Dealer vs Normal Mechanic

[chookaradley]

Im a mechanic, and in 20 years ive never had to or been encouraged to up sell to customers. In fact ive told people that whether they spend $1 or $1000 on their car is completely irrelevant to me or my employer.

[Spammy]

I would rather buy a car that has been serviced by a real mechanic (who knows something about cars) than the shaved chimps who make up the majority of the service teams I have encountered at ford and Holden dealers.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

I don't know what kind of independent's you've been going to, but $500 is alot for a service. My independent does the equivalent service for $200-$300.

Yeah, I was a bit WTF? But reality is I normally do it myself and it was an Audi. First time in years I had a car serviced. I serviced the car myself other times and its no different than a Ford. But I reckon he sees Audi and price goes up.

Finding a mechanic is hard, every time I use one I don't go back..

[FPV+fteT3]

I had new rotors fitted to the front of my FPV ute, new pads, new rear pads and an oil change last thursday. I supplied rotors and pads (brembo brakes x 4) and oil, mechanic supplied oil filter and helped me fit a new drivers side window winder to it after it came off the hoist I supplied the new motor. I removed the trims etc @2hours labour we chatted while he worked I looked at putting some cable ties around the exhaust hanger rubbers while it was on the hoist to straighten it up again, checked a few other things $250.00 cash no receipt some of you guys need to get to know your local repair guys. I have been going to this place for over 20 years, he has worked on all my cars, owns his own shop sure its a bit old and so is he, he has a new hoist was fitted last year, it has no cafe latte bar and its not all that tidy, but he looks after his regulars plus rego checks are easy when he looks at the car every 6 months or so, he knows I have things fixed as they come up the damn window crapped over christmas. Now if I had gone to Kloster Ford in newcastle, no social interaction, no you pull the trims off and I will help you change the window motor, and definitely no discount for cash and no dockets. Old school mechanic it will be a sad day when he retires and leases out the shop he keeps telling me thats the plan. He also has beautiful RHD 66 stang under a cover down the back he fully converted and restored this some 15 years or so ago its mint so we always talk ford cars…lol..

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Yeah, I was a bit WTF? But reality is I normally do it myself and it was an Audi. First time in years I had a car serviced. I serviced the car myself other times and its no different than a Ford. But I reckon he sees Audi and price goes up.

Finding a mechanic is hard, every time I use one I don't go back..

You think being an Audi makes the price go up? Apparently something that floats does too.
I was recently quoted $400 plus parts to service my Mercruiser powered ski boat!
Essentially a vortec chev, so an oil change, filters and grease the prop shaft gland,
I did it myself in 45mins and about $60 for oil and filters.

[The Yeti]

I get my work car serviced at the dealer, fixed price and I claim it all

I recently had the 45k service done and 132k after I get a noise from the front brakes.

I pulled a wheel and noticed my wear indicator was touching on the front and a poopyenth off touching the rear (impressed as normally I do the fronts then the rear never at the same time ) but ****ed I needed brakes at 45,000km

Any how I checked the service docet that told me I had 40% left on the front and 60% on the rears

Clearly they weren't checked
I then took the car to a independent workshop and had the pads replaced

Won't be taking it back to that dealer **** the fixed price servicing.

If they don't even check the brakes what else do they skip???

[Windsor220]

For the guys that take their car to an independent mechanic, do you get a logbook service done or just a standard service every time? Even when its out of warranty I'm talking about.

Back when I was at the dealer what we found was a lot of people would get it serviced by someone else but they would just do the basics so after a few years there would be dramas with the car. Clogged up filters, valve clearances never adjusted, injectors never calibrated, outdated ECU software etc.

[Mechan1k]

Only times I have been to the dealer is during warranty for things to be sorted by the dealer itself ... may have had the servicing done (Winford Ford was good though and looked after me as a customer).

