Car Service-Should I Find Cheaper?

aardvark · Post by **aardvark** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:24 pm

The major services on my Subaru cost me a bloody fortune. If they were 400 bucks, I'd be happy!

nahima · Post by **nahima** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:46 pm

At what point are major services? I think mine were only minor up til now - not sure how much Merc will charge but a grand? Hope my service nex week is only minor, i already have to fork out $1450 for insurance excess because my daughter had a minor tin-scrape last week and the evaparotive cooler decided to die so now got to get that fixed...ow!

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:57 pm

Actually the next service on the Golf is a 3year/45000km - was told it will be $225. The major services tend to be more expensive, but then again, you don't pay so much for the minors...

I used to get my old BMW dealer serviced - it was actually quite inexpensive and it was done by people that knew the car rather than by someone who'd never touched one before.

In our experience Japanese cars tend to be dearer to service for some reason...

nahima · Post by **nahima** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:05 pm

i'm not sure how many mechanics would know my car well enough for me to be tempted to give it to someone else so I take it to the dealer

Johnnie5 · Post by **Johnnie5** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:12 pm

nahima wrote:i'm not sure how many mechanics would know my car well enough for me to be tempted to give it to someone else so I take it to the dealer

what gives you the idea that the dealer knows best

surely there is a specialist around

what car is it ?

nahima · Post by **nahima** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:17 pm

Smart Roadster - not many around and they've stopped production - engine is smaller than my bike's hehehe but the bike doesn't have a turbo on it...

Zamo · Post by **Zamo** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:20 pm

cant you take it back to the dealership for servicing?

nahima · Post by **nahima** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:24 pm

Merc is the dealer - its made by Daimler-chrysler and sold through Merc in Oz so far they've been good and not overly expensive but not sure on a major service - probablys hould ask them when I take it in next week

Blue14 · Post by **Blue14** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:42 pm

nahima wrote:Smart Roadster - not many around and they've stopped production - engine is smaller than my bike's hehehe but the bike doesn't have a turbo on it...

LOL. you have a smart rdster hey.. They are a small little rocket..

Blue14 · Post by **Blue14** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:45 pm

$400 for a major service is quite reasonable. You will find most labour rates from a dealer are around the $90 - $100 p/h mark these days. The good thing about using a dealer is if something does go wrong and has service history from a dealer always looks good for you even if it is out of warranty they have a thing called good will. And if you jump up and down enough you will get them to come to the party.

nahima · Post by **nahima** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:56 pm

blue12 wrote:LOL. you have a smart rdster hey.. They are a small little rocket..

I love this car - it's the most fun on four wheels! I bought it after the accident ('05) and had to get to work and physio - work gave me a car park and let me do a lease (they pay my FBT god bless them) in an attempt to keep me off the bike - terrifies them that I ride - especially after the accident. I love the looks you get in the car - excpet when people realise it's an old bitch driving - well that's even funnier...

blackninja · Post by **blackninja** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:22 am

my ba falcon 45000klm service from ford is $475 i thought stuff that got a price from autoleaders $340 what a difference then went to ultra tune and got quoted just over $200 now im thinkn what the hecks going on why are they so different in prices the only thing i can think of is genuine parts are obviously dearer labor costs and location rentals are a factor but im thinkn the big difference is what gets done in the service as auto leaders stressed they flush the cooling system im guessing ultra tune wont.
but then again the last service at ford cost $200 and all they really did was change the oil so i give up

Draven · Post by **Draven** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:41 am

all in all cages are nothing but trouble

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:05 am

blackninja wrote:my ba falcon 45000klm service from ford is $475 i thought stuff that got a price from autoleaders $340 what a difference then went to ultra tune and got quoted just over $200 now im thinkn what the hecks going on why are they so different in prices...

Yeah, they'll quote a lower price, but only include some very basic items, like oil, oil filter...your ford dealer is probably telling you how much it will cost to do everything that should be done. All the services I've had so far have included wheel alignments, etc, as per the schedule, and about the only extras I seem to pay for are wiper fluid and wiper blades.

esie · Post by **esie** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:59 am

Paul, if you were in Brisbane I would give you the name of a fantastic mobile mechanic who works for himself. If anyone else in Brisbane wants details, shoot me a PM. He comes to you whereever is convenient, when I used to work for the Bank he used to service my car in the shopping centre carpark!

My family have all been using his services for about 20 years. When we bougth the Rav 4, as it was under 100,000 kms I had Toyota (also known as Rip-Off Merchants!) service the car for a small fortune each time, but now that it is over 100k km I have started using Bob again. His prices are fantastic, and can usually see your car very quickly.