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Car Forum / Australian Car Forums / General Car Topics (Australian group) / October 2006Are small Euro cars more expensive to service than Jap cars?
I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? Alternatively, is there a website out there that will outline what the estimated servicing costs are for various cars? Cheers. Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are jacking up the prices, i.e. tolls etc. Pretty much sums up what will happen if you buy a Euro car when you take it to be serviced. > I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs > could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? > Alternatively, is there a website out there that will outline what the > estimated servicing costs are for various cars? Cheers. > Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are jacking up > the prices, i.e. tolls etc. Pretty much sums up what will happen if you buy > a Euro car when you take it to be serviced. I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. Fraser > I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. I disagree. I've known a few people with BMW's or Volkswagens who's service experience have been no different to your average Toyota or Mazda in terms of costs. *All* dealership service departments are out to fleece people for as much as they legally can, and it pretty much makes no difference what brand you're talking about. -- Regards, Noddy. > > I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > they legally can, and it pretty much makes no difference what brand you're > talking about. Very true. Toyota dealership charges so much, that their customers are mostly new car servicing. Ford were better, but still gave you the "there's a welch-plug that needs replacing soon" spiel. The engine went for another couple of years and was replaced for other reasons. I'll give Toyota one thing tho, they run "specials' on some common but expensive jobs like clutches and water-pump replacement. Jason >"Fraser Johnston" <fraser@jcis.com.au> wrote in message >> I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. >I disagree. >I've known a few people with BMW's or Volkswagens who's service >experience have been no different to your average Toyota or Mazda >in terms of costs. *All* dealership service departments are out to >fleece people for as much as they legally can, and it pretty much >makes no difference what brand you're talking about. Yep... VW dealer "accidentally" put a next service due at 8000km (after the first service) on a new Golf TDI. They also service Mitsubishi customers so the more-frequent interval may be excusable. As if they didn't get enough work already with the specified 15,000km service interval in (VW) cars for Australia. The Europeans get different firmware in their instrument panel that has flexible service intervals monitoring oil condition and "stress". Flexible intervals have been reported as low as 8000km and nearly 60,000km; depending on how the vehicle is being operated. Goodies on the engine to measure oil level, temperature and particulate load are all fitted to the Aus. version. The next scam is that you can buy the engine oil from their service department for about $70/5 litres. But the oil change during the service (3.5 litres, IIRC) has an invoiced oil cost of $85.00. [If the invoice is to be believed, they also used the wrong oil; which means that they are up for about $7000 in new injectors in a little while, maybe even before th 30,000km service.]  Signature/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia \ / ASCII ribbon campaign | "Laws do not persuade just because X against HTML mail | they threaten." / \ and postings | Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD. >The next scam is that you can buy the engine oil from their service >department for about $70/5 litres. But the oil change during the >service (3.5 litres, IIRC) has an invoiced oil cost of $85.00. What oil specification is given in the owner's manual? SignatureJohn H >>The next scam is that you can buy the engine oil from their service >>department for about $70/5 litres. But the oil change during the >>service (3.5 litres, IIRC) has an invoiced oil cost of $85.00. >What oil specification is given in the owner's manual? VW 505.01 or 506.01 (long-life; flexible interval) Confirmed by email from VAG. Service invoice says Castrol TXT Softec 5W-40 which I cannot identify as being on the list of approved oils. 505.00, which I believe that the TXT Softec meets, is not "near enough" with the unit injectors being rather fussy. Signature/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia \ / ASCII ribbon campaign | "Laws do not persuade just because X against HTML mail | they threaten." / \ and postings | Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD. > The next scam is that you can buy the engine oil from their service > department for about $70/5 litres. But the oil change during the > service (3.5 litres, IIRC) has an invoiced oil cost of $85.00. [If > the invoice is to be believed, they also used the wrong oil; which > means that they are up for about $7000 in new injectors in a little > while, maybe even before th 30,000km service.] How can oil effect injectors? Fraser >"Bernd Felsche" <bernie@innovative.iinet.net.au> wrote in message >> The next scam is that you can buy the engine oil from their service >> department for about $70/5 litres. But the oil change during the >> service (3.5 litres, IIRC) has an invoiced oil cost of $85.00. [If >> the invoice is to be believed, they also used the wrong oil; which >> means that they are up for about $7000 in new injectors in a little >> while, maybe even before th 30,000km service.] >How can oil effect injectors? Insufficient lubrication. The unit injectors are small, extreme-pressure pumps that are actuated by levers off a cam. The actual injection timing is electronic but the injection pressure is achieved by a reciprocating piston in each injector. When there's not enough lubrication, there's premature wear on the actuating rod and eventually, the injector will not develop enough pressure to work properly. Signature/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia \ / ASCII ribbon campaign | "Laws do not persuade just because X against HTML mail | they threaten." / \ and postings | Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD. >> I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > they legally can, and it pretty much makes no difference what brand you're > talking about. I was thinking of Audi and Saab. : ) Fraser > I was thinking of Audi and Saab. : ) Yeah, well, there's