Originally posted by: paulney
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
The moral of the story is, the dealership isn't charging more because it's a chick's car. They aren't charging too much labor. Their prices are just a bit higher (labor and parts) than other shops (or maybe they aren't, depends on where you live).
If their labor rate is 100/hr, then I'd imagine that even the independent shops are going to be more than the prices Roger gave. They'll probably be cheaper, but they're hourly rate likely won't be 35/hr less.
On average, after your complete coverage warranty has expired, a good independent mechanic is your best bet: from simple oil change to timing belt replacement.
No way. Independent shops cannot keep up with the technology as well as a good dealer shop can. You say it's better to go to an independent shop even for oil changes.....I say, wrong. If you have your car in the dealership for an oil change, and it is a higher mileage (say over 50k) vehicle, you're far better off going to a dealership IF it isn't some two-bit small garage....here's why: Let's say you have several items on your car that need or are going to need some attention....the lube techs at a good dealership shop are used to working on usually one brand of vehicle....so they are usually aware of things that typically go wrong with them....if they see something questionable, they have the option of asking a factory trained tech to come over and take a look with them. For the most part, independent shops don't have this option.
And our oil changes are 21.95, so we're cheaper than most any lube shop, and just as fast.
I can't tell you how many cars come into our dealership that customers have been taking to "my long time mechanic that I trust" and there's all kinds of stuff that needs servicing.
I know that there are lots of good independent shops out there, and they nearly always have former dealership techs working there, at least the specialty shops do.
Put it this way: I have seen thousands of vehicles come in that have spent hundreds of $$$ at an independent shop to do tune up items, flushes, sensors, etc, then after they still have the same problem, they send them to us to fix it.....when they customer could have just come to us in the first place and we'd have diagnosed it properly. We might have also said, "oh, and while we were under the hood, we noticed that you need, x, x. and x, but THIS is what you need for your original concern.
As far as cost goes, around here there isn't that much difference. Example: Pep Boys charges 65 bucks for an EEC diagnostic test, and all they do is scan the codes and recommend a sensor. And they're usually wrong.
We charge 75 and actually do the pinpoint tests necessary to prove the part is bad. I could understand giving them a shot if they were half the price, but for ten bucks, do you really want some 19 year old with no training diagnosing your vehicle?
Aftermarket shops call us and other dealers all the time wanting help with a diagnosis or other assistance. Do you think any competent dealership shop EVER calls an independent shop and asks for help?
You get what you pay for.
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