John Cadogan discusses ways you can save money by choosing the right new car. John is a highly recognised automotive and finance journalist from Australia. He currently works as editor-in-chief for badcreditcarloan.com.au and regularly features on channel 7’s Today Tonight show. You can contact John via Twitter or Google Plus.
Servicing costs vary widely between new cars and also between dealerships. Operating costs are an important consideration for many owners, and the cost of service is one of the hardest aspects of car ownership to quantify.
Firstly, many car companies are moving to capped price servicing, and also to annual service intervals. This generally reduces servicing cost – and the capped price servicing makes it very easy to quantify the price for service for the period the price is capped.
It is easy to ask for a quote for the standard services when you visit any dealership. The service department is generally only metres away – and even if it’s not, a phone call will do it.
Under Australian consumer law, prices cannot be fixed. This means that different dealerships selling the same brand could easily offer servicing at significantly different prices – so it might pay you to shop around.
It’s not a prerequisite to have your car serviced at the dealership where you purchased the vehicle.
Standard servicing includes the items specified by the manufacturer for that particular service – and it varies significantly depending on which service you need. Minor services might constitute an oil change and basic inspection, but a major service might require the engine’s timing belt to be replaced, which is a big and often expensive job.
Sometimes, inspections reveal problems related to wear and tear. They might, for example, discover the brakes are worn excessively and demand replacement. This will involve additional cost and they should call you to discuss before proceeding with any additional work.
You are also allowed to have your new car serviced outside the authorised dealer network. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), your new-vehicle warranty will not be compromised if three very simple conditions are met:
First, “qualified staff” need to do the work. Basically this means a qualified mechanic – but not necessarily a mechanic from the authorised dealer network.
Second, the servicing needs to be done to “manufacturer’s specifications”. In other words, you need to get the services done when they fall due (either the time or the distance – whichever comes first) and all the jobs specified by the manufacturer need to be done.
Lastly, the use of genuine parts is not mandatory. According to the ACCC, what matters isn’t who manufactured the parts, but whether they are fit for purpose (designed to do the job).
The easiest way to clarify servicing cost if you are comparing car A to car B with a view to purchasing one or the other is to ask for a selection of competing quotes and use these to evaluate the likely cost of keeping your next new car on the road and operating properly.
Many people pay less attention on the things like analyzing servicing , repair and maintenance costs which they regret later. These tips are very useful and one must check all these things before making a purchase.
Regular vehicle maintenance will not only ensure maximum car performance but will also prevent costly repairs. Sometimes, even the smallest defect that seems irrelevant to you may lead to a major problem which will consequently increase your car maintenance costs.
Awesome post. Did you know that your car needs to be maintained more often than you usually do? Cars are like people take care of them and they’ll take care of you. Contact us.
Hi, I am an auto parts dealer and a BMW lover. I maintain the BMW model every year.. Last year, i bought my wife a different brand car and faced many issues regarding servicing and their staff. The thing you described is absolutely right.
Get the mechanic that is really good with your particular car and specific on what causes any problems you encounter.
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Good service car tips! I should have more patience and read article like this before deciding to take my car to the car service.
I agree with the article that the service for your car does vary. I would also add that it varies from car to car as well. With the technological advancements in the car industry, more is being required to maintain our vehicles. There is a huge difference between the cars now and the cars from the 90’s.
You should always do some proper maintenance even in new cars. The regular the maintenance care on it, the longer it would last.
Part of a mechanics job is to provide you with options to consider when checking your car.
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Some towing companies are liable for your car and accepts services all over the country.
New car servicing costs may vary depends on the car you own. It is obvious that a expensive car servicing will cost more than a less expensive car. Also if you want to add genuine parts it will definitely cost more.
Bring the best in your car by giving it the best car parts available in the market.
One of the first considerations when choosing an auto repair shop is deciding whether or not to take your car back to the dealership. While dealership repair centers generally deliver great service, taking the time to find a reliable corner garage may prove beneficial in the long run.
You can always buy your own spare parts to get them cheaper and have them installed by professional mechanics.
I would never go and take my car to the dealer to repair it. Or to popular services. In our country such decisions would cost you a fortune. It`s just not worth it!
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Buy your own parts also. Check other stores and online shops to get the greatest deals. You can save money if you ever need some parts replacement that way.
It can be really hard to find a good auto repair service in your area. That is why it is so important to do your research on a lot of different companies. I would even suggest going into different facilities to check them out. It is also a good idea to compare prices of different companies. This can be time consuming, but it would definitely be worth it.
I am curious, would the price capping you talked about, limit the the the types of services of the car? Like you said, it would obviously be easier to estimate costs. I am just wondering if the types of services will be limited, depending on what they are. http://www.kensautoserviceinc.com
My transmission has been a bit choppy lately. Whenever I shift gears, the car stutters and grunts a lot. In addition, it takes a bit for the car to speed up to the speed I want. How much will this cost to fix?
I think for a responsible car user it is very important to keep taking care of the car at right time. One should take his/her car to any of the recognized auto repair centers to replace very old or damaged parts. It certainly will help to get the best performance from a car. This way you can save some unnecessary car expenses as well.
You can always buy your own spare parts to get them cheaper and have them installed by professional mechanics.
