Is your Spyder your primary mode of transportation

[retiredsquid]

AFAIAK your Spyder should be treated as your primary mode of transportation. That is by BRP and their dealers around the country.

I see so many threads where is seems like folks feel it is okay for their Spyder to remain at a dealer for parts or repairs for a week or longer (sometimes very long periods of time) and it does not bother some owners.

I am of the belief that if I spend as much or more on a new Spyder which if you do the RT-622, warranties, and some more aftermarket options you can be getting well past $35K really fast. Then you should get the kind of service that you have grown to expect from your local Ford or Chevy dealer.

How long would Ford or Chevy stay in business if the Mustang had a reputation of spending weeks or months in the shop or some simple problem was taking weeks to be repaired by Ford?

Not flaming BRP, just an observation of how I see some owners have been treated. I know my experience with BRP Customer Service was pathetic and a certain amount of arrogance at my dealership after they got the checks from us.

When I call the dealership for service I expect to be treated as if my Spyder is my only source of transportation and not a toy to be repaired when they get "a roundtuit."

 

[boborgera]

When I call the dealership for service I expect to be treated as if my Spyder is my only source of transportation and not a toy to be repaired when they get "a roundtuit."

:agree: But the only way they won't treat it as a toy, Is if your dealer only sells or mostly sells only BRP products. Dealer takes in a Spyder for a repair it can take weeks for parts, Take in a big 4 bike and in most cases the parts are in stock or they'll get it in 24 hours. [time is $$ for dealers] Fact of life Brp doesn't warehouse parts, never have even before they made the Spyder. :dontknow:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Not much you can do about waiting for parts, but communication is key

TEDDYS :spyder2: is our main mode of transportation:2thumbs:

After all the downtime with our 2010 :ani29: RT-S we traded up to the 2011 :spyder2: SpyderFest EdDition & I've been learning routine maintenance procedures with my best friend. Just in the past week, we've had Teddy's :spyder2: undressed & redressed so many times, I feel comfortable doing it now :clap:

We put 13,700 miles in 11 months on his 2010:ani29: & since having his new 2011 :spyder2: for a little over 2 months, we have almost 9000 miles:2thumbs:

:firstplace:Have to give props to Middletown Cycle tho, as when I call them for service, they know it's my daily driver & I may have to wait a little longer to take it in, but they try their best:firstplace: to get me to drop it off on my lunch hour & usually have her ready for me when I get off work:firstplace: Sometimes, like mentioned above, I have to wait for parts to get delivered, but they've always got me back on the road the same day:thumbup: so far :bowdown:

The :spyder2: is my 1st "TOY" that I've ever owned, & I don't really understand the mentality that it's ok to wait weeks for it to get repaired.nojoke Especially at the price point we're at:yikes:
Side note: I haven't driven MY car in so long (at least 6 months:yikes that MY car has a dead battery:roflblack: & I'm just fine with that :roflblack:

 

[ArmyJoe]

I don't think it's OK for my Spyder to sit there, that's why I do my own maintenance whenever I can.

I think the problem is dealers are used to repairing personal watercraft and ATVs, so they don't have the same expectations of customer service that many of us first-time rider/owners do. We expect them to act like automotive industry, but they're not even close.

 

[Weave2u]

I typically drive mine as a primary vehicle. The maintenance fees and fuel costs for my suv are too much, that's why I bought the Spyder. It's become a bit more of a hobby than I anticipated, every time I turn around, I'm plopping down $$ for yet another mod...LOL...oh well!

:f_spider: on!!

 

[retiredsquid]

The maintenance and fuel costs are higher for the Spyder than my Corvette. Spyder maintenance is far higher than for my Ford Platinum 4X4 Super Crew or the wife's Ford 500. I almost never drive anything other than the Spyder, though.

Spyders are high maintenance rigs that are fun to ride. I wish I was capable of doing my own maintenance, but is not possible. I have Gary @ NWA Cycle Service to thank for non warranty service work to help keep it serviced at reasonable rates.

I intend to ryde the Spyder as my primary transportation as long as I can and weather cooperates.

 

[IWN2RYD]

Ours is our 2nd vehicle. Our other Vehicle is a 2010 F150 Larait Supercrew 4x4 for those trips needing big loads or our two Labs get to go with us...

We would love the Trailer, but simply cannot afford that for a while.

 

[aka1004]

It was at one point but it won't be any more whenever I do get it back.
Too many problems, incompetent mechanics, long dealer stays.
I guess it was designed as a toy and it is all that is but a good one.

That also is brp and dealer's attitude toward spyder, a toy, from what I've seen so far.

