What makes are cheap to service?

[Pulse]

Every car I look at these days seems to cost north of £200 a year just to service it! Is there any make that provides reasonable servicing costs? The Corsa we had recently was only £100-150 to service each year, and was much easier to stomach!

[AndyT77]

Suppose it depends on how many miles you do, and whether you chose the main dealer over an independant garage. Every car i've has been cheap to service at my local friendly back street mechanic.

[MikeyMike]

Are we talking new cars? DIY servicing or dealer/garage servicing?

[Pulse]

Well the Corsa was serviced at the dealer for the prices above, which I thought were reasonable. For example I like the look of the Suzuki Swift to replace it, but the services are £250-£300 each time, and every 9,000 miles!

[hornetrider]

Brand new 2 litre MX5. 12.5k intervals, first service cost £120, bargain.

[Pulse]

hornetrider said:

Brand new 2 litre MX5. 12.5k intervals, first service cost £120, bargain.

How much are the subsequent services? The Mk3 MX5 is chain driven, too - so that also makes it cheaper again.

[Engineer1]

Brand new, you can pre-pay 3 years servicing for £100-£200, I'm sure my wife's Colt was £180 for 3 years.

[MondeoMan1981]

One with extra long intervals or servicing included in the cost.

£200 for a Corsa service every year - what were you doing to it ?

[Pulse]

MondeoMan1981 said:

One with extra long intervals or servicing included in the cost.

£200 for a Corsa service every year - what were you doing to it ?

It wasn't. It was £100 or £150, depending on Minor or Major. It was also a chain driven car, so no belts to worry about.

[hornetrider]

Not sure tbh. I found my local main dealer (Bristol) to be very negotiable on price, other dealers in the SE were talking 170/180.

[matty_doh]

Not Renault.

Oil & Filter change for a 1.6L hatchback - £250.

I think the lube was a £5 extra.

[Pulse]

I've only ever serviced with a dealership. How easy is it to take it to an independent and making sure they stick to the exact schedule?

[oilslick]

Pulse said:

I've only ever serviced with a dealership. How easy is it to take it to an independent and making sure they stick to the exact schedule?

The problem isn't making sure the indy sticks to the exact schedule, it's persuading the main dealer that your indy's stuck to the exact schedule when you take it back for warranty work...

[cheadle hulme]

Unless you're talking about an old shed, then servicing is a minor expense compared to the depreciation. If you want to cut costs, focus on the big ticket items first.

[Cupramax]

matty_doh said:

I think the lube was a £5 extra.

For you as they bent you over?

[finlo]

hornetrider said:

Brand new 2 litre MX5. 12.5k intervals, first service cost £120, bargain.

£120 for a gallon of oil!

[sunbeam alpine]

I don't know about the UK, but here in Belgium some manufacturers - certainly VW Audi & Skoda and also I think Toyota - are offering at least a couple of years free servicing with all new cars bought.

They have been advertising this for some time, don't they offer it in the UK?

P.S. Could be that other manufacturers do it also - I haven't really paid a lot of attention as I tend to drive around in really old cars. I call them classics, my wife isn't always so polite about them.

ETA: And she refused to push the Mini when we broke down on the way to the Sunday Service at Oxford!

[hornetrider]

finlo said:

hornetrider said:

Brand new 2 litre MX5. 12.5k intervals, first service cost £120, bargain.

£120 for a gallon of oil!

Be fair, they also bang the air filter on the wing.

Oh and provide coffee, wifi, a free taxi to and from town if I like, and some nice Loti and Morgans to ogle in the showroom.

[LMC]

Someone say Subaru. Someone say Subaru

[Deva Link]

Pulse said:

Every car I look at these days seems to cost north of £200 a year just to service it!

My next door neighbour paid £250 to get his mower serviced!

I wouldn't mind paying for car servicing so much if they really did "service" the car, as opposed to changing the oil and then looking looking for any work they can add on.