When your car needs some repairs or parts. Don’t buy it straight from the shop who checked your car. Always do some research and canvas some cheaper parts.
Buy your own parts also. Check other stores and online shops to get the greatest deals. You can save money if you ever need some parts replacement that way.
Avail the best parts for your car with the best deals and designs suited for your style.
Some upgrades on these cars can also be done in real life with proper parts you need.
You should always do some proper maintenance even in new cars. The regular the maintenance care on it, the longer it would last.
This is a very good writing for new car owners like me. I can easily share the tips with my family and friends. But my personal opinion is, it is better to judge at least 5 different car markets to know what is the exact thing one needs. the more it would be cared, the more it would be durable.
Having your car go in for its normal check up is just like what we do when we have our yearly physicals. It makes sure that nothing is wrong, and if there are issues, you can then proceed to get them fixed. It will make your car reliable over the long haul because the maintenance will help diagnose any problems your car may have.
Only the best car pats for you, that will surely make your car more awesome and handsome.
Bring the best in your car by giving it the best car parts available in the market.
Pimp out your car with the best car parts that is available on town.
Some car parts that adds more safety and security in your car is always a must.
Some car parts that adds more safety and security in your car is always a must.
A well-maintained car has a higher selling value which will help you acquire a better return on your investment if you decide to sell it.
These are fantastic tips. A close friend needed service on his new Citroen, and instead of finding a “qualified staff,” like you mentioned, he went to a very suspicious-looking back-alley repair shop. It was surprisingly expensive. I think he was expecting them to refit his vehicle with used car parts, but they instead stocked him and charged him with new parts. Lesson learned, I guess.
Some car parts that adds more safety and security in your car is always a must.
You can buy or bring your own car parts for your needs that will suit your daily demands on car performance. It’s cheaper and you can have tons of choices. Just do some homework and research first.
Hello, Pauline! Thanks to your post, now I knew how to compare servicing costs for my next new car!
Get your car spoiled by adding some awesome parts that will totally make it stand out.
Wow
nice post..As is rightly said that prevention is always better than cure. This blog clearly highlights this saying. Purchasing a car is always a major decision as it costs a lot of money. Timely maintenance of the car is crucial to ensure durability of the machine. Keep sharing 🙂
Pimp out your car with the best car parts that is available on town.
super post i like it very much
Hello
Awesome post. Did you know that your car needs to be maintained more often than you usually do? Cars are like people take care of them and they’ll take care of you. Contact us
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Pleasant post..As is properly said that counteractive action is constantly superior to anything cure. This website obviously highlights this maxim. Buying an auto is dependably a noteworthy choice as it costs a considerable measure of cash. Opportune upkeep of the auto is urgent to guarantee solidness of the machine. Continue sharing
Thank you for sharing this information with us, Pauline.
I think it’s really important that vehicle owners learn (very well) how to maintain their car, and that that is one of the best ways of reducing car servicing costs – even if the car is a brand new car! Thanks again, Pauline.
I am glad to know the useful information you gave on different types of services of the car.usually people try to pay less money for the car service and they thought their vehicle is in good condition.but generally this doesn’t happened .The minor & major services that you mentioned here this will help us to make wise & beneficial decisions when we are having our car’s service.
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Taking care of your like car it’s one of your own kids. It really is necessary to be maintained regularly to lasts a long long time.
Pretty impressive for BMW to finally make an electric vehicle conversion (albeit still going for a hybrid instead of a full electric conversion). That brake energy regeneration technology looks like a particularly interesting feature; talk about applied physics at work.
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These are such great tips for getting prepared to service a new car. I actually didn’t know that it isn’t a prerequisite to get the service done from the dealership you bought the car from. My wife and I are about to buy our first car in the next month or so, so we will keep all of these things in mind when we are searching for a car. Auto service costs really are an important factor to take into account!
It is extremely important to keep up on the maintenance of your vehicle. There are simple things that can be done to ensure your vehicle continues to run at its best for many years to come. If you do not have mechanical experience, it is important to make sure you have a qualified mechanic do this work for you.
Thank you for the awesome advice! Many people neglect to factor in the keep-up and maintenance costs and even decide to not keep up with it, and in the long run end up having to pay so much more.
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Hey,
Maintenance is one of the best idea for any vehicle’s long last. There are simple things that we can do with owns. And most important thing many people doesn’t take attention while maintaining or repairing their vehicle. I just want to say that we ca do minor thing which are involved in maintenance. Then why we depends on others?
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Hi Pauline,
I prefer to get my car serviced through company authorised service centre rather than from an outside mechanic. I feel it is a much more safer approach. Some very useful pointers mentioned to keep your car under check and running on the road effectively without any hick ups. I was unaware that there are car ratings given for service of cars. I will surely be using this tool in the near future.
Thanks
Esther
One of the main contemplations while picking an auto repair shop is choosing whether or not to take your auto back to the dealership. While dealership repair focuses by and large convey extraordinary administration, setting aside the opportunity to locate a dependable corner carport may demonstrate helpful over the long haul.
The blog you described is significant, I love my car very much like as my phone and every year provide the maintenance.
I drive 100 miles roundtrip to work everyday. I bought a car with good gas mileage and I couldn’t be happier. Usually only spend 35 bucks a week and the car has needed little service in 2 years. It’s a Honda Fit, by the way.