mikepaul

My car is coming up for the 1st service (WRX 05)

Not 100% sure but under EU law, to maintain the warranty the car has to be service by a VAT registered garage, but not necessarily an overpriced Subaru garage?

If this is the case does this effect the value of the a Subaru?

May last car was serviced by a main dealer (engine bits only), but brakes and shocks were done by my Trustworthy local independent which charged less than a 1/4 of the Honda dealer price and fitted genuine Honda parts. This did not effect the resale value as when I sold it they just asked for the service book which had all the stamps, I showed all the 3rd party garage receipts and the dealer was happy.



I have shopped around local scooby dealers (within 100 miles) 10k service varies from £110 and what SGT in taplow quoted! (they must lick the car clean and caress the oil from the crankcase, bless em).

The local indpendent quoted £90 so not that much cheaper for oil and filter, but may be lots cheaper with labour intensive tasks as they only charge £32 an hour.


Cheers,

Mike Paul

corradoboy

If you intend to trade in at a dealers for another Scoob later then some turn their noses up at a non-franchised service history. 2nd hand buyers who know **** all may also shy away, but anyone with an ounce of knowledge will appreciate that the work has been done anyway, regardless of whether it was the main dealers minimum wage trainee with 3 weeks experience or a very experienced independent who treats the car like their own. I just had my 50k including cam-belt done for £206, ask a dealer for a quote for that service

The choice is yours. If you plan to sell it within a couple of years before the big 30k then go with the cheapest local dealer. If you plan to keep it beyond the warranty and past the expensive services (30+60k are all fluids and plugs, 50k is cam-belt) then save your money along the way and go independent from the start. I'd recommend main dealer for 10+20k and independent for the 30k, then maybe switch back to main dealer for 40k, indy for 50+60k, as a compromise.

stair

Don't forget to factor in travelling time/cost if your "cheap" dealer is not local

Anyone who takes the time to look into it will realise that a well regarded indi will generally look after you and your car at least as well as even a good dealer, and lets face it not all dealers are up to scratch, and I don't think that it will really affect your resale, especially if you plan to keep the car for a while.

I would say find a recommended scooby specialist in preferance to an "all makes" shop

Personally after being royally ripped off by my local dealer at the 10k service I switched to my nearest specialist and haven't looked back.

Stair

WRX300MAN

The above points are valid . . Had my WRX300 serviced by Days (10000 miles service) . . .Which is all good and true, untill I actually had a look at the work carried out . . .

A simple oil change + oil filter and the rest of it . .The resto of the service itinerary just stated (i) - meaning inspect . . .So basically i payed abt 150 notes for a simple oil change . . .. . Not even the air filter was changed . . .

That makes me wonder . .

corradoboy

In fairness, in the official Subaru "Service & Warranty Booklet" it does state that the air filter should be "inspected, corrected or replaced if necessary" until 30k or 36 months when it should definately be replaced. The only item which must be done at 10k is the oil and filter.

WRX300MAN

Mate . .I hear what yr saying, but the point I'm trying to make, is that its absolutely crap value for money, where as if I took it to my good mate, the mechanic who I trust, for that money, we would change just abt every filter under the sun , and the oil, and all in under an hour!

This really is a question of value for money . .Subaru are reliable , as long as they're not chavved up! So we are right to question the official subaru dealers . .

scoobyboy

looks good in the service book "serviced by my mate" i've seen services done by so called specialists even those recommended on here and personally i wouldn't let them near my wheelbarrow.

WRX300MAN

You own a wheelbarrow! . .Good for you!

Sorry there sport . .Not all of us are as rich as you, and can cough up 150 notes for an oil change! . . . . . .Its not serviced by my mate . .Its serviced by a qualified mechanic, who will be servicing a pretty normal car . . .There is no rocket science!

And by the way . .Would not sell my car to you , in case you start talking about wheelbarrow, you wally!

scoobyboy

wouldn't want it anyway if it's been done by someone who knows nothing about a subaru especially as he cant even check for any recalls. thats another advantage of going to a dealership and getting it done properly, sorry but your car would be the last one i would have at any price.