Also things that needed specific alignment (front shaft to front diff on Territory comes to mind) .... had to get that done by Ford as they had the calibration equipment to do so.

Other than that ... I do the run of the mill stuff at home ... and anything more I go through my trusted mechanic.

[STEALTHY]

I went into a Ford dealer today (went in to leave my name incase an F6 R-Spec is in one of their yards) and checked how much a 150k service for my F6X would be. $580. I asked what was changed, and they said oil, filter and plugs. I asked surely there is something else. Nope, the rest was 'check' items. A local mechanic said under 160 for the same service (may be abit more as i use a specific brand of oil)

[neptune blue]

I used to get my cars serviced at dealerships but got sick of cleaning up grease stains from the seats, steering wheel and carpet and taking it back when they damaged something. I remember picking my car up and the front bumper was hanging off one side, they popped it back on and in the process damaged it . I made them pay for the repair but I didn't have the car for 4 days. Then there was another time when they had to replace a faulty seat rail and damaged the steering wheel trying to get the seat out. They replaced the wheel but my white leather interior had dirty overall marks on it from the Neanderthal sitting in it while changing the wheel . So they were about to clean it with prepsol when I told them to **** off.

I have tried several dealers and basically none of them gave a **** about looking after the car . Some didn't ever service the car as per the schedule having found this out after taking it to a private mechanic and viewing the condition of the air cleaner element and the colour of the coolant in the radiator. In end I found a really good mechanic who looks after my cars as if they were his own and I've never looked back . Money hasn't been a factor , it's about looking after my ride

[STINKY NINJA]

Originally Posted by katefactor

The other side is as a buyer would you put more value on a car that has been regularly dealer serviced from new

Unfortunately I agree,most people that buy second hand cars know nothing about cars or mechanics and would instantly think genuine servicing is better and means its always been done correctly...
Just because a mechanic works at a stealership it doesn't mean hes good at his job.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

I went into a Ford dealer today (went in to leave my name incase an F6 R-Spec is in one of their yards) and checked how much a 150k service for my F6X would be. $580. I asked what was changed, and they said oil, filter and plugs. I asked surely there is something else. Nope, the rest was 'check' items. A local mechanic said under 160 for the same service (may be abit more as i use a specific brand of oil)

That guy would go broke. The parts alone are going to be around $100

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Spammy

I would rather buy a car that has been serviced by a real mechanic (who knows something about cars) than the shaved chimps who make up the majority of the service teams I have encountered at ford and Holden dealers.

This. And Mitsubishi is worse!

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

That guy would go broke. The parts alone are going to be around $100

Its only oil and filter, the plugs were done last service and dont need to be done
He doesn't need to be on $100 an hour ;)

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

Its only oil and filter, the plugs were done last service and dont need to be done
He doesn't need to be on $100 an hour ;)

Sounds too cheap...$100/h min if he has a workshop, hoist and tools. not like 100 goes into his pocket as his pay.

I'll call ford today for price on service for F6 and list of things they do.

[99AUXR]

**** need to up our prices here. NZD$70hr +GST.

[LTDHO]

After being in a dealer mechanical shop on a few occasions, I see no benefit in getting them to do any work. Unless you 'have' to in order to keep your warranty. In saying that you will find a better workshop that can stamp a Ford book and not effect your warranty.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Sounds too cheap...$100/h min if he has a workshop, hoist and tools. not like 100 goes into his pocket as his pay.

I'll call ford today for price on service for F6 and list of things they do.

Its pretty much the same price as what i was paying my regular mechanic in SA.

How long would he take on a oil change anyway? 15 minutes? 30 minutes?

I saw the list for F6X, there were 3 items changed, and the rest of the two pages were 'check' items.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Spammy

I would rather buy a car that has been serviced by a real mechanic (who knows something about cars) than the shaved chimps who make up the majority of the service teams I have encountered at ford and Holden dealers.

