Why get a car serviced at the dealer's garage?

I have to go along with the self help view here for several reasons
Firstly the old maxim, if you want something doing correctly then do it yourself.

Secondly there can't me a better money saver than maintaining and repairing your own car.

And lastly it is both enjoyable and satisfying.


Of course I realise that not a lot of people are not clued up on cars and this is why the rogues prosper.

Being an engineer by occupation, I have built several cars,the first while I was an apprentice about 35 years ago. I run trackday cars, and messed around with installing engine management systems.

I'm not in the auto industry by any means of the word, but with a bit of application during the whole of this time I have yet to take a car to any type of garage for other than MOT time, and the odd insurance bodywork issue. I've had some pretty old cars in that time too. I'm not bragging in anyway, just saying what a tight***e I am and that for any reasonably skilled person with a few tools there is no better moneysaver. I'm just not prepared having heard so many horror stories to entrust my cars to a garage for anything I can do myself.

Only recently, the last couple of cars, have I had anything with a manufacturers waranty on it. Even then I decided on a gamble, trusting my own abilities and did the service work myself. I don't recomend this approach to anyone by the way. I have had to take the cars back for both the odd recall and minor warany issue and both times these have fixed without question. The main agent simply seeming to want there money from the manufacturer.

Lastly inspite of the fact that my local MOT station know that they are unlikely to get a penny in repairs from me we get on well, and they get all the family cars at MOT time.:money:

jeannieblue wrote: »

Twaddle :rotfl:

One or two so called Technicians if you're lucky... plus alot of youngsters (I shouldn't generalise, but s*d it), who basically don't give a t*ss...

A good independent hands down anyday! They can order in genuine parts you know - and, they care - which is really important!

You shouldn't have to buy 'goodwill' by being blackmailed to going to the main stealers for over priced, often badly done, servicing. Its under warranty, fix it. End of.

They'd get more business, if they charged sensible prices and did the job properly.

With respect, sorry it is you talking complete and utter rubbish.

I do not work for a dealer, but you work for an independent - who is biased ?

deltic wrote: »

With respect, sorry it is you talking complete and utter rubbish.

I do not work for a dealer, but you work for an independent - who is biased ?

Oh - and I'm not biased - I'm just plain old fashioned honest - if I could say something good about them, I would.

Keith wrote: »

I took my car to the local dealership under warranty as the electric auto closure wasn't working properly, I walked to the car, lowered the window and it dropped off the runner. It had been properly "tested" before I arrived.

I then left the car with the dealers for a week whilst they fixed all of these electrical problems, 30 seconds after I arrived the car had replicated 2 of the 4 it went in with.

The dealership refused to fix the folding mirrors as it had done 35,000 miles, it was bought with 28,000 on and the remainder of the warranty. Yet this was a problem that should be expected apprently. Strangely, standing in their showroom at noon on a Saturday and shouting "So your telling me a car I've owned for 6 months I'm MEANT TO EXPECT PROBLEMS COSTING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS" suddenly meant they would "look" at it, and refuse to do anything until the car was rejected following a solicitors letter at which they amazingly fixed the problem.

An able bodied motorist should not need anyone to check their fluid levels, eg brake, screen wash, power steering, coolant. Apart from screenwash a sudden lack of one of these fluids would illustrate a problem and waiting for it to be identified at a service could lead to a) more damage or b) an accident.

I'm able bodied - but the guys check mine!!

We get some elderly customers who 'pop' in and we change a bulb or top up their levels for them. We'd charge for the bulb but thats about it.

If Deltic or like minded start in defence of stealers again - they'll get more stories! :rotfl:

But not tonight - gotta get up early for work tomorrow - we're very busy

im buying a car from Ford part exchange and ive been asked if ive got full service history for my VW Polo. I said yes but i didnt tell him its only been stamped by VW for 4 years which covered the warranty and full services for each year from smaller private garages which is not stamped in the book , but on paper listing jobs done full service etc,.but also states a couple of problems which have been fixed but i suppose dont look good to point them out on the services!.My Polo,s 8 yr old. Im worried he expects only VW proof and might devalue my part exchange. Any advice please, thanks.