The main chunk of that service charge was the transmission service. If they
actually did do the service the ATF dip-stick should be showing bright
cherry-red oil. Automatic transmissions do wear as time goes on. Typically,
the oil starts to lose its cherry colour as little bits of band and clutch
material start to shed into the oil. In badly under-serviced transmissions,
I've seen the oil actually turn grey.

The trouble with some dealership workshops is that the owner often comes
from a car-sales background, not a mechanical background, and thus sees the
workshop as another lucrative source of income. This is not to say they will
rip people off, but they "stick by the rules" charging the full price for
every little job. You would think once someone buys a new car from them,
that they'd value that, and would not charge the maximum for subsequent
servicing and repair work,..but often this is not the case.

On the otherhand private mechanical workshops are owned by a mechanic who
has a closer relationship with his customer and their need for good old
fashioned service which brings with it, loyalty, both from the shop-owner
and the customer.

One clue to find a good mechanic is to find-out from a few taxi or cab
owners, who does their repair-work. Taxi-owners are shrewd businessman and
will not entertain shonky workshops.

Jason