100%

More times than not it's a teenage mutant ninja apprentice working on your car and you're paying $120+ an hour for the privilege. Makes no sense. And even when you take a car in solely for warranty, half the time they cannot fault it, or "they all do that", or they identify the problem and fail to fix it. Absolute waste of time.

I've never had a private mechanic blatantly try to upsell me something I didn't need. Whereas every time I'm at a dealer, car needs upper engine clean. Car needs brake fluid. Car needs brake pads. Car needs coolant flush. Car needs throttle body clean. Car needs tyres. Car needs alignment. Car needs wheel balance. Car needs wiper blades. Car needs chassis clean. Car needs air filter. Regardless of whether it actually needs the items or not. I've had a Ford service adviser tell me I needed new brake pads and fluid when I had replaced those items literally the day before the service. Never a dull moment at dealerships.

[PridenJoy]

I have four different mechanics that I have accumulated over a long period of time. One for my old school cars, one (ex Ford Foreman) for my AU's and BF, one for my LPG cars, and the Ford dealership for cars under warranty, the dealer I have been with for a long time (since my BF was new) and have a good relationship with, they know that I'm a little handy with cars and don't try to tell me BS stories.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Stefan

I'll call ford today for price on service for F6 and list of things they do.

$570 oil and filter only, tension exhaust manifold and turbo bolts. NO plugs.

You get a "free" car for the day and obviously a ford stamp in the book.

I did an oil Filter change 4,000kms took about 20 minutes and cost $80 bucks in consumables.

[99AUXR]

$570 .

[Bipolar]

I had a workmate tell me years ago after he contacted Fair Trading that as long as you have proof and/or receipts that you've done all the items in the log book service, you can do it all yourself without voiding warranty.

What tactics have people had from dealerships trying to rope them into a 'service agreement'?

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

**** need to up our prices here. NZD$70hr +GST.

Please don't. People like me still cry at those prices

[4vxc]

there is still plenty of w/shops charging $80-$90 plus GST
$160 is right, although a falcon takes a bit more oil

[Stefan]

I think I just changed my mind....I'll service myself, I'll even remove and check plugs save myself 500 bucks

[Tassie f100]

I think too many car ownes get sucked in by the pages of gumph that come with the service invoice.The average service should take about 1hr max.When the car is being put on the hoist all the rear lights get checked then on the hoist out with the sump plug,do a few visual checks and give the exhaust and wheels a bit of a shake.Off with the filter on with the new filter,in with the plug ,back on the ground.Fill with oil,wander round with the lube stick,check fluid levels then write out a 1/2 page checklist report and put $427.85 on the bottom of the page

[blackf6]

My mechanic is great. Dropped a cell in the missus battery. He ticked it up on my bill. Easy as. I went around to his shop fitted it up. If I need something done, he fits me in on the day. Sends me the bill in the mail a few weeks later.

[4vxc]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

I think too many car ownes get sucked in by the pages of gumph that come with the service invoice.The average service should take about 1hr max.When the car is being put on the hoist all the rear lights get checked then on the hoist out with the sump plug,do a few visual checks and give the exhaust and wheels a bit of a shake.Off with the filter on with the new filter,in with the plug ,back on the ground.Fill with oil,wander round with the lube stick,check fluid levels then write out a 1/2 page checklist report and put $427.85 on the bottom of the page

so you dont think they take the wheels off, check brakes, adjust h/brake if needed, check front end, engine mounts ect?
there is a bit more to it than wandering around
if so go elsewhere

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

For the guys that take their car to an independent mechanic, do you get a logbook service done or just a standard service every time? Even when its out of warranty I'm talking about.

Back when I was at the dealer what we found was a lot of people would get it serviced by someone else but they would just do the basics so after a few years there would be dramas with the car. Clogged up filters, valve clearances never adjusted, injectors never calibrated, outdated ECU software etc.

Logbook, if I'm asking for my car to be serviced I expect its going to be done as per book.