Fixed priced service, DEALER OR INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTRE ?
Fixed priced service, DEALER OR INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTRE ?
Some car manufactures are coming to the party to protect their brand, offering fixed price services.
This may appease the minds of motorists with the view that your dealer is now in competition with third party service centres. Most large corporations want your business at the least possible cost so if they are able to break your habit and get you away from your independent dealer.
Lets analyse this in greater detail, in the hope that you will be able to make an informed decision.
Lets compare two small cars on fixed price servicing
Toyota Yaris, using the TOYOTA SERVICE ADVANTAGE PLAN.
Mitsubishi Colt, using the MITSUBISHI DIAMOND ADVANTAGE CAPPED PRICE
Compare both vehicle using and independent service centre offering capped price servicing
Toyota will service your Yaris for $130 every 10,000 kms but only for the first 6 service intervals, or up to 60,000kms.
I need to understand why a car maker will not offer the capped price services up to 100,000Kms
To keep this vehicle in warranty it must be serviced every 6 months even if it stays in your driveway surely this cant be right, or did I misunderstand the fine print.
What does the capped price service include?
As from what I can ascertain, only the following items to be replaced.
Oil.(Every 10,000)
Oil Filter, (Every 10,000)
Air cleaner (Every 40,00)
Sparkplugs (Every 40,000)
Brake Fluid Flush.(Every 40,000)
Fuel filter, including in-tank filter (Every 80,000)
According to the Service schedule the transmission fluid is never changed
Hopefully the dealer will access the engine management system to download any faults logged
The question remains, what is the cost on the following items
Front end alignment
Front disc Pads
Rear Drum Shoes
The cost of Spark plugs
Wiper blades
Valve adjustment what type of adjustment
Engine coolant
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Mitsubishi will service your colt for $195.00 every 15,000 but only provide the capped servicing up to 60,000km
MORE TO COME
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An independent service centre, is offering the following
fixed price servicing, on a 2008 Toyota Yaris
Out of 10 service centres to perform a 10,000Km fixed price service the prices range form $136.00 to $195.00, etc
Toyota Yaris
10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 60,000
1 $136.00 $209.00 $136.00 $289.00 $166.00
2 $146.00 $184.00 $146.00 $322.00 $180.00
3 $148.00 $196.00 $148.00 $328.00 $184.00
4 $154.00 $235.00 $154.00 $339.00 $192.00
5 $159.00 $180.00 $159.00 $339.00 $195.00
6 $159.00 $166.00 $159.00 $343.00 $195.00
7 $160.00 $195.00 $160.00 $343.00 $195.00
8 $160.00 $192.00 $160.00 $346.00 $196.00
9 $174.00 $195.00 $174.00 $368.00 $209.00
10 $195.00 $195.00 $195.00 $407.00 $235.00
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An independent service centre, is offering the following
fixed price servicing, on a 2009 Mitsubishi colt
Out of 10 service centres to perform a 15,000Km fixed price service the prices range form $168.00 to $241.00, etc
Mitsu Colt
15,000 30,000 45,000 60,000
$168.00 $357.00 $198.00 $357.00
$183.00 $403.00 $219.00 $403.00
$186.00 $407.00 $221.00 $407.00
$193.00 $418.00 $228.00 $418.00
$197.00 $418.00 $232.00 $418.00
$197.00 $421.00 $232.00 $421.00
$199.00 $426.00 $236.00 $426.00
$214.00 $456.00 $253.00 $456.00
$217.00 $469.00 $262.00 $469.00
$241.00 $512.00 $288.00 $512.00
To be fair we don’t know what parts are replaced or what additional work is performed, for example the price may include a car wash, drop off the customer, front end alignment etc.
NOT FINSHED AWAITING FOR MORE INFORMATION
Written by Darren Gow-Brown, WWW.Virtualmechanic.com.au