Best dealer in Tampa Bay for warranty service?

[kamots]

Hey all. Russell Mazda of Clearwater, FL where I bought my car just went out of business!

So, now I have no idea where to go for service, since I really don't want to take it to one of the other Mazda dealers and have them treat my car like crap since I didn't buy from them. Maybe that doesn't happen with Mazda, but I've seen it before.

Do any of you have any suggestions for a dealer that has a good service team? If I am treated right I'll definitely be sending all my friends and anyone else that likes my car to them. I just don't want to put my car in a shop and have it damaged by poor work.

[kamots]

I'll answer my own question - Tyrone Square Mazda in St. Pete is the best place to go!

I went there today when my car started overheating while driving around town. The engineer assigned to fix my car was a "Mazda Master Technician" and it was obvious how he earned the title. He checked several things under the hood, also hooked a computer up and made sure the car computer didn't have any errors. After some more checks under the hood he reset the car's computer and the fans started working. He told me it was just a computer glitch and I don't need any new parts. He spent a good amount of time checking everything to make sure there was not some loose connection or anything like that which would have caused the problem or may cause me problems in the future. He took me for a test drive to make sure the car ran properly. He used to work for Mercedes and moved to Mazda because "there are more Mazdas on the road". He talked about how good the Mazda engines are, especially mine, and even explained why.

I was very impressed and I don't think I'll let anyone else work on my car. When I go back for my 5K service I plan to ask for him, along with any other future visits. He was a true professional and expert in the field of car repair. I highly recommend any of you in my area should visit this dealer for all their Mazda needs.

[badboy58]

QUOTE (Kamots @ Mar 28 2009, 07:41 PM)

I'll answer my own question - Tyrone Square Mazda in St. Pete is the best place to go!

I went there today when my car started overheating while driving around town. The engineer assigned to fix my car was a "Mazda Master Technician" and it was obvious how he earned the title. He checked several things under the hood, also hooked a computer up and made sure the car computer didn't have any errors. After some more checks under the hood he reset the car's computer and the fans started working. He told me it was just a computer glitch and I don't need any new parts. He spent a good amount of time checking everything to make sure there was not some loose connection or anything like that which would have caused the problem or may cause me problems in the future. He took me for a test drive to make sure the car ran properly. He used to work for Mercedes and moved to Mazda because "there are more Mazdas on the road". He talked about how good the Mazda engines are, especially mine, and even explained why.

I was very impressed and I don't think I'll let anyone else work on my car. When I go back for my 5K service I plan to ask for him, along with any other future visits. He was a true professional and expert in the field of car repair. I highly recommend any of you in my area should visit this dealer for all their Mazda needs.[/b]

Yea, they are the dealer I take my car to for stuff that I need done....they also have the best price around here on parts

[MS6 P.C.]

Kudos to you. I'm close to Lakeland, so that's where I use to take mine. Had some good experiences, some bad. I've heard stay away from Ferman in Brandon!

[RhoadBlock]

Yes, Ferman of Brandon is less helpful than heaping sack of steamy dog shit being smeared onto your face by Dipshit the clown while saying grace before Thanksgiving dinner.

Kamots, how do you think Tyrone Square Mazda would be with a heavily bolted car, and no cats? lol. My 3rd gear crapped out on me. I've got just under 20k miles and a little less than 2 years. I haven't modded the transmission at all yet so technically I think that should be covered under warranty correct? I'm probably gonna go to Ferman on Florida. I've heard decent things about them. HOWEVER, while the trannys open, I do want the Fidanza flywheel and Spec 3+ clutch installed...

[MS6 P.C.]

QUOTE (RhoadBlock @ Apr 9 2009, 01:45 PM)

Yes, Ferman of Brandon is less helpful than heaping sack of steamy dog shit being smeared onto your face by Dipshit the clown while saying grace before Thanksgiving dinner.

Kamots, how do you think Tyrone Square Mazda would be with a heavily bolted car, and no cats? lol. My 3rd gear crapped out on me. I've got just under 20k miles and a little less than 2 years. I haven't modded the transmission at all yet so technically I think that should be covered under warranty correct? I'm probably gonna go to Ferman on Florida. I've heard decent things about them. HOWEVER, while the trannys open, I do want the Fidanza flywheel and Spec 3+ clutch installed...[/b]

Hey Logan, why don't you just call them up and talk to the service manager. Tell him straight up. You have a lot of mods, your 3rd gear went out (which you haven't modified the tranny, which looks like you should of now) and let ask him if he thinks Mazda would cover it. It's a shot in the dark, but would be easier to talk to him on the phone than driving all the way out there for him to tell you no.

I'm surprised that no company has come out with stronger parts for the tranny. I'm sure it would cost a pretty penny cause my friend spent 4 grand on his tranny for his evo. Maybe they would be able to adjust the some of the ratios also. I mean. why not. The japanese trannies have a different final drive than our US spec speeds.

[kamots]

I also think it would be best to call the service manager.

[Sokool]

When Gary used to be the service writer over at Cox Mazda in bradenton I'd take my 3 in for random warranty things no questions asked. They even put a new 3rd gear in it for me while I still had my 2-step and WOT shift controller in the car. Which I know they saw the wiring for since you have to pull the ecu to pull the tranny on a 3. Bobby was the tech that always worked on my car. Now that Gary doesn't work there anymore I haven't been, so I'm not sure if they look the other way as far as mods go still or not. Time will tell when the 6 finally needs some warranty stuff done.

[RhoadBlock]

Yeah I'm going out of town this week. I'll be making calls when I get back. I called Ferman of Brandon about my 2nd oil change. Told him I had a catback, intercooler, & intake and he said don't even bother bringing it in because they wouldn't touch my car. Wouldn't do a fucking OIL CHANGE!! And that was with 3 basic bolt-ons. They'd probably actually laugh if I asked them now haha.

This is the new service manager. He was only there for a couple of months when I had bought my car back in Aug. of 07. The head service tech told me the previous manager was cool with mods as long as they weren't the cause of the issue, but he said this new guys a stickler :/