Best Northern gulf coast Suzuki service? - The Hull Truth

ldifulco3 · 08-11-2017, 08:17 AM

I'm having a boat built in south Florida and have purchased a pair of Suzuki 300's for it. I live in central Louisiana. I am trying to determine who is best for service and warranty work on my new Suzuki's. I know I will have to travel for service and that is ok... I drive almost 2 hours now to get my Yamaha's serviced. Please give some recommendations for south Louisiana, south Mississippi and south East Texas.

EastCoasted · 08-11-2017, 08:41 AM

Lous marine in gulf breeze is top notch, probably a little to Far East for you but Gary is excellent.

mlanzotti · 08-11-2017, 10:35 AM

Lous X2. I had bizarre problem with my DF140 after CPU change out (turned out to be a bad wire in engine harness b/c of a prior mechanics carelessness). Suzuki head mechanic in US told me to take it to Lou's b/c they were the best he had anywhere close. They are great guys and deserve the reputation they have...first class.

Mark

BananaTom · 08-11-2017, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoasted

Lous marine in gulf breeze is top notch, probably a little to Far East for you but Gary is excellent.

Yeppers

meaux fishing · 08-11-2017, 12:26 PM

Mikes marine in Broussard has done some work for me before and I was happy with it. I get my work done now at moonlight marine in Erath because I'm friends with the owner and he is very meticulous. Not sure if he is a factory authorized service center though.

TV Big Slick · 08-11-2017, 12:55 PM

Duvic's in Harvey has always treated me right
3650 Westbank Expy, Harvey, LA 70058

ldifulco3 · 08-11-2017, 07:50 PM

Gulf Breeze is a little too far, but great info anyway. If I'm ever stumped with an issue then I'd certainly be willing to make that trip. All good feedback! If there is any to avoid, please send a pm if you'd like to avoid public negativity.

pisnapper · 08-12-2017, 12:30 PM

Having been in a service oriented business you should have answered that question before you bought them!

davidwademarine · 08-12-2017, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pisnapper

Having been in a service oriented business you should have answered that question before you bought them!

Most don't think about that issue until the time comes for dealer service. Suzuki's cheap pricing is very attractive, but their tiny dealer network and lacking parts availability can make them a real PITA when that time comes. South FL has a decent amount of Suzuki dealers, but south LA, not so much. Good luck in your quest. We have yet to find a reputable Suzuki dealer that we feel confident in sending our few Suzuki customers to.

fly186 · 08-12-2017, 02:56 PM

Best reason to own a Suzuki is that there's a very good chance you'll never need to take it in for any type of warranty service especially if you handle all the routine periodic maintenance tasks yourself.
As far as the parts availability rumor goes, in my experience that's complete B.S. Plenty of online sources that can get you any part you need within a few days if you don't have a local dealer.

davidwademarine · 08-12-2017, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fly186

Best reason to own a Suzuki is that there's a very good chance you'll never need to take it in for any type of warranty service especially if you handle all the routine periodic maintenance tasks yourself.
As far as the parts availability rumor goes, in my experience that's complete B.S. Plenty of online sources that can get you any part you need within a few days if you don't have a local dealer.

No one's product is perfect and there always will be consumers who will require warranty service. Keep them long enough and you will require dealer service at some point. Lacking parts availability is no rumor. Have you actually ordered any OEM parts, besides standard maintainence items, from these "plenty of online resources"? If you place an order you will find a lot of parts to be on backorder, sometimes taking several months to fulfill. I've watched some customers go down that road and ruin an entire fishing season over something simple like a lower unit bearing or an O2 sensor. Currently, we have a customer with a pair of Suzuki 300s who won't have his boat for at least another 2 months due to several electrical parts being unavailable. None of the local dealers, including those listed and others not listed, can do anything for him. He's been out since late May. When the local Suzuki sales rep came by during the spring to try and get us to sign up as a dealer, he even admitted to parts availability being a serious problem for his dealers.

ldifulco3 · 08-12-2017, 06:43 PM

Well, I guess my simple request for feedback has been derailed by the know it all, smart ass, peanut gallery. If you don't have substantive feedback, please refrain! Like I stated before, I travel 2 hours now to get Yamaha service. I drive 5 hours to the marina. I don't give a damn how far I travel to get my motors serviced. I guarantee that those travel expenses will never tally up to the $12,000 I saved buying a top notch set of motors that just happen to not be grey.

davidwademarine · 08-12-2017, 07:08 PM

You stated you're looking for a dealer after your purchase. pisnapper simply said that may be something you should've thought of first, which is very true and substantive feedback. I expanded on that comment considering what our customers have experienced with area Suzuki dealers and parts availability. Again, more substantive feedback whether you like it or not. It's your choice to take it or leave it. As I stated in my first response, good luck in your quest.

ldifulco3 · 08-12-2017, 07:21 PM

No, your feedback is little more than an attempt to throw a sucker punch at Suzuki. There has been over 2 years of research, sea trial, tours, and deliberation that have gone into the build and all of the products going into it. I refuse to be pressured into a particular brand by 'fire and brimstone' preaching by Yamaha and Mercury dealers. I purchased motors that my research has shown to be dependable, quiet, efficient, and yes, saved me money. Why would I make a purchase that large based entirely on a mechanics shop? If I don't like one shop, there is always another one down the road. Your comments are asinine.

midcap · 08-12-2017, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldifulco3

No, your feedback is little more than an attempt to throw a sucker punch at Suzuki. There has been over 2 years of research, sea trial, tours, and deliberation that have gone into the build and all of the products going into it. I refuse to be pressured into a particular brand by 'fire and brimstone' preaching by Yamaha and Mercury dealers. I purchased motors that my research has shown to be dependable, quiet, efficient, and yes, saved me money. Why would I make a purchase that large based entirely on a mechanics shop? If I don't like one shop, there is always another one down the road. Your comments are asinine.

Lighten up man.

DW Marine stated a fact

In the case of Suzuki down here, there's just isn't another shop down the road. That's why this thread was started.

davidwademarine · 08-12-2017, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midcap

Lighten up man.

DW Marine stated a fact

In the case of Suzuki down here, there's just isn't another shop down the road. That's why this thread was started.

It seems like numerous area Suzuki dealers should've been found with "2 years of research". If there are so many dealers "down the road", why was this thread even started?

ldifulco3, you have a lot to learn. Good luck to you.

midcap · 08-12-2017, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidwademarine

It seems like numerous area Suzuki dealers should've been found with "2 years of research". If there are so many dealers "down the road", why was this thread even started?

ldifulco3, you have a lot to learn. Good luck to you.

I didn't see the need for the Op to get upset/defensive.

People don't often see how having a quality reputable dealer around for warranty work is important.

redfishray · 08-12-2017, 07:52 PM

Wow, unexpected from David wade marine.... seems all the non-zuke dealers like to spread b.s.... i can tell you about customer service deficiencies with a dealer in this thread if you really want to get into it....i recall it has to do with someone being out of town, Secretary forgot...whatever, water under bridge.

OP asked a simple question. He wants a person he can trust to work on his Suzukis. Chances are he won't need service, after all he's not buying a verado

ldifulco3 · 08-12-2017, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidwademarine

It seems like numerous area Suzuki dealers should've been found with "2 years of research". If there are so many dealers "down the road", why was this thread even started?

ldifulco3, you have a lot to learn. Good luck to you.

As a fellow business owner, I can assure you the knowledge to be learned lies with you. One hell of a way to conduct yourself in the name of your business. I can assure you, there will always be another shop down the road past yours.

jw39 · 08-12-2017, 09:40 PM

Duvics in New Orleans has done me well in past.