First service

[The sTiguan]

Hi folks
Our first service is coming up and I wanted to see people opinions on using the dealer otherwise a specialised vw mechanic?


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[mike64]

Dealer fixed price servicing is competitive in Sydney.

Tiguan 130kw TDi

[Lucas_R]

Hi folks
Our first service is coming up and I wanted to see people opinions on using the dealer otherwise a specialised vw mechanic?

Where are you based (city and state). If you are remote or in a smaller city then you may not have any/much in the way of alternative mechanics other than the dealer.

The dealer will always cost more though - and in my experience, they are not as good as a specialist independent Euro car mechanic.

[YellowLemon]

The dealer will always cost more though - and in my experience, they are not as good as a specialist independent Euro car mechanic.

+1 the dealers usually just have a bunch of apprentices doing all the work (that's how it is here in Melb anyway). They don't need to be good because they know all the people who have no clue go there anyway

But anyway if it's just for a service it doesn't make a difference. And going with the dealer for the first 5 years or so might help with any warranty claims down the track etc. After 5 years go independent VW shop all the way

[Dingah]

In ACT we all use Canberra VW Centre from the first day of purchase.
No impact on warranty and a far more thorough level of service.

Dingah

[The sTiguan]

Based in Western Sydney.


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[The sTiguan]

Not sure of any vw specialised. Mechanics out this way?


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[ian]

If your in western. Sydney. I used to go to. Ramspeed. They service only German vehicles. The chop cars as well. Give them a call. There at 7/12 Abbotts rd Seven hills. 96209982. They serviced my. GT. golf. Normal. Service was. $220

[Dingah]

Quite a professional set up there but don't look at the price of their gimmicky carbon fibre add-ons unless you have a chair handy!

Dingah

[ian]

All they do is. German vehicles. And only use genuine parts. And Fuches oils

[brad]

Based in Western Sydney.


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Western Sydney is 100km top to bottom. Why so cagey?

Camden GTI in Campbelltown

[The sTiguan]

didn't think that was being cagey.. Out Hoxton Park way so both seven Hills and Camden are easy to get to

Cheers gents


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[ian]

As I've used Ramspeed before I just rang and asked for a price on the Tiguan. 15,000 km service. $330. I just also rang a VW dealer. $404 a saving of $74

[PerthMTB]

As others have pointed out, servicing at independents doesn't void your warranty so long as they follow the prescribed VW procedure and use approved oils and parts. But, there's more to it than that. Any warranty work will still need to be assessed and done by a dealer, and my experience has been that if you've built a relationship with a dealer service department by having your car serviced there, you can get small things rectified easily along with the regular service, and when there's a big ticket item they are more likely to go into bat for you in negotiations with the manufacturer.

For example, with my other car, a Toyota, the dealer service dept. pointed out and rectified a few things under warranty (belt tensioner, power steering motor) along with my regular services which would have been extra hassle to sort out with an independent. Then when it came to a big problem - transmission failure three months out of warranty - they fought my case with the manufacturer and I got a replacement as a 'goodwill gesture'.

Not suggesting they do it from altruism of course - warranty work is all extra work for them just the manufacturer pays for it, but it works in my favour as well. Whether that's worth the undoubted premium you pay for the services is up to you of course, but with the capped prices now they're closer and less variable than they used to be. Nothing against independents, and a few years on and well out of warranty I now service my Toyota with one, but when I get my Tig in November I'll be using the dealer - at least for the warranty period.

[YellowLemon]

You just have to calculate whether the savings you could have made with an independent would have added up to the cost of a new transmission And not everyone will need a new transmission hopefully.