Car dealer servicing!!!

[Dangermouse1968]

Right, I reckon this is place to get an honest jo bloggs answer ;-)

I have a 55 plate Honda Accord that I got about 15 months ago. First service (minor) I sent it to the dealer and they charged me twice the price of the village garage of course.

It is now apporaching 60,000 miles and due a full service. I was going to get this done at the dealers again but as I now plan to keep the car until it drops (oh, in about another 100k miles) I unclear on the value of filling the service book up with dealer stamps so I'm thinking about getting it done in the village garage for about £300, vs £550 at Honda.

I could post this on the Honda owners forum, where sadly I'm also a member (but rarely visit) but they are all "enthusiasts" and I think I can predict their answer.

There is always something else to spend that £250 on, even if it is not guitars!!!

Cheers,

DM

[TheCureFan]

I'd say local garage (assuming your happy with their work). They can still stamp the service book and if/when you did sell you would still have a service history. I've always used my local garage as they know me and my car.

[guitarcookie1]

If you trust your local garage, then send it there. If it's out of warranty then what's the point in paying £250 for a bit of dealer ink in your service book..?

What might you be missing, access to 'proper' diagnostic kit? My local garage has something that does the job.

An engine is an engine at the end of the day imho..

[Sporky_McGuffin]

If it's out of warranty then what's the point in paying £250 for a bit of dealer ink in your service book..?

Bingo. More important that it's looked after, once it's out of warranty, than who it is that's been looking after it.

[Jough Rustice]

a 10yo Honda with 100k+ on the clock will see little to zero benefit with dealer stamps when selling.

[tehLORD]

I have a '94 Mazda 626 runabout that's done 110k miles and I haven't even opened the bonnet in 4 years, not even looked at the oil level.

If you own a Japanese car, just don't worry about it and drive it until it falls apart

[monquixote]

Get it done locally.

If you are going to drive the wheels off it there is no point spending thousands extra to end up with a car that's worth £1500 rather than £1400 when you sell it.

Also I know of far more horror stories of being ripped off from main dealers and chains than sole traders.

[Dangermouse1968]

Thanks guys.

I've just moved to a new village but the garage there has a very good reputation and my gf has used them lots and found them to be very good.

Decision made. Cheers.

And half a Taylor GS mini found in the meantime ;-)

[Fretwired]

I'd say local garage (assuming your happy with their work). They can still stamp the service book and if/when you did sell you would still have a service history. I've always used my local garage as they know me and my car.

This .. after my BMW was out of warranty it was a quick trip to my local garage and a might saving on the service costs. After all they all use the same software in the computer ... and oil is oil ..

[John_P]

A garage you trust to do it properly is worth a lot.

I use a local audi specialist who is cheaper than the dealer and well known around here for doing a great job.

If you know the local guy will do what you want properly for a good price then I'd use them