Clarkie172

I need a 30k/3 year service. Subaru £511 Carnetix £358. I will have brake fluid done on top of this. Which would you choose? Subaru or a specialist? Its an import so no service book

shogo10

iTrader: (1)

I realy don't see why people go to subaru specialists and main dealers to have services done. I use a reputable garage a mile from my house that has done the last 2 services on my car including spark plugs cam belt change etc. I think as long as you supply the parts oils filters etc that you want, then any garage can carry out a service (It aint rocket science).
Sorry for the rant but the price that some of these specialists and main dealers charge for a simple thing like a service is madness. My last service was only 70 quid (interim service) that was oil, oil filter, fuel filter which i supplied.

JimmyBFC

Yeah mate, IMO, as long as you have the receipts to show you've cared for the vehicle and looked after it, I wouldn't worry, I deffo wouldn't go to the dealers...fvck em

Clarkie172

anyone else?

bish667

iTrader: (1)

Nearest subaru garage to me is 130 miles away, aint even a main dealer, think the nearest main dealer is 200 miles away maybe.
Due to this i just take it to a garage that i know and trust.
I have an import too.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Wouldn't use a main dealer unless car is under 3yrs old & you wish to maintain FMDSH. I wouldn't bother & indeed use a specialist.

TX.

Clarkie172

Im just thinking about resale thats all. People prefer dealer history unfortunately

bluenosewrx

iTrader: (2)

If the buyer has any knowledge of performance cars he should know the main specialists in that area and services from them could be looked at more desirable than main dealers whi IMO are just rip off merchants.

Mac

Turbo2

Check out recent thread: "£290 + vat for 3 year service" from 10 April 2008 for some more info on this.

Clarkie172

Have you got a link buddy? Can't seem to find it in this section

Dan 2

iTrader: (2)

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...r-service.html

Clarkie172

spot on, thanks mate

After reading that, it just talks about prices and whats included really. I am not bothered about the price just wondering how everyone feels about where their car is serviced 'money no issue'

Dan 2

iTrader: (2)

No worries fella...mind you it was back on page 20 odds lol

ukdave

No brainer for me, dealers see alot of standard cars and relatively few modified,specialist tuners offer experience/expertise and can advise against pitfalls in relation to mods,and their own cars give you an idea of their expertise-these ppl are building one offs that push the limits rather than looking after mainly std spec cars like a main dealer, i`d much rather buy a car looked after by say rcms/zen/andy forrest than a subaru dealer-not saying theyre all bad but some are poor.


Do everything but cambelt(dont fancy doin it)on mine meself now though,in a age where classics are worth little think fssh is worth less than ya think when ya add up the cost of doin it @ dealer prices, so long as you use quality products/keep receipts,thats good enough for me and wouldnt put me off a car.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

General view seems to be specialist over the stealers ...

TX.

scoobynutta555

I really wouldn't even bother with a 'specialist' either. I get a bloke from work to do my servicing (lives and breathes working on cars).

Clarkie172

I know what you mean ,cars are cars etc but a normal mechanic is not clued up with DCCD etc so on the inspection side of things, a basic mechanic can only really give common parts a good review surely? I rang a local garage and they said £199 all in for a major service! I started asking questions and the price started to rise. They asked me what car it was etc and said £199. Then I asked about fully synthetic oil etc and it kept rising. If I hadn't said anything, they would not have done it!

scoobynutta555

I haven't had a car serviced at a garage for years and years (not including a post engine rebuild service from api, I didn't blow the engine up either ).

If there is a problem with dccd for example you'll soon know about it, and TBH they rarely go wrong. For a simple service I personally wouldn't bother with a garage.

