Servicing Car - Garage or "DIY"?

benten69

fatrab wrote: »

Not having access to software updates and TSBs would worry me with a relatively new car though.

Nothing stopping you from going to the dealer to ask if there are any available updates / TSB's for your car once a year. If there is stuff available they will generally put it on for free or at most a small fee.

So just because you stop using them for servicing doesn't mean you automatically stop getting updates for life and they ban you from ever having them. Just means you need to actually make the effort to check if there are any available for your car.

iolanthe07

I wonder why European manufacturers can't offer the five and seven year warranties of the likes of Kia, Hyundai and Toyota. Three years doesn't seem much these days, and why did Renault reduce from four to three? Vauxhall used to have a ten year warranty (first owner only), but that soon went out of the window. It is time European manufacturers stepped up to the mark.

AdrianC

iolanthe07 wrote: »

I wonder why European manufacturers can't offer the five and seven year warranties of the likes of Kia, Hyundai and Toyota.

Do those additional years actually carry any tangible weight in the market, anyway?

They're not actually that useful in terms of claims - because the majority of issues after the first few years have passed will have resolved the vast, vast majority of manufacturing issues, leaving wear and tear failures, which are excluded anyway.

Because of that, they have the potential to increase customer resentment, when wear and tear failures are denied warranty coverage.

Also, the first owner is rarely over three years anyway, so doesn't much care beyond any effect on resale, and that's only if resale actually has a direct knock-on to them, rather than simply in terms of how it affects lease/PCP rates/balloon.

The manufacturers aren't stupid. They've looked at the costs and the benefits, and simply decided that the longer warranties aren't worth it. And that's not necessarily because of quality factors.

iolanthe07

Also, the first owner is rarely over three years anyway

The Kia/Hyundai/Toyota warranties cover subsequent owners, not just the first one. These warranties are a key selling factor for many private owners. I bought new Kia Rio last year over a Mazda 2 or Ford Fiesta because of the longer warranty, though I suspect the Mazda and the Ford are probably better cars. But I take on board your last paragraph, which does make a lot of sense.

AdrianC

iolanthe07 wrote: »

Also, the first owner is rarely over three years anyway

The Kia/Hyundai/Toyota warranties cover subsequent owners, not just the first one. These warranties are a key selling factor for many private owners.

...now read the rest of that para you quoted.

iolanthe07

AdrianC wrote: »

...now read the rest of that para you quoted.

Well, yes, but as I intend to keep the car for at least 5 - 7 years, then the long warranty is important for peace of mind.

AdrianC

...then read the second para of my post...

fred246

I always service my own cars from new. I don't want a clown messing with my car at any stage of it's life. I think servicing of new cars is done particularly badly because:
The owner doesn't really want a service. They just want a stamp.
The garage would rather just give a stamp and not do a service.
The car is unlikely to break down anyway.
My policy is that if the car is perfect in year one I will do all the services. It's a little bit scary in years 2 and 3 but I've never had a problem. Never had a car with longer warranty.
What I find hilarious is that the dealers charge less to service older cars. They are the ones that need more work. If a pensioner brings in a one year old car with 2000 miles on the clock are they going to take the wheels off to check the brake pads? I don't think so!
It's all a silly game so I don't take part. It seems that main dealers have got to make money somehow and 'servicing' ie 'stamping books' is one that they still have.