Would a fast fit oil change business model work over here?

[bitchstewie]

KungFuPanda said:

The Americans have it drummed into their heads that if they don't change their oil every 3,000 miles or so, their engines will blow up.

That's kind of the point though, they have it drummed into them and we don't.

If you go ask on a non-car forum like Mumsnet you'll be looked at as if you're mental because people just follow the service schedule the car manufacturer dictates (at best).

Of the 2% or whatever number of the population may even think about doing an oil change at some smaller interval, once you factor in the Kwik-Fits and the local garages and all the other places that you can already get this done pretty cheaply, what's your USP that means they'd use you vs. any of the others? Even if they did, is it enough to make a living?

[powerstroke]

KungFuPanda said:

The Americans have it drummed into their heads that if they don't change their oil every 3,000 miles or so, their engines will blow up. There are a plethora of fast fit oil change places such as Jiffy Lube over there that will do a drive in / drive out oil change service at very cheap prices.

Given that a lot of non petrol heads seem to skimp on servicing, I was wondering if a business model such as Jiffy Lube would work over here. Straight forward oil changes at cheap prices done while people wait.

I'm not looking at entering into the market, was just wondering what people's views were.

We have had main dealer service history and expensive once in a blue moon servicing drummed into our heads
the american model is best tor the car and the customer ours is best for the main dealers and manufactures....

[Frankthered]

TR4man said:

dme123 said:

We sort of do - Kwik Fit / National / Others do an oil and filter change using the manufacturers specified oil and often work out no more expensive than buying the materials yourself.

Very true.

It's often not worth the bother of doing it yourself, when these fast fit places will do it so cheaply. Have mine done at ATS Euromaster who use Shell for an oil change on my Z4

This is as close as we'll get to the US model, isn't it? The places in the US do the same sort of other stuff too - tyres, batteries etc. It would be hard to get the oil & filter for the prices they charge.

The concept of renting a ramp is attractive, but I can't imagine that the insurance would be cheap for that concept!

[Terminator X]

eldar said:

Terminator X said:

Ahem, Audi just charged me £330 for an oil change

TX.

I'll pump your tyres up for £85...

With nitrogen of course?

TX.

[Terminator X]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Terminator X said:

Ahem, Audi just charged me £330 for an oil change

TX.

For an RS3? Oil and filter only, £330? I'm calling BS!

Called a few garages and they were all the same!

TX.

[POORCARDEALER]

Wouldnt work here as it wouldnt be cheap enough IMO.


Premises and wage costs are way too high, and the actual cost of oil and all the different types of oil used on european cars.


If it was £25/30 maybe, but it wouldnt be for most cars.

[mcflurry]

POORCARDEALER said:

If it was £25/30 maybe, but it wouldnt be for most cars.

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

[Frimley111R]

A good idea but one which only works in the US because of their 'car culture'. For us its all about having a car serviced at which point oil is changed. People don't see the requirement for a separate oil service.

[JCKST1]

Took my Transit connect in to a local 'in n out' centre the other day on my travels, not somewhere I would use on my Merc but for the works van its fine.
£50 for an oil and filter change and also a diesel filter. Work was done in 45 mins, would have been sooner I imagine but I came back after an hour and it was waiting.

This was in a good location and a newly built modern centre, surely they cant be making much from it by the time they pay fees, rent and so on.

[mikeyr]

mcflurry said:

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

Seems pretty reasonable prices really. Be tempted for my Clio 182 and might make it a bit more sellable.

[Frankthered]

mcflurry said:

POORCARDEALER said:

If it was £25/30 maybe, but it wouldnt be for most cars.

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

I checked for my Qashqai (1.2) and got quoted £29. Then I checked for my old car - a 1.8 Civic and it was £79. The difference being an upgrade in the oil, which the likes of Jiffy Lube offer in the USA.

There are a lot of places like this in the States because, as others have said, land and labour are so much cheaper than here. Not sure I buy the argument with the cheaper oil - the Yanks run all kinds of cars, like we do. Lots of Mercs, BMWs, Nissans and Hondas. It might well be that Americans will go for the cheaper oil and change it more frequently rather than the model we follow of using better oil with longer and longer intervals.

[GlenMH]

Frankthered said:

longer and longer intervals.

It is the fleet buyers and company car co's that have forced this on the industry in the UK. The private punter's opinion on this is irrelevant.

[daemon]

mikeyr said:

mcflurry said:

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

Seems pretty reasonable prices really. Be tempted for my Clio 182 and might make it a bit more sellable.

Because nothing says i've loved and cherished my Clio 182 more than a £29 oil change from a non specialist?

[All that jazz]

daemon said:

mikeyr said:

mcflurry said:

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

Seems pretty reasonable prices really. Be tempted for my Clio 182 and might make it a bit more sellable.

Because nothing says i've loved and cherished my Clio 182 more than a £29 oil change from a non specialist?

The quality of the National Tyres oil change is solely dependent on which monkey gets assigned to do it. I've used them twice on my previous Astravan. First time they did a sterling job and the kid who did it was spot on. The second time, the monkey that was assigned was indeed a monkey and managed to put 9 litres of oil in an engine that only want 4.5. And yes it was 4.5 litres too much because I watched the red-faced kid suck it back out into a drum with their exractor kit. If I hadn't bothered to check his workmanship before I left the site there's a very high chance that I could've been looking at a very large bill for a new engine. Needless to say my opinions on National Tyres have been left somewhat tarnished by that event..

[Frankthered]

GlenMH said:

Frankthered said:

longer and longer intervals.

It is the fleet buyers and company car co's that have forced this on the industry in the UK. The private punter's opinion on this is irrelevant.

Quite so, an extended service interval makes quite a difference to Life Cycle Cost Analysis - I've done a few myself for Gas Turbine packages.

Having said that, most follow the manufacturer's recommendation and change the oil after longer and longer intervals.

[Djtemeka]

Bristol spark said:

Dont forget modern cars have much bigger service intervals. My van has a service interval of every 30K miles/ 2 years.

"Up to" 30k/2yr.
My van is 20k/2yr but the service light came on at 9.5k and 11 months due to the oil degradation. Apparently as its loads of small London based journeys

[mikeyr]

daemon said:

Because nothing says i've loved and cherished my Clio 182 more than a £29 oil change from a non specialist?

Well I didn't realise Renault specialists were better at pouring black liquid down the funnel. Thanks for the heads up.

It was more an interim service which I could combine with doing plugs and filter myself so don't have to worry about draining oil all over the road.

[Grandad Gaz]

I've heard that some garages just stick a tube down the dipstick and suck the old oil out. Not something I'd want done to my car!

I suppose it saves messing about taking off the undertray which is on most cars these days.

[POORCARDEALER]

Grandad Gaz said:

I've heard that some garages just stick a tube down the dipstick and suck the old oil out. Not something I'd want done to my car!

I suppose it saves messing about taking off the undertray which is on most cars these days.

Quite a few cars do not have a sump plug and tube down the dipstick is the "proper way" of doing things

[PF62]

mcflurry said:

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

Just about to suggest them myself.

It isn't a fancy service, but when I have used them, for £30 it does the job.