Thats right, Manhattan Motorcars wants to charge that much just for a plain old oil change...I called Huntingridge after and they were trying to explain why they charge $40, which is more like it (Nile was very informative on the phone). I know where my car is going for service from now on. Are you saying $300 for labor? I am confused how anyone could change the oil for $40 - that would barely buy you ~5 quarts of decent oil + filter.

- John Thats right, Manhattan Motorcars wants to charge that much just for a plain old oil change...I called Huntingridge after and they were trying to explain why they charge $40, which is more like it (Nile was very informative on the phone). I know where my car is going for service from now on.
Here in San Jose, Silicon Valley Auto group also charges 300 for the oil change.

I do my own oil changes so it really doesn't matter to me though. Are you saying $300 for labor? I am confused how anyone could change the oil for $40 - that would barely buy you ~5 quarts of decent oil + filter. Five quarts of Mobil 1 for about $22, $8 for a filter would cost $30, leaving $10 for labor.

It can be done, but they aren't making a huge amount of money on the labor - if they have a drive on lift or and oil changing pit, it would be a lot simpler... I suspect the $300 is a 7500 mile service figure, which includes the oil change. I.e. they've assumed the "and everything else that gets done at the same time".

However, don't forget that the bottom panels on the Elise add some extra work to the oil change itself, and getting the car jacked up incorrectly to do that oil change could cost you a lot more than $300 to fix/replace those panels. I suspect the $300 is a 7500 mile service figure, which includes the oil change. I.e. they've assumed the "and everything else that gets done at the same time".

However, don't forget that the bottom panels on the Elise add some extra work to the oil change itself, and getting the car jacked up incorrectly to do that oil change could cost you a lot more than $300 to fix/replace those panels.

I spoke to them specifically about just changing the oil at 5,000 miles, not the 7,500 mile service. They stated $300.

The other quote was by a dealer who only sells Lotus and seems much more reasonable. I was prepared for $100, but how long can it take to justify $300. Thats all I got for the 1000 mile check up. A 300 dollar oil change and they clipped the warrenty card out of my book. No ECU update, no air conditioner fix - they claimed that these did not apply to my Vin. Maybe maybe not. I don't care much. The car and air conditioning are fine with me. TG - Wazzamatta, doze taxi quick change shops on the West Side not good enough for ya? Bet they'd love to see you drive up.

Let Hunting Ridge service your car. Real mechanics and great people.

A short walk to the Metro North train station in Port Chester if you need it.

Come to the drive this Sunday and meet them.
Come to the drive this Sunday and meet them.

What drive this sunday? Share some more info please. [quote=Buck Dharma]Thats all I got for the 1000 mile check up. A 300 dollar oil change and they clipped the warrenty card out of my book.


I got clipped too. How low can you go? Pretty sad when you have to rip out a coupon and rip off a new car buyer who just paid 48,000 for a car.

Not a good way to start a dealer customer relationship.

Anyway, I paid them $275.00 for 1000 mile. I'll be changing my own oil for now on. So, is EVERY oil change for this car going to cost ~$300?!? If you get the oil changed every 3 months, you're spending $1200 per year!
I may have to cancel my order because that is simply highway robbery. I love the car but can't afford to do that year after year. Don't they have to drain the oil coolers with the oil change? That could be the reason for the price. It could be trick draining the system and refilling it without air in the lines. You don't change the oil every 3 months-it's every 7500 miles after the first service. And they don't change the oil in the coolers-ever. It's considered to be changed over time with regular engine oil changes.

The reasons I've heard for higher charges: 1) more expensive oil
2) special training to get at the bits.
3) more than an oil change; other things done/checked too.

Even though Rothrock charges a reasonable amount for a change, it's the inconvenience that gets me to do it myself. An hour drive each way plus the wait time AND I can save $75 if I do it myself-a no brainer. The time involved is the biggest issue to me. I can't imagine being one of the owners who has to go 6 hours for service. So, is EVERY oil change for this car going to cost ~$300?!? If you get the oil changed every 3 months, you're spending $1200 per year!
I may have to cancel my order because that is simply highway robbery. I love the car but can't afford to do that year after year.
Check with the dealer where you're going to service the car. My dealer quoted $100 for an oil change. If it's not part of a recommended service interval, you can just do it yourself. You don't change the oil every 3 months-it's every 7500 miles after the first service. And they don't change the oil in the coolers-ever. It's considered to be changed over time with regular engine oil changes.

So, the car is delivered filled with mineral oil. On the mandatory first service they switch to synthetic. That means you have 56% synthetic and 44% mineral oil after the first service?

And every time you do an oil change there's 44% old oil in there. So, the car is delivered filled with mineral oil. On the mandatory first service they switch to synthetic. That means you have 56% synthetic and 44% mineral oil after the first service?

And every time you do an oil change there's 44% old oil in there.
I guess that's one benefit of having a single oil cooler that no one has thought to mention. Only a quarter of your oil will be inside a cooler. I guess that's one benefit of having a single oil cooler that no one has thought to mention. Only a quarter of your oil will be inside a cooler.
I haven't seen a number published for the single cooler cars. But since all the hoses are the same and there is 1 cooler, I don't think that the capacity drops to 25%. Maybe. I haven't seen a number published for the single cooler cars. But since all the hoses are the same and there is 1 cooler, I don't think that the capacity drops to 25%. Maybe.
I made the assumption that the bulk of the cooler oil is in the coolers and not the hoses. If 3.7q are normally in the two-cooler system, I'd guess a single cooler system would hold a little more than half of that. Y'all are forgetting all that oil in the sump when you are guessing how much oil is sitting where.