Ticked boxes on service sheets?--you can always tell the dubious ones. The ticks are totally uniform and neat without the slightest smudge of an oily finger

Ticked boxes on service sheets?--you can always tell the dubious ones. The ticks are totally uniform and neat without the slightest smudge of an oily finger

That's because alot of the time, it is done by a pen jockey sitting at a desk and not the person who done the work.

The problem is alot of these glass palaces (as GB rightly calls them) have their staff on bonus schemes or impossible job times so they just cut corners. Going to fit the pollen filter and lose their bonus? of course not, they just don't do them. How many customers (apart from me) is going to unscrew the glovebox to get access to the pollen filter to check?

Went to my local Ford Main Dealer a couple of years ago for a "Motorcraft" Full Service.

It was being offered at a very attractive price but, unfortunately, after I'd had the service carried out, I found out why. Compared to what is listed in the Service Book by the manufacturer for what should be done for a Full Service, and do bear in mind this was a major Ford dealership, so they should certainly be well aware of this, they only do half of it!

You get what you pay for with servicing, perhaps I should add, if you're lucky!

Needless to say, I never went back!

For such an old car, I'd be off to Euro Car Parts and do the full service myself, get a Haynes manual if you don't have one.

Discount code on this weekend too - HOLIDAY25 for 25% off.

I've always done my own servicing and repairs but, when I bought the Astra it was supposed to have just been serviced and sure enough every box was ticked even though the pollen filter was filthy and date stamped with the same year the car was built.

GSF often have 43% off at weekends and sell parts for all makes.

Edited by Wackyracer on 29/04/2016 at 15:14

Some of the above comments are ringing a bell with me.

I've recently had my 2014 Toyota in for its second annual service at a local main dealer; a "major" one this time despite low mileage. Just like last year, I really don't believe anything significant was done other than an oil and filter change. Both years' invoices showed "brake cleaner", but I don't believe that any of the wheels were removed (I examined them before and afterwards, and the locking nut was exactly where it had been).

Last year, I wasn't bothered as the minor service was inexpensive (£149), but similar work this year for £250 was less impressive (as was the 5w30 oil shown on the invoice instead of the recommended 0w20, and the - minor - sign of careless jacking at one point).

In the past, apart from my last car (because it was a company one), I've always serviced my cars personally from year 2, and sometimes right from new. I always keep them at least 5 years and sometimes much longer, so the lack of a dealer S/H didn't used to be too much of an issue on sale, although it did spoil interest in the last car I sold privately.

My innate reaction would be to service the Toyota myself in future. But I'm mindful that that will sacrifice the last 2 years of warranty, and that the car has a CVT. Against that, my annual mileage is modest and the car has shown no sign of any faults.

Am I mad?

Or are there any south-west Toyota dealers that readers would particularly recommend for servicing?