If all thats wrong with the Honda is rear subframe corrosion then getting it treated is probably the best solution, not just economically but devil you know and all that.

The subframe might be treatable for the forseable, if the rest of the car is still running well when the suibframe is declared fubar it might be worth sourcing a replacement subframe and getting an independent workshop to fit.

If it were mine i'd get underneath sc***e sand and wire brush off as much rust as possible, treat with a rust converter and then spray the whole subframe from several aerosols of chain lube after applying marine grease over the easily accessed sections.

£50 in materials will more than cover the costs here leaving you with spare stuff for the next time.

Also, when cars get older people spend less money on them. I took opposite approach and got it dealer serviced. .

I think the advantage of dealer servicing vanishes when the warranty expires. After that there can be benefits in using a trusted indy, who may be conveniently nearer and charge lower labour rates. I have no reason to believe that servicing standards are necessarily higher at a dealership, tho I suppose they are more likely to have necessary parts on the shelf.

We often see this advice to use a trusted indy, but they are very few and far between. People still head to main dealers because, whilst they will certainly charge you a lot and occasionally work in a way that's convenient for them and not cheap for you, they are unlikely to actually con you.

You will recall there was a Government plan to establish a 'good garage scheme' some years ago but the name was immediately used by a company that sold engine flushes to identify their retailers and became a little misleading. Perhaps time that idea was revived - I don't know how up to date the list on this site is.

I must be lucky. I have been using a trusty Indy for decades and have a choice of a few other known good places. I use main dealers whilst any car is under warranty and possibly a couple of years afterwards. There are still a few jobs I still would aim for the main dealer even after the car is getting on a bit - especially if they have menu/reduced for older car pricing.

Quite, main dealer is always worth asking, my previous Landcruiser had the superb 3.4 V6 petrol engine, replacement of the cambelt was somewhat daunting (unlike the simple1 hour DIY job of the 3 litre Diesels) so i decided to get it replaced by a garage.

A couple of silly indy quotes later i gave the Toyota dealer a call who quoted near enough half what the indies wanted, circa £290 if my memory serves.

As for indies, the one we'd been using for years failed the Forester on a leaking rear shock, fair enough no quibbles there i hadn't spotted it misting, but refused to do the job stating specialist car??, i fitted new springs and shocks myself the job being typically Japanese design simple, haven't been back since and won't be doing so again.