 

[SpyderGirl]

My Spyder is my primary source of transportation, fortunately for us we have two... so if one is in the shop, I have the other. My husband has a car too. But I agree, the Spyder should not be allowed to sit in a shop for an extraordinary amount of time for service or repair.

 

[Marker]

I agree too, :ani29: should not sit at the dealers waiting for service for extended periods of time . Thankfully, we have great dealer that has very competant spyder techs to look after our :f_spider:. With the hourly shop rate that some dealers charge they should be competant and have great fast service.:yikes:

 

[hotmanali]

Since i got my spyder my Porsche leaves the garage maybe 2 times a week for grocery's or a night out with the GF.

 

[effgjamis]

at my age I cannot afford to drive both the Spyder and Expedition.. Insurance on the Expedition alone is a poket killer, I let it sit and collect dust.
My spyder is my main transportion bar none.

 

[bullant12]

AFAIAK your Spyder should be treated as your primary mode of transportation. That is by BRP and their dealers around the country.

I see so many threads where is seems like folks feel it is okay for their Spyder to remain at a dealer for parts or repairs for a week or longer (sometimes very long periods of time) and it does not bother some owners.

I am of the belief that if I spend as much or more on a new Spyder which if you do the RT-622, warranties, and some more aftermarket options you can be getting well past $35K really fast. Then you should get the kind of service that you have grown to expect from your local Ford or Chevy dealer.

How long would Ford or Chevy stay in business if the Mustang had a reputation of spending weeks or months in the shop or some simple problem was taking weeks to be repaired by Ford?

Not flaming BRP, just an observation of how I see some owners have been treated. I know my experience with BRP Customer Service was pathetic and a certain amount of arrogance at my dealership after they got the checks from us.

When I call the dealership for service I expect to be treated as if my Spyder is my only source of transportation and not a toy to be repaired when they get "a roundtuit."

:agree: Many of us get a loan to purchase a :spyder2: and to have it weeks in a shop is unforgivable. BUT... BRP is not the only ones... a friend of mine has had his HD trike at the HD dealer for a month now for all kinds of issues. Started with the brake lights and now it won't take reverse.

Most dealers can provide you with a loaner if your vehicle is down for a day... however, since this is BRP's first mainstream roadworthy vehicle, they have to get off their marine/snow recreation mentality and see that people are using :spyder2: as modes of transportation and not toys!

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

I try to drive my '09 GS unless I have to carry something large then the mini van come out of the garage. I drive durring the winter unless there is too much snow and ice.

 

[Bob Denman]

My Spyder's the main axe in my garage... but the Missus has a Jeep that I'm allowed to put gas in once in a while!

 

[SpyderRyder2B]

Just for fun! and I let him put the gas in it! - I don't "do" gas

Ok - I know how to, but it's easier if he does it.

I'm very lucky - I walk to work, he rides his Kawi.

But I agree that no vehicle should be kept in the shop for days or weeks on end no matter its primary use. We don't buy things to have them sit in the shop.

 

[aka1004]

An unexpected/unwanted benefit? of owning a spyder has been that it taught me to be more patient. The kind of patience I did not know I had in me...
I had two choices when my spyder sat at dealership for months, go on a rampage and be on the news or talk nicely to people at dealer so they will do their best. :cus::cus::cus::gaah:

If it takes them another 3 1/2 month which is average of two previous engine teardown, my spyder would been in shop over a year total, including other repairs, in 2 years and 9 month of ownership.

Fun toy? Definitely. Reliable transportation? Definitely NOT.

 

[arntufun]

Fun toy? Definitely. Reliable transportation? Definitely NOT.

:agree::agree::agree:I couldn't have said it better myself !!!

 

[GloryRyders]

My :spyder:is not my main mode of transportation but we ryde it every chance we get. When we contact our dealer (CowTown), and ask about bringing it in for maintainence of even adding a new aftermarket goodie, then say to bring it in whenever,and they will get it finished while I wait. Now that's a great dealer.:bowdown::firstplace:

 

[retiredsquid]

My :spyder:is not my main mode of transportation but we ryde it every chance we get. When we contact our dealer (CowTown), and ask about bringing it in for maintainence of even adding a new aftermarket goodie, then say to bring it in whenever,and they will get it finished while I wait. Now that's a great dealer.:bowdown::firstplace:

I wish we were closer to CowTown. They may see me when it comes time for the 12K maintenance if they can get me in and out in the same day. I expect Len will be selling us our second Spyder, because as a man I cannot see me being the passenger behind "she who thinks she must be obeyed." :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: