Hi Guys, new to the Forum, but not to car ownership, both new (way back), mostly used cars (maybe about 200 over time). I don't drive much here in San Francisco but like to have a car when I need it. Just bought a used 2015 CR-V EX AWD, fully loaded except leather. One owner, 60,000 miles, which as we all know, for Honda and Toyota is practically a new car if it has not been abused.
The OP is kind of cryptic in his post about needing timing chain work. AFAIK the only time such things need replacing is if belts are used, not chains. Belts need a look and possible replacing at 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Timing chains last way way longer because, well, they are chains. While adjusting may be in order, metal simple does not wear out as fast as belt material.
Are you concerned simply because you had a prior bad experience, with a chain or belt?
Anyway, kloker's post is spot on. Sounds grim, but over my 30 year law career I have actually represented at times "dealership employees." They revealed to me over time exactly how things work at dealerships. AFAIK none operate different from the other. So if your dealership is an exception, don't take offense at my post. What he says is accurate: dealerships nowadays like to replace parts. They are NOT interested in repairing something that can be fixed. And the owner is NOT in business to save you money, aka helping you out financially by doing the minimum to get you back on the road.
The only person who matters at a dealership is the OWNER (typically an individual set up as a corporation, who buys a manufacturer franchise authorizing them to do business in town, selling new/used card, providing warranty work, and the big money maker, servicing cars in which the warranty has expired. The owner has one purpose, to make as much money as he or she can, via a concept called "vertical integration" meaning that the owner makes money in all aspects of car ownership: new car sale or leasing; (including profit on the car sale, finance & insurance, and selling you a lot of stuff you don't need); warranty billings to the manufacturer; service or repairs not covered by warranty; car trade-in; service work or repairs (parts and labor) after the warranty expires; insurance work; or parts sales, to name a few.
Everything a car dealer does is designed to MAXIMIZE PROFIT! That's the owner's raison d'être.
I won't go into detail because I know this is boring, but as an example, there's two employees at the dealership who get paid on a "commission ONLY" basis. What this means, the employee's income is determined by how much money the employee brings in for the owner. If the employee brings in $50,000 in sales for the month and the employee is paid 5% commission, he or she has made $2,500 that month. The employees I represented over time averaged about $150K to $200K in annual wages.
Who are the two employees I'm talking about: The F & I person, and what might surprise you: the "runway" or "ramp" guy (who is the person handles "intake" of your car whenever you visit the dealer, for warranty work, repairs, or service. Yes, that guy gets to eat only what he kills. No sales = no commissions; low sales = low pay.
You know that person the car salesman hands you off to after you have agreed to buy the car, that's the Finance & Insurance person. Their job is to make you feel like a deadbeat for your lousy credit score (which you thought was near perfect). Their motive is to get you financing at the highest possible rate you will agree to, so the owner can pocket the profits on the loan (profit = difference between the interest rate you agreed to pay, and the interest rate the bank or other financial institution will actually give to carry the loan. E.g., you agree to a 5 year note at 10% APR. The bank in a secret deal with the owner will carry the loan at 5%. Profit to the owner, the 5% difference between the two rates. Yes, this is legal.)
Bottom Line: The two most important people at a dealership are the F & I and ramp employees. They are the ones who make the dealership the BIG money. Moral of the story: be on guard when dealing with either of these employees. And like kloker advises, the ONLY reason you should be going to the (Honda) dealership is to get FREE warranty or recall work.
Note: The service department is run separately. An owner can make big profits in the service department, especially if lots of car owner's faithfully bring in their cars to get a $1200 service, that cost the dealer about $80 including labor and parts.