dealer service v local garage and selling on

mousegirl3

Hi, we have a 4yo Vauxhall, bought second hand from a Vauxhall dealer. The dealer originally sold the car from new and has been servicing it since then.
Should we carry on with the Vauxhall servicing (expensive) knowing that when we sell it on it will have a full Vauxhall service history or do we use a local independent garage (cheaper) - how will a none Vauxhall service affect re sale value?

Thanks

bengalknights

After 3 years it doesnt really make a difference where the car is serviced for maintaining its service history so has no effect really.

F_T_Buyer

Local garage definitely! You may not get as more when you sell it, but you will many times that in savings on the services.

I'm not a big fan of main dealer garages after thinking the same as you, bought a VW had a VW service... 2/3 weeks later had a puncture and for the life of me I could not get the wheel off. The wrench was too small, but my other friend lent me his 12v pump so pumped it up and took it to my friends garage. I was shown the problem, it was rust, hence the VW garage never took the wheels off to inspect the brakes and certainly didn't remove the rust as they should have done.

Don't believe you are getting a superior service, many of the local garages did their apprenticeships in dealer garages!

property.advert

Surely you are in Vauxhall Masterfit club thing which gets 20% off. Then add in paying a dealer a regular direct debit amount to get another 10-20% off and then your annual service drops significantly in price. Parts and MOT discounted as well.

Not saying it is as cheap as it could be elsewhere but you are maintaining goodwill and again, they have a much bigger reputation to protect if something goes wrong.

Biketrials08

Of course before deciding - get some quotes from Vauxhall and some independents, it will make the choice clearer. Also, don't forget otherways of cutting the cost like supplying your own oil and asking for NO screenwash.

forgotmyname

I want a folder full of receipts for work done and bits changed instead of a book full of stamps that may have
been basic oil changes and little else.

Your rear suspensions falling off do you want it fixed, Nah just change the oil and stamp the book mate.

Following year, Do you know your rear suspensions held on with cable ties, Do you want it done? Nah just change
the oil and stamp the book.

Next year, Are you sure you've brought it in for an oil change the rear suspensions in the boot....

Just change the oil and stamp the book........

colino

Find a local friendly independent to look after your car(s) and just as importantly as following manufacturers guidelines and oem quality parts, get a full detailed receipted invoice. Far too many "FSH" cars around now with stamped service books from ebay.
Only with prestige cars is it necessary (to retain peak value) to have a sheaf of Dealer only history.

property.advert

colino wrote: »

Find a local friendly independent to look after your car(s) and just as importantly as following manufacturers guidelines and oem quality parts, get a full detailed receipted invoice. Far too many "FSH" cars around now with stamped service books from ebay.
Only with prestige cars is it necessary (to retain peak value) to have a sheaf of Dealer only history.

I disagree. Principally, I don't think car ownership benefits from a race to the bottom in terms of cutting all maintenance costs to the bone.

I am an expert in my field but I know little about cars except driving them. However, I do know that a checkable FSH from a main dealer network shows that the previous owner wasn't a penny pinching miser. Therefore the car stands a better chance of being cared for and being well maintained. It also means goodwill if something goes wrong.

There are specialist independents out there I agree but as I explained about Vauxhall servicing, there are ways to significantly reduce costs and remain within the dealer network. I suspect many simply can't be bothered to investigate and thus criticise without knowledge.

vax2002

A full main dealer service History does add a small premium on the sale price, however add up the costs of theses main dealer prices vs local garage and you will never get back anywhere near what you pay.
A good local garage can download the service history and follow it to the line.
I took mine to a local garage last year where they took the fuel filter off and it was dated the same year and month as the car.
According to the main dealer servicing they had marked it as having been changed 3 times, in fact it had never been touched, it even showed on receipts at £78+ vat.
All computer printed nonsense, the local garage was amazed the car was still running on the same fuel filter, he changed it and charged £21 for the filter, it was not even due on that service but had to be done as the dealer had not bothered.
Again the Air filter, never changed, but marked on 50,000 mile service, Air filter £45.
Local garage, £12.