how much for your first service/15k?

[dave_r]

But the situation is different Sydney though, and from the looks of things, Melbourne is just as bad. Servicing is much more.

I've only had direct experience with Barlowold having the 12mth/15k items done on mums MK5 Golf and it was bloody expensive IMO.

I was quoted over $200 for a 7500km service on the Polo which is just an oil change. Not even close to being justified, dirty pricks.

[dave_r]

And you bought a Golf R?

LOL glutton for punishment? I won't be servicing at the dealer anyway, just commenting on the crazy prices they want.

[Transporter]

LOL glutton for punishment? I won't be servicing at the dealer anyway, just commenting on the crazy prices they want.

Ok. What is crazy about it. 1 hour labour $100+, $80 for the oil, over $20 for the filter and it is over $200 and when you put the GST on it, definitely over $200, so I see it as a fair price.

[dave_r]

Ok. What is crazy about it. 1 hour labour $100+, $80 for the oil, over $20 for the filter and it is over $200 and when you put the GST on it, definitely over $200, so I see it as a fair price.

In what realm does it take an hour to change the oil or filter (have you seen where it is? best placing ever) and how much oil can a little 1.2 have in it? I think it was actually $240 from memory. If that is good value then one of us is on drugs.

[Glennb]

Well as long as it's less than the current $500 minimum i pay for servicing now, it will be a win. Although i still need a loan car to get to work when i get it serviced, so will have to suss out the dealer on this too.

[Transporter]

Transporter, valid question.

My girlfriends previous car, a 2008 Levin ZR corolla (top model with HIDs!) got serviced
By Toyota for $110 fixed cost for the life while she was the owner, + a 6 year all up warranty.

As I said in one of today's post, I wouldn't let them change oil and filter in my car for $110, not to mention servicing for 6 years.

Just use common sense.

[Transporter]

In what realm does it take an hour to change the oil or filter (have you seen where it is? best placing ever) and how much oil can a little 1.2 have in it? I think it was actually $240 from memory. If that is good value then one of us is on drugs.

It is not only to change the oil and filter.

You park your car at the dealer, clock starts ticking from the time the mechanic takes your car in and put it back at the car park including the time to write your invoice. If you don't want to pay for the time lost in getting your car in and out of the shop, IMO there is only one alternative; buy the tools and DIY.

In my business it goes like this after one hour I can bill per minute but I wouldn't charge anyone less than 1 hour. Does it sound fair?

If your answer is no. Then I would ask you; if you would go to work and you get send back after 30 minutes, because there is no work, does your employer pay you only for 1/2 hour or does he pay more.

[REXman]

As I said in one of today's post, I wouldn't let them change oil and filter in my car for $110, not to mention servicing for 6 years.

Just use common sense.

Sorry dude this almost sounds like some sort of scare tactic for people reading this, or self justification for over-priced servicing. The services cost $110, and thats that. If you think an oil change really involves $200, thats fine, just dont shoot down other dealers who are obviously able to provide that, and its obviously provided reliably because they also offer the warranty on the car for 6 years.. Maybe you should use common sense

[REXman]

And no offense, I mean I come from a blue collar family myself, and my parents both work in their corner shop, and do 90-odd hours a week each I might add. Dad actually used to even work in a bottle factory so I know about hard work as I used to hit the markets with him at 3am when I was younger.. heck man one of my best mates is a mechanic. But man, to be honest all this talk of billing by the hour etc, we are talking about a mechanic, not a Lawyer/accountant/doctor..

[The_Hawk]

The first service I did on my Golf was a DIY the week after I bought it, Fuchs oil + genuine filter cost me ~$100 and of course the labour was free. If I paid someone for labour and included a markup on on the parts I bought I can see how it would easily be over $200. One of the reasons I choose to DIY. (Of course that's on MY car which is well out of warranty cover).
Assuming that the dealer also plugs the computer in for a scan and generally run over the rest of the vehicle checking various components for wear an hour isn't entirely unreasonable.
Service costs really are something you should consider when purchasing any vehicle new or used, unfortunately not something many people look at so get a shock later on.

That said, if your not happy with your local dealer, shop around, you may very well get better pricing (and service) at an alternative service centre. Don't rule out the independants either. As long as you go to a specialist who has an approprirate knowledge of the car and the appropriate tools/computer etc etc your warranty is still good and your costs can be reduced.

[gldgti]

I'm with Transporter - if you want to compare chalk and cheese and talk about toyota servicing - a Yaris might take 3L of oil maximum, more like 2.5, with a filter change. The filter costs less than $10, the oil is not synthetic, and because the toyota dealership does huge turnover, they probably do actually only allow a half hour labour charge.

The VW dealer service is much lower turnover, the oil capacity is more like 4.5L if its a diesel and it wouldnt surprise me if the 1.2 takes more than 3L (VW's have always had large oil capacities). The oil is fully synthetic, the dealer turns over half the cars and it really does take an hour. In todays world, thats easily over $200. If you expect to pay less, your living in the past.

Servicing my mk3 diesel by myself costs me $50 in oil, $25 filter and more than half an hours work because you still have to wait for the oil to come out, and its good practise to go over the car while your waiting and check out some other stuff too, for safety's sake. I very much doubt that the overworked toyota man hasa lot of time to check the car over for other problems at $110/service.

[REXman]

Sorry dude this almost sounds like some sort of scare tactic for people reading this, or self justification for over-priced servicing. The services cost $110, and thats that. If you think an oil change really involves $200, thats fine, just dont shoot down other dealers who are obviously able to provide that, and its obviously provided reliably because they also offer the warranty on the car for 6 years.. Maybe you should use common sense

PS ITs actually $120, sorry about that. I just asked her and got confirmation of the price. Just to be correct.

[REXman]

I'm with Transporter - if you want to compare chalk and cheese and talk about toyota servicing - a Yaris might take 3L of oil maximum, more like 2.5, with a filter change. The filter costs less than $10, the oil is not synthetic, and because the toyota dealership does huge turnover, they probably do actually only allow a half hour labour charge.

The VW dealer service is much lower turnover, the oil capacity is more like 4.5L if its a diesel and it wouldnt surprise me if the 1.2 takes more than 3L (VW's have always had large oil capacities). The oil is fully synthetic, the dealer turns over half the cars and it really does take an hour. In todays world, thats easily over $200. If you expect to pay less, your living in the past.

Servicing my mk3 diesel by myself costs me $50 in oil, $25 filter and more than half an hours work because you still have to wait for the oil to come out, and its good practise to go over the car while your waiting and check out some other stuff too, for safety's sake. I very much doubt that the overworked toyota man hasa lot of time to check the car over for other problems at $110/service.

Its a 1.8 ltr car, the corolla, so bigger in capacity than any of the polo's and similar to the GOLF's.

Maybe the Oil is a bit more expensive in the better golf's.. It really doesnt change that much. And what you think the Polo has some mad air filter in it? How much better would a 77kw Polo's air filter be than a 100kw Corolla's? Just being real about it..

[Brendan_A]

Maybe the Oil is a bit more expensive in the better golf's..

What do you mean by this? I'm pretty sure all new Golf's use the same oil.

[masev]

We're all aware that dealerships make very healthy profits from servicing, parts and post-sale accessories.......aren't we?