Clarkie172

I just want ot looked at by someone who knows them inside out and tell me everything is good! Piece of mind really! For an oil change, I wouldnt mind where I took it ( I could do it but would prefer a recepit for the work )

scoobynutta555

You'll be better off taking it for an MOT. There wouldn't be a great deal that a 'specialist' could find wrong that a good mechanic couldn't tell you TBH at an ordinary service level inspection. And if something is obviously wrong you'd know about it.From my experiences 'specialists' aren't all they're cracked up to be.

wrxjay03

mine is in need of a 50k service, how much will i be looking to pay at subaru for 03 wrx?

El Cat

mate does mine for me
has his own small busniess he runs from his workshop at home(more like double garage with loads of room around the two cars in there)
has his own stamp for his business and stamps the book when does a service!
the guy is an engineer as well as a mechanic and actually made some parts for his own imprezas he had previously( he built and engine himself that was running 450 bhp and also had a 75bhp shot of nitrous
rather have him working on my car than some goon at vospers who wants £75 an hour plus vat

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Don't you run the risk of excluding a lot of people as potential buyers in the future though by (a) servicing your own car (b) getting a "normal" garage / mechanic to do it? Most people want FSH at a main dealer, some people (like us) are OK with a specialist & IMHO not many people will be happy to buy a car that is either (a) or (b) above?

TX.

Clarkie172

^ thats exactly my point

scoobynutta555

There is always a risk of that, but a well looked after car will present itself as such. If you're happy paying extra £££ per service over several years in order to maintain a FSSH then that's your choice These cars are just like any other car to service and I don't see how paying a dealer upwards of £60 per hour is worth it.

I keep all service paperwork and MOTs etc.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

I'm considering doing normal servicing myself as well in a couple of years, no way am i taking it to subaru any more.

I've got an 03 WRX with quite a few mods, so I don't think anyone will ever want to buy it anyway, so I'll just keep it and run it into the ground Might stretch to specialist servicing for a couple of years from now if I change my mind, but after that I'll just do it myself.

Tidgy

i use Scooby Clinic | The UK's Largest Independent Subaru Specialists | 01246 590 807 - Chesterfield S42 6QX, and would only ever use there. my car is so far from standard the main dealer near me wont even service it.

only other company i would use is API.

scoobynutta555

Unless your car is similar to a F1 car, then a simple service would be well within a good mechanic's capabilities.

I'd imagine 'specialists' rub their hands with glee everytime someone paranoid about servicing and the myths that surround them, give them free advertising.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Are you sure about that?
https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...r-stories.html

PeeVee

iTrader: (1)

I disagree 110%

Anyone can check tyre pressures, dump the oil, fit a filter & renew brake fluid etc. & then thrash the thing up the road with a big smile on their face! Later telling people what a fabulous car the Impreza is & how they had the road test of a lifetime. And all this for an unbeatable price!

But that doesn't really constitute a service does it!

If you take your car to someone who understands them & works on them day in day out, you tend to find that they understand the product and are well practiced on the procedures & quirks that the cars have.

Let’s face it, if you look at something as supposedly simple as adjusting the handbrake, you will find that the uninitiated will just wind the adjuster on the handbrake lever until there is little play when you apply it. (that's of course if they even bother to adjust it) This is NOT the correct procedure and can cause problems. (I've lost count of how many times I've seen people on here complaining about squealing and inefficient handbrakes shoes)

This is just one example & the same could be said of many other items that should be carried out on a service on top of fitting the new items required.

Many people will harp on about a major service consisting of only about 7 items (ie renew engine oil, filter, gearbox/diff oil, fuel filter, air filter, a/freeze, spark plugs) which appear to cost the earth to have done by anyone who understands what they are doing. A proper service has much more content than this & just because you don't see it itemized as a cost does not mean that things have not been adjusted/inspected or noted.

You also have to remember that these cars are not your average Ford Fiesta or Citroen Saxo, they are highly stressed performance cars which need looking after, and as many will tell you, if you don't, it will cost you in the long run.

There are no guarantees in life as there will always be a bad egg in the basket, but for my money, I would always want someone working on my car that is both capable & experienced.

Flame Suit On. Lol

Phil