I am back from having the mini van serviced at the Ourisman Honda of Laurel where we bought the van. It got the much needed oil change since the indicator was nagging me to have it done by a negative % oil life message. I love intelligent cars because they make up for our memory lapses 
.
At first it was a bit confusing because I went to the usual parking area for vehicles to be serviced and when I walked in, the guys inside looked at me like I was some alien. So I told them that I was there for an oil change. They told me that I have to go to the service area in the new part of the building. Ah, no wonder their were like 3 men hanging out by the door. They were salesmen, service don’t usually do that.
I went around and parked at what I thought was the service parking then went inside and I went to the gentleman at the desk whom I assumed was the same one I’ve spoken to make the schedule. I was right and he kindly told me that I was parked at the Volkswagen service and I have to come through the service area for Honda. I didn’t go that area at first because it looked too empty, new and unused. So from now on I have to drive into the service glass enclosed garage and park then walked into the service center and do the paper work then wait in the new wait area with a huge flat screen TV. I am just happy not to have the van parked on an incline at the old service wait parking. I am really digging their upgrade. I have seen this dealership grow so fast in the past 7 years so all these upgrades they are doing is a common thing in most well established car dealerships.
The best part of it is dealing with Paul Song, the assistant Service Manager. He sounds very calm and service oriented(as it should be). The last time I went into service, I wasn’t too happy because the service person wasn’t really nice about me asking about the free oil change upto 100,000 miles that was part of the package when we signed the sales papers last year. Another customer whom I recognized by face(he lives in the same neighborhood) had the same issue and the service person didn’t handle it too well by having some unprofessional gestures and irritated tone of voice. This time Paul gave me the free oil change without any fuss. So instead of paying $55 for the oil change and tire rotation, I only paid $14.95.
Kudos to Paul Song and Ourisman Honda of Laurel for improving the service center. I have a friend who is due to buy a car soon(he is looking for a 6 cylinder sedan, which means an Accord) and I would highly recommend this dealership.
Honda keeps tabs of the customer experience from Honda dealerships and they actually have a follow-up call for customers to rate the experience, I would give them a 5(5 being excellent) this time.
So I guess you have the Odyssey? I had one I traded in last week for a Saturn L200. I drive too much and the cost of gas was breaking me.
Yes, I do have the Odyssey with the VTech(half of the valves turn off while on cruising speed, so it saves gas). Between 25mpg city and 28 mpg highway. An SUV like the Durango I test drove takes 12mpg. I used to have a sedan but with all the stuff we travel around with, it’s more practical to have a mini-van.
That’s great that you have VTech. That must save you a lot! My Odyssey that didn’t have that feature, at least I don’t think so. I liked my van but as I said, it was costing me too much.
The consumption is just like driving a sedan. It’s the best option for the size of space that we require.
If your van was consuming more then it might have had the VTech. Also keeping the car well maintained and the tires properly inflated would save some gas.
I have a friend who has a Saturn and he says it’s good to him.