Hi All
Ive just been thinking about this and was looking for some advice
In about 6 months time my Astra G 1.6 8v '52 Plate will be due a service.
to me a service amounts to nothing more than a oil&filter/spark plugs/change, for aprox £150 (Dealer wanted £200) when I took it to them last year)
This year however as the car has done 45,000 miles its overdue a cambelt change and will be looking to get this done - however AFAIK the waterpump will have to be changed and while they have got the belt of im looking to get the thermostat replaced as well
I was wondering if its cheaper to get a service and the belt/pump/thermostat changed - or
Just ask them to Change the oil&filter/plugs/airfilter/belt/waterpump/stat and not get the book stamped
Ive also been thinking about taking it to my indipentant garage instad of a Vauxhall dealer - obvously I will ring them and enquire when the time is nearer - i was just wondering how other BR's do it and thoughts
Thanks in advance
Edited by redviper on 03/02/2009 at 12:43
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"Ive also been thinking about taking it to my indipentant garage instad of a Vauxhall dealer"
There is very little benefit in taking a seven year old car to a main dealer, in terms of getting the dealer stamp in the service record, and it's impact on the re-sale value. Fine until the car is four, perhaps five years old, but no real benefit after that, unless a long-term warranty depends upon it.
Save your money and take it to an indy.
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Hi - Thanks for your reply, a Indie it is :-)
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...There is very little benefit in taking a seven year old car to a main dealer...
Mmm, unless something goes wrong.
I'd rather complain to or claim against a main dealer - they've got more to lose.
Also, you should get a better job done, given their access to the latest technical info and the fact they are obliged to buy the correct specialist tools and equipment.
I think this applies more to a biggish job such as a cambelt than it does to an oil change service.
Main dealers are not always that much more expensive, either.
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Depends upon cost, surely. My local Vx dealer does a 'special price' service including MOT for cars over 3yr old and it's not worth considering an independent. Reasonable prices on cambelt changes, probably because they can do them efficiently. So, I can get a VX service history and they keep the business.
JS
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"Mmm, unless something goes wrong."
To quote ITMA "It's being so cheerful as keeps me going"
What figures do you have than main dealers are more reliable than indies?
I fully agree that if the price difference is low/negligible, then go to the Vx dealer, but to go to them "just in case" is mimsing of the first order.
We are talking about a cambelt and a regular service, not an automotive heart and lung transplant on some rare and barely understood petrol-powered monster straight off the transporter from Maranello
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...What figures do you have than main dealers are more reliable than indies?...
None, although I didn't say they were.
Without such information, I conclude the best chance of getting a good job done on a Vauxhall is at a Vauxhall dealer.
Might not work out that way, but then favourites don't always win the race, do they?
I think you slightly underestimate the complexity of a cambelt change.
I don't know anything about Vauxhalls, but I bet there will be one or two little wrinkles with the job that only someone with experience would know.
I've nothing against indies, although I think I would be looking for one or two reliable recommendations before using one.
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"I think you slightly underestimate the complexity of a cambelt change."
How many do you think I've done, then?
Quite a few. Yes, each engine type is slightly different, but follow the rules and most are not that hard, even if they take time. An indy that can't do a cambelt change on an Astra shouldn't be in business.
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All the work described by the OP is as easy as you will find work on a modern(ish) car. There are no special tools or procedures required, and no need to reset any electronics. As mentioned above by oldnotbold, if an independant garage can't do this job extremely well, they aren't fit to be in the job.
Despite sounding a little like GB or Oilrag, the ease of working on these cars was one of the reasons why SWMBO currently drives one.
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Hi all thanks for the replys
As much as i would love a new car at the moment I cant really afford one, this car although without its share of problems, and not particually flash does its job and i would like to keep it serviced to minimise potential problems
Thanks for the advice really apreciate it
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