Re: yamaha or tohatsu
I don't understand jim why you would say it is the business you buy from not the motor.If anyone found a really great deal on a motor at a certain dealer that could not be beat anywere else and save a ton of money but you really feel the dealership is not so good,you can get the deal there and just get service somewere else if you want to as there are a ton of yamaha dealers and tohatsu dealers.
So it does boil down to the motor and the price of what your getting for it.If just about anyone walked into a marina and saw a 9.8 tohatsu and a 9.9 yamaha sitting right next to eachother at the same price and the yamaha had a 5yr warranty and the tohatsu had a 3yr warranty i don't think anyone would think twice on what they were buying as most people know that both motors are fantastic but anyone would take an extra 2yrs of warranty for free for sure.Then if the service is no good there bring it to a different dealership to get service.Just my opinion.I'm the kind of person that just looks for the best deal i can find,if i don't like the service were i bought it from i just go find another one.It's all about saving as much money as i can when i buy something.
I do understand what you are saying try to find a good business that has a good reputation but that should never be a factor when trying to find the best deal.It's like saying if you found the same motor at 2 different places and the differece in price was say $500 but the more expensive place was nicer to you and had a better service dept you should spend the extra money,no you buy the motor from the least expensive place and go to the other place for service.I don't know maybe i'm different but i like to get the best deal.Also fellows please don't take this the wrong way as it is not meant that way,i'm just explaining what i would do and who knows it may help this guy buying his motor.You can get service anywere they sell the brand of motor you buy as long as it's under warranty and the [marinas are close to you]Now that could be a deciding factor also how far he has to travel.
Your definition of a deal is cheap price. Your definition of value is a long warranty. Wrong on both counts!
So, you go ahead and get your "deal", then bring it into MY dealer for service. I've been going there for 40+ years and he knows me by name. He knows you bought yours in East Podunk from Bubba. I'll be back out on the water tomorrow, but you'll be missing the best fishing month of the year. He services me first because I bought it from him and he knows I'll buy the next one from him as well.
OK, 3.1 years later you bring yours in and he says sorry sam your warranty expired. OTOH, he fixes mine for free - see the reasons above. My marina has been in business since 1946 and he has a lot of clout because he sells a lot. I can cite several instances where I got free service out of warranty with just a phone call from the dealer to the factory to authorize it.
For routine maintenance items i get a lot of things at cost - see the reasons above.
I don't go cheep....I go for the
real deal.