£358 for an oil change.
- Thread starter Tfp
- Start date
Oh, forgot, because it was a forgetable car and I swapped it for my Oct 96 Z.
Merc C-Class 240 V6 (W203) 2005 (No body rot)
Merc C-Class 240 V6 (W203) 2005 (No body rot)
A pal of mine was in the garage trade all his working life buying and selling second-hand cars, and he would agree with Grumps completely. He couldn't care less which garage did the service as long as it was done. In fact with certain independents he knew, he would prefer to see their stamp in the book than the dealer's because he knew they would have done a thorough job.
We are getting Mercs, Audis and BMWs in for servicing and testing at 3 years old often seeing them before 3 years old for service these days. Only for less cost.
Tony.
Tony.
I'm so tempted to take the Audi to the guy who looks after my Z's. I know he's far more experienced, cares so much more for all the cars he see's, and he genuinely wants to look after his customers.
He would do the oil service on the Audi for £50 with me supplying oil and parts @ £100 or so.
But I know if I then try to sell the TT to an Audi main dealer they,d say "no thank you"
Yes, specialist dealers would still buy it, but I don't want to narrow the amount of buyers come sale time, I'll do enough depreciation as it is.
Also, if I was buying a car under three years old I'd want to see a main dealer history personally.
But I think this may now start to change, main dealer hourly rates are getting silly. £130 plus vat per hour for Audi?
I think the independents are going to start getting busy.
Hard to see how they justify these hourly rates, it certainly isn't reflected in the wages of the man who actually gets his hands dirty.
Tony.
Tony.
1. Million pound showroom
2. Lots of staff in suits who expect a decent salary.
3. Honest car dealers pay a huge amount of tax, employees contributions, pensions, health/safety crap, insurances.
4. Business rates.
5. And lastly, but most important, lower profit margins on new cars.
I don't think it'll be long before you can order a new car online, dealers will become service centres.
So my view, car sales is getting harder, overheads are higher than ever, and rising, so they are having to maximise profits in the service dept.
I think the next big thing to happen is a PCP crash, so many new cars been sold on small deposits, I think this market is fragile and won't take much to change it.
It could also be the next "miss selling" fiasco.
People are buying new cars on a monthly they can afford, they are not being told about the negative equity they are entering into, often for a few years.
In my eyes, and many others, it's irresponsible lending.
Sorry, I'm waffling, but I hate the way the motor trade has gone.
Regarding the reduced profit margin,I recall the times when dealers had a much bigger margin,and then we all got a bigger discount or higher part ex. The effect of this artificial high price resulted in company car drivers being subject to a higher tax bill.
I fail to understand the bit about negative equity ,as I understand they buyer can just return the car at end of period--- subject to miles and condition.
I bought my X1 on a pcp then paid outstanding balance at 3 years,the reason for taking it out on pcp ---- I got nearly £4000 BMW contribution , not available if buying cash or even if on finance . I just could not (and still can not) understand the way cars are now sold. I compared the total cost of each way and the pcp and pay off balance was cheapest.
I fail to understand the bit about negative equity ,as I understand they buyer can just return the car at end of period--- subject to miles and condition.
I bought my X1 on a pcp then paid outstanding balance at 3 years,the reason for taking it out on pcp ---- I got nearly £4000 BMW contribution , not available if buying cash or even if on finance . I just could not (and still can not) understand the way cars are now sold. I compared the total cost of each way and the pcp and pay off balance was cheapest.
Same thing happened over here with Smart, they closed their garages but they would still sell you parts.
Then you had to go to a Mercedes dealer for servicing.
Needed a new key at one point and was told to go to a Merc dealer.
The dealer sent one of its people to Amsterdam to pick one up then back to the dealership for coding.
The most bloody expensive key I have ever bought ...
PCP is fine if you keep the car for the whole term.
But if you run in to financial difficulty six months after buying the car, or even 18 months, then the settlement figure will almost always be higher than the cars value.
So many are stuck with their monthly payments, or have to take out a loan to pay the difference if they really have to sell the car early.
But if you run in to financial difficulty six months after buying the car, or even 18 months, then the settlement figure will almost always be higher than the cars value.
So many are stuck with their monthly payments, or have to take out a loan to pay the difference if they really have to sell the car early.
Yes I agree.
And another shot at main dealers, the technician we are referring to that works in the main dealer.
Many of them are paid an hourly rate, then a bonus if they get plenty of work done.
So what you have is a technician rushing their work.
Is that really a good idea when peoples safety is concerned?
Bonus system. How I got charged 4 hours labour on a RR when car was only in garage for 2.5 hrs including being washed
Not true - and any dealer telling you this, is a pork pie man. Total mis conception - so long as its serviced by a VAT registered garage and the service schedule is followed the new vehicle warranty is maintained.
Any warranty work though must be done at an official dealer - they are paying so it doesn't matter
Spot on mate. We regularly service cars using Genuine Manufactures parts to the correct schedules which are available on such as Autodata to maintain the vehicle warranty.Not true - and any dealer telling you this, is a pork pie man. Total mis conception - so long as its serviced by a VAT registered garage and the service schedule is followed the new vehicle warranty is maintained.
Any warranty work though must be done at an official dealer - they are paying so it doesn't matter
Tony.
I have heard this but try selling you're high end sports or prestige car back to main dealer without a full main dealer history . I guess it might depends on what brand we are talking.Not true - and any dealer telling you this, is a pork pie man. Total mis conception - so long as its serviced by a VAT registered garage and the service schedule is followed the new vehicle warranty is maintained.
Any warranty work though must be done at an official dealer - they are paying so it doesn't matter
What we're talking about here is the legality of dealers stating that you have to have a vehicle serviced at a dealer to maintain a warranty. That is against the law and has been for many years, from back to the 80's.
Tony.
Tony.
True Tony but certain brands won't buy back or if they do they insist it goes through there own workshop for main dealer last stamp in the book even if said car was serviced recently and doesn't need servicing.
If they do agree to take it back they will really punish you on trade in price for non main dealer stamps.
I am talking top end marques not going to name any of them but do know a few.
If they do agree to take it back they will really punish you on trade in price for non main dealer stamps.
I am talking top end marques not going to name any of them but do know a few.