VAG on reliability, parts & service costs

[Transporter]

I don't expect that many who posted in this thread would be worried too much, but those who really love their cars should ask the question; whether the capped price servicing is exactly the same as normal servicing?

For those who don't like paying for the servicing; I'm not a lawyer but, if it was the same servicing than before, only it's capped now, then I think that quite a few could ask for the refund (the price difference between capped and normal servicing), when the capped servicing become available.

[Ideo]

People realise that they don't have to get the service done at a dealership, right?

[Umai Naa!!]

I would say that when it comes in, it'll be VIN break-point specific, or have a first registered date from a certain day.

The thing with capped-price servicing, is whether the flat-rate labour times (eg 1.5hrs for a 15K service) will change to a lower value, or not. Service departments may resort to pushing their techs to turn the cars over in a much shorter timeframe, to potentially generate the same amount of dollars as previous. Customers may also see a rise in upsells at the same time. That of course, depends on whether VGA are subsidising dealers for it, or not.

[ziggyboy]

Yes we all know that. VW having expensive service costs doesn't bother me because I have never gone to a VW dealership. Only gone to specialists.

What bothers me is when Anke goes around telling everyone that its just a myth.

[Umai Naa!!]

People realise that they don't have to get the service done at a dealership, right?

That's true, but for some people, it offers greater peace of mind, for various reasons. You can't even pitch the idea of an independant repairer to some. They have no interest in it.

However, there are others who would do anything to avoid a dealership.

It's all up to the individual, really.

[Ideo]

That's true, but for some people, it offers greater peace of mind, for various reasons. You can't even pitch the idea of an independant repairer to some. They have no interest in it.

However, there are others who would do anything to avoid a dealership.

It's all up to the individual, really.

That's their decision and serves them right.

[brad]

For those who don't like paying for the servicing; I'm not a lawyer but, if it was the same servicing than before, only it's capped now, then I think that quite a few could ask for the refund (the price difference between capped and normal servicing), when the capped servicing become available.

If it's like the Toyota service deal, it's valid for cars registered after date "X" (thus implying part of the service cost might be built into the price of the vehicle) and at "participating dealers".

Just because the price is capped doesn't mean it will be super-cheap. It's more to halt those service centres that were trying to charge $490 for a 15,000km first service when others were charging $290. Keep in mind that some dealerships will probably then try & claw back some of their "lost revenue" by charging for loan cars & other "extras" that had previously hidden within the invoice.

[Tom87]

I don't expect that many who posted in this thread would be worried too much, but those who really love their cars should ask the question; whether the capped price servicing is exactly the same as normal servicing?

For those who don't like paying for the servicing; I'm not a lawyer but, if it was the same servicing than before, only it's capped now, then I think that quite a few could ask for the refund (the price difference between capped and normal servicing), when the capped servicing become available.

It is exactly the same as normal manufacturer recommended servicing. It would have to be illegal to do it any other way unless it was stated anywhere in the fine print and someone would have "outed" the various operations by now if this were the case.

The sneaky part about the "capped" price servicing is that there seems to be a few clauses which are made visible but not always talked about. Things like time and KM restrictions for the capped services which mysteriously run out when the vehicle reaches its major service intervals.


The high service costs at the dealer is actually why I decided to save alot of money and buy a second hand VW rather than a new one. Even if I have to replace something expensive like the DSG mechatronic I'm still going to spend less money in the time I'll have this vehicle than I would have if I'd bought brand new.

[Umai Naa!!]

If it's like the Toyota service deal, it's valid for cars registered after date "X" (thus implying part of the service cost might be built into the price of the vehicle) and at "participating dealers".

Just because the price is capped doesn't mean it will be super-cheap. It's more to halt those service centres that were trying to charge $490 for a 15,000km first service when others were charging $290. Keep in mind that some dealerships will probably then try & claw back some of their "lost revenue" by charging for loan cars & other "extras" that had previously hidden within the invoice.

All of this.

I was still working in the Toyota dealer network when they first introduced it. We were told to get the eligible cars in and out of the workshop in the shortest possible time. It's a great selling point for the sales department, but not always good for the service department. Can be very risky for everyone concerned, if poorly managed.

It is exactly the same as normal manufacturer recommended servicing. It would have to be illegal to do it any other way unless it was stated anywhere in the fine print and someone would have "outed" the various operations by now if this were the case.

The sneaky part about the "capped" price servicing is that there seems to be a few clauses which are made visible but not always talked about. Things like time and KM restrictions for the capped services which mysteriously run out when the vehicle reaches its major service intervals.


The high service costs at the dealer is actually why I decided to save alot of money and buy a second hand VW rather than a new one. Even if I have to replace something expensive like the DSG mechatronic I'm still going to spend less money in the time I'll have this vehicle than I would have if I'd bought brand new.

Usually, the terms and conditions of CPS is disclosed in obvious fashion. But yes, it usually ends before the major service.

[Mountainman]

Yes, Subaru is more expensive on parts, here are some parts if you want to compare:
The air and the cabin filter will cost you each $60 + at Subaru dealer and that's for paper cabin filter only / (around $30 for VW and you get the carbon activated cabin filter)
Coolant $60 + for 4L ready to use dilluted / it's around $20+ for VW 1.5L concentrate
The brakepads in axcess of $150+ for a set / should be no more than $100 for VW

on most servicing parts the Subaru cost double than VW
The Toyota will also cost you more on many common parts than VW
The Hyundai and Kia - the servicing filters are as epensive as for the Touareg.

Don't try and tell me that my Subaru costs more to service than my VW because it doesn't. Both my Golf and my Forester (and the Forester before that) are serviced at the same VW/Subaru dealer (Wippels in Toowoomba because they are good and the location suits us for our work) and the long term servicing costs (my Golf now has done 98,000km, the Forester 68,000km & the previous Forester was written off at 236,000km after hitting a cow in the dark on one of my many country road work excursions) seem to indicate that the Golf is about 25% more expensive. Because of the distances we do it's not the time factor that sets the service schedule for us but distance so the Forester is serviced every 12,500km and the Golf every 15,000km. The last small oil/filter change service on the Forester cost $242 and the same service on he Golf cost $319. Yes, some Subaru parts might cost more but the Golf needed its rear pads and rotors at 60,000km (and I assume every 60,000km in the future too) whereas I don't even know if my Forester will ever reach a high enough distance to need them replacing if my experience with my former Forester is an indicator. The pads (not rotors) were replaced at the 225,000km service and then appeared to have some working life left in them. And that Forester did not have one warranty claim in its whole life. How often will I have to replace the water pump or the turbo or the fuel injectors on my Golf that have all been done under warranty? And I wonder what the servicing costs would have been for my Golf if it had the DSG gearbox that 90% of Golfs have?