exceptions to every rule :) -- Regards, Noddy. >> I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > as they legally can, and it pretty much makes no difference what brand > you're talking about. People also tend to forget that Euro cars usually have 15000km service intervals compared to the normal 10000km interval for japanese cars. This should be factored in. Several prestige makes have variable servicing based on how you drive the car. So for the grannys around they may only need to service it once a year >> Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are jacking up >> the prices, i.e. tolls etc. Pretty much sums up what will happen if you buy >> a Euro car when you take it to be serviced. > I hate to say it but he's hit the nail on the head with that one. Scary, isn't it. David Zuk actually got something right!!! SignatureAthol <http://cust.idl.com.au/athol> Linux Registered User # 254000 I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss. >>> Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are jacking >>> up [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Scary, isn't it. David Zuk actually got something right!!! Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Even a blind squirrel occassionally finds a nut......... Fraser > Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are jacking > up the prices, i.e. tolls etc. Pretty much sums up what will happen if > you buy a Euro car when you take it to be serviced. And your experience in this area would be? As usual, you live your life in a f.cking bubble and know nothing other than the crap Google tells you. -- Regards, Noddy. >> I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and >> servicing costs could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their >> experiences with either? Alternatively, is there a website out >> there that will outline what the estimated servicing costs are >> for various cars? They vary. You can get RAC etc reports on the various models and their servicing costs. Dealers are usually happy to provide you with details of standard maintenance costs for a number of years based on current service costs. If they don't want to do that; go elsewhere. Service intervals vary widely as does what needs to be done on a regular basis; at intervals of up to 120,000km. >Have you seen the Jetta ad where wherever the car goes, people are >jacking up the prices, i.e. tolls etc. Pretty much sums up what >will happen if you buy a Euro car when you take it to be serviced. Ha. Would you buy a "German" car made in South Africa (or Mexico) or a "Japanese" car made in South Africa (or Malaysia)? Signature/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia \ / ASCII ribbon campaign | "Laws do not persuade just because X against HTML mail | they threaten." / \ and postings | Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4BC - 65AD. > I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs > could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? > Alternatively, is there a website out there that will outline what the > estimated servicing costs are for various cars? Cheers. Both are expensive (in my opinion) if you go through the dealership service network, and I wouldn't expect much difference between them. -- Regards, Noddy. >> I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs >> could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Both are expensive (in my opinion) if you go through the dealership service >network, and I wouldn't expect much difference between them. Particularly considering the minimal amount of scheduled servicing required by almost any modern motor car... around half of which the typical dealership will neglect to do in any case. :) SignatureJohn H >I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs >could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? The 'Japanese' car I've just ordered is assembled in South Africa, has a German manufactured engine and the panels are pressed in Thailand. If it were 'German' car assembled in South Africa I'd reasonably expect the dealer to fleece me to an ever greater extent... based on the experiences of some I know. Either way he isn't likely to get the chance. :) SignatureJohn H >> I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs >> could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Either way he isn't likely to get the chance. :) I'm curious as to what the heck this car is? a jap brand car with a german made engine assembled in thailand!? >> The 'Japanese' car I've just ordered is assembled in South Africa, has >> a German manufactured engine and the panels are pressed in Thailand. > >I'm curious as to what the heck this car is? a jap brand car with a >german made engine assembled in thailand!? Confusing ain't it! ;-) In fact, the engine is made entirely in Germany... or did you mean the car is assembled in Thailand?... Some models of the same make are, but they don't have the German engine... the ones that do are assembled in South Africa! As are some German brand cars. You can even have a Mercedes Benz assembled in Brazil... or a Holden made in Spain. So much for the distinction between Japanese, Euro and local brands. :) SignatureJohn H >>> The 'Japanese' car I've just ordered is assembled in South Africa, has >>> a German manufactured engine and the panels are pressed in Thailand. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > made in Spain. So much for the distinction between Japanese, Euro and > local brands. :) They make VWs or Audis in China for local buyers. Ben > I'm tossing up between a Euro or Jap for a small car and servicing costs > could be the tie breaker. Can anyone share their experiences with either? > Alternatively, is there a website out there that will outline what the > estimated servicing costs are for various cars? Cheers. Have a look at this http://www.mynrma.com.au/voc_light.asp It gives you the estimated running costs of light vehicles if you buy them new, keep them for 5 years, and do an average of 15,000k's a year. That includes fuel costs, servicing, rego, average insurance premiums, and depreciation. I was surprised to see that a new VW Polo 1.4L Hatch came in at only $15 a week more to run than a Kia Rio, which was the best on the list. Whatever you buy: 1. Avoid getting it serviced by any dealer as you'll pay through the nose. 2. See if you can find a second hand car that's ~12 months old. You'll save a few grand and it'll still be under warranty. SignatureSL. Take back the web. www.Getfirefox.com http://www.firefoxflicks.com/flick/?id=20272 Take back your Inbox. www.Getthunderbird.com |
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