.
He scheduled a 10am appointment for service and arrived at 9:45am.
At about 2:30pm the service department called him back and told him that they had done everything they could to diagnose the problem without talking the door panel off, and wanted his approval to do so. He was advised that this would cost about $100. (Presumably, doing everything they could without looking inside the door [really?] would have consisted of trying the window switch and making sure the printer was loaded up with paper for the 'World Class Inspection' report. More on that later)
He gave them the go-ahead because he did bring the car in to get the problem fixed after all.
At 4:30pm, they called him back and told him that they wouldn't be able to fix it today, since they close at 5pm, but they had his World Class Inspection Report ready and they proceeded to enlighten him with the recommeded repairs: $4,265.81! Did he want to go ahead and authorize the work? Uh no!
Well, the good news is that if he just wanted to fix the problem with the window (the reason he brought the car in...remember?), it would require a new door window motor. That repair would be $538.12. Of course, they couldn't be sure that he wouldn't need a new window switch as well. Can't tell that until you replace the moter. If they needed to put in a switch to make the new moter actually raise and lower the window, that would be an additional $284.20. Did he want to authorize that repair now? (In case you don't have a calculator handy, that comes to $822.32...37.5% of the entire Blue Book value of the car ...assuming that it is in excellent condition otherwise).
Now I haven't always given my son credit for the good sense that he obvioulsy possesses, but he demonstrated it clearly by saying ""No thanks!"" to that offer and cutting his losses at $103.69 for them to tell him what he already knew (the door needs a new window motor) and providing a totally unreasonable estimate for the repairs. Oh, and I almost forgot, 'The Youngblood Worldclass Inspection Report'.
So what is this fabled document? A 13 page list of recommendations and pricing totaling $4,265.81 that will presumably bring his $2100 KIA up to World Class standards. Things like a $513.38 spark plug and wire replacement. (Obviously using materials that are being developed on the International Space Station). How about a $225.00 Manaual Transmission fluid change service?
Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Ka-ching!... $4,265.81 please.
I stopped by the service department this morning and spoke to the service advisor (Laura) who 'assisted' my son. She was really quite nice in helping me navigate the 13 page World Class Inspection Report to understand all of the recommendations, but she declined to purchase the other three working door window motors and switches that are still in the KIA for a discounted price of $2100.00, which would be a 15% discount over their service price. I was surprised, given that they are obviously focused on profit margin.
When asked if she would spend $822.32 to fix the window if it were her car, she said 'No'.
When asked if she thought a recommendation of $4,265.81 worth of repairs for a $2100 car was a good investment, she declined to answer.
Bottom-line? Stay away. Over-priced parts, shady tactics to get you to spend more than you wanted, and slow service. (My sons car was there for 7 hours to have them look inside the door and do no actual service)
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