[elmariachi]

Just because one dealership service department does bad business doesn't mean they all do. The expectation needs to be set up front as to who they are dealing with. Both our Toyota and Benz service writers are well aware that I wrench on my own junk and they have both seen the Cobra. They known not to bull**** me, and I get a nice debrief call any time our cars are in for warranty work or manufacture-paid service. I have micro-managed the very few instances I have ever paid someone else to work on our stuff and have never had an issue where I felt misled, ripped off or unfairly treated. But give a car dealer an open repair ticket and you better bring some anal-eze.

BTW, the American Express card is the best insurance policy against getting taken advantage of. You get ripped off and you can prove it, they simply won't pay.