Honda or Acura for oil changes?

[10Blade]

There are two Acura dealerships in Phoenix reasonably close to my house: North Scottsdale (Assume your most pompous voice and repeat after me: "Tha clutch for tha NSX is thirty-six hundred dollahs."-recent remark when asking about clutch replacement costs, SOS does it for $2000) and there's Acura of Tempe (Assume your most pompous voice and DON'T EVEN USE IT because addressing a man in shorts and a "Viva La Bubba" T-shirt (gotta love Clinton) is well below your standards as the old-greeting-lady at the desk in the entryway.
And then there are the Honda dealerships; one of which is just up the road from my house. They stare at my car. Sometimes I get a point and a smile. I have to call ahead to make sure they have the parts. They do the job. And all I'm talking about here is OIL CHANGES.
So, am I neglecting my NSX? Does it REALLY matter that much? What do you all do? Surely there are NSXs in areas without Acura dealerships. And, yes, I could take it to SOS. And I may start but two things: 1) I usually only have time for this kind of thing on Saturdays and 2) I fear the accessorization temptation which overcomes me when I enter their shop...

 

[Briank]

I thought the only place to go in Phoenix is Basch Accurate Service :wink:

 

[ETLMD]

Change the oil yourself. It does not take that long to do. In general, Honda cars are very easy to service.

 

[MoogieBoogie]

If you bring your own filter, I don't see how it could make a difference.

I bring my Lexus to the Toyota dealer and save about $20 each time.

 

[Understudy]

For something as simple as an oil change anyone can do it. However, I'd still recommend that you take it to either ScienceofSpeed or Basch since you know you're in good hands there. They'll take care of your car like it's their own and most importantly can be fully trusted. If you can't take it to those places due to schedule conflicts, then I'd just do it at home.

Definitely beware of the ScienceofSpeed mod bug if you go there. We were up there on Friday and walked away poorer than when we arrived, but with bigger smiles on our faces.

 

[10Blade]

Is Basch still working? I had heard that he went into retirement.

 

[Understudy]

Is Basch still working? I had heard that he went into retirement.

It's been a few months since I spoke with Mark, but at that time he was still working. He did change up his operations and was handling all of the service himself again. I'd call him if you're interested in seeing him for service, to see what his availability is like.

 

[NSXTech]

The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.

As understudy says, I have changed my operation so that I do ALL the work in the shop, with Bob and Jane handling customers and phones (in that order) and parts requests. We are booked 2 weeks away these days, but if you have something urgent come up, don't hesitate to call for immediate help.

To answer your question, I would not use either of those stores for oil changes, or much else for that matter, but we do alot of parts bussiness with Tempe Acura (Jody knows these cars quite well) and have for about 3 years. Good store.

Call the shop, or PM me if I can help.
Cheers
Mark

 

[Hugh]

A one armed monkey or even Helen Keller or Ray Charles could do an oil change on an NSX. Just make sure you use an OEM Acura oil filter and high quality oil. When you pick up the oil filter ask the dealer for a new crush washer for the drain bolt. If he doesn't simply give you one for free he's an asshole.

You can give Delray Acura a call at 561-265-0000 then hit "3" and ask for Ciro in parts and tell him Hugh sent you. Order a bunch of oil filters and washers for him. They'll cost about $12.00 each.

 

[nsxtasy]

Changing oil yourself is relatively easy, but you can also have it done inexpensively just about anywhere (more about that in a moment). There are lots of reasons that some may not wish to do it yourself - not enjoying doing it, not having a good place to do it (it's easier with a lift), not wanting to deal with disposing of the oil, not wanting to buy the tools, etc. And oil changes are generally so inexpensive that the savings in doing it yourself are relatively small.

About the only NSX-specific knowledge that's needed to do an oil change on the NSX is where the jacking/lifting tabs are (the three tabs below the rocker panel on each side of the car). You can go just about anywhere (just point out those jacking tabs to anyplace doing it for the first time). I don't trust the quick oil change places because their staff is often inexperienced and might not know about crush washers or the proper torque when tightening the oil filter. But you can take it to any competent independent mechanic or to the dealer service department for any brand of car. If you want, you can have it done at the same place that maintains your daily driver. No disrespect towards Mark Basch and his high level of NSXpertise, of course; that's probably where I would take it if I lived reasonably close to him.

If you are not using Basch or an Acura dealer, you will want to buy stock Honda oil filters from a dealer and bring them with you for them to use, so they don't have to order them. When you buy them, make sure to buy the crush washers; make it easy on yourself by taping a crush washer to the outside of the filter so you'll have it handy when you need it.

Similarly, most mechanics don't stock 10W30 synthetic oil, so if that's what you use (as most of us do), you'll want to buy oil and bring it with you for them to use. You can find Mobil 1 10W30 at Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, etc. If you're bringing your own oil and filter, expect to pay $15-30 for the oil change.

"Tha clutch for tha NSX is thirty-six hundred dollahs."-recent remark when asking about clutch replacement costs, SOS does it for $2000)

I don't know anything about Acura of Scottsdale, but a clutch replacement on a '91-96 NSX is usually around $2000 and a clutch replacement on a '97-05 NSX is usually around $3500, so they may simply have been quoting on the later model car.

And all I'm talking about here is OIL CHANGES.
So, am I neglecting my NSX? Does it REALLY matter that much?

Yes, oil changes are very important. If you neglect oil changes and/or other scheduled maintenance, you are asking for trouble (in the form of unexpected failures which usually represent large amounts of inconvenience and money).

What do you all do?

If I'm having other NSX work done, I have it done at the dealer, because that's where the NSX expertise is in my area. I still bring the oil with me because they don't stock 10W30 synthetic, and they're fine with that. (They actually prefer it, because otherwise they have to send someone to the store to buy it.)

If I'm only having an oil change done, I have it done by the competent independent mechanic near my house. He stocks 10W30 synthetic (partly because of me) and I bring him the oil filter.