Is It Worth Going To A Dealer For Servicing?

MadMardegan

Or should I just find a good independent/smaller garage?

Are dealers just overpriced? Is there really any advantage of going to them?

Drummerboy08

Unless the car is very new and still in warranty then there is no real advantage to it.

If the car is out of warranty then find a good indy.

MadMardegan

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Unless the car is very new and still in warranty then there is no real advantage to it.

If the car is out of warranty then find a good indy.

Bought it second hand, it's a 10 year old car and runs fine for the most part but there's a couple of intermittent problems I want to get checked.
I figured it would be best going to a ford garage because they would obviously have a better knowledge of ford engines/common problems.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Inside guarantee or not I always get great service and a decent price at the dealer - compared to mates at work who go to independents.

Drummerboy08

A good Ford indy will have the same knowledge and will be much cheaper.

cgarrad

Don't go near a dealer with a 10 year old car, complete rip off. Get the name of a good service guy in your area.

MadMardegan

Zaniyah Muscular Peon wrote: »

Inside guarantee or not I always get great service and a decent price at the dealer - compared to mates at work who go to independents.

What do you mean by inside "guarantee or not"?

They quoted me €300 for a service before (due to platinum spark plugs apparently). That seems crazy expensive for a service but I've other problems lately (intermittent engine hunting/rough idle, slow to start when warm and after filling up)
I'd love to be able to do the work myself but I know nothing about cars pretty much

C Eng

Its easier said that done to find a good indy though. Once you do get a good one they are worth it. I put up with main dealer for years and dont ever feel I either got value for money or correct care taken with my cars

MadMardegan

C Eng wrote: »

Its easier said that done to find a good indy though. Once you do get a good one they are worth it. I put up with main dealer for years and dont ever feel I either got value for money or correct care taken with my cars

Can anyone recommend me a good Indy garage in Dublin? Don't mind the area but I'm in Dublin 7.
Car is a 02 Ford Mondeo Lx 1.8 petrol

Onwardandupwar

Mick Brennan (Brennan motors) in enfield have his number hear prob the best ford man I no he does only fords and 90 percent of the rs or ford cosworth club rate him as the man. He is very very well up on fords

colm_mcm

Friend went to blackchurch motors in rathcoole when she had gearbox problems on her fiesta, was very happy with the service.

Somebody from there used to post here.,

MadMardegan

Enfield and Rathcoole are a bit out of range for me.

I've seen a couple of things about SDP Motors in Arbour Hill, anyone used them or have any experiences?

Drummerboy08

Scully Autocare in Clontarf.

Nissan doctor

There are two problems with bringing older cars(or any car really) to main dealers aside from the price IMO.

One, they are rarely interested in properly diagnosing problems or spending time repairing issues and would rather just replace parts at the customers expense and they get away with this because people assume they know what they are doing.

Two, when you bring an older car in they are very likely to tempt you towards their showroom with a long list of faults on your car.

You are also, by no means, guaranteed a better service in a dealer then a decent independent garage.

MadMardegan

Nissan doctor wrote: »

There are two problems with bringing older cars(or any car really) to main dealers aside from the price IMO.

One, they are rarely interested in properly diagnosing problems or spending time repairing issues and would rather just replace parts at the customers expense and they get away with this because people assume they know what they are doing.

Two, when you bring an older car in they are very likely to tempt you towards their showroom with a long list of faults on your car.

You are also, by no means, guaranteed a better service in a dealer then a decent independent garage.

Yeah I suppose you're right, I saw some of that last time I was there.

Any recommendations for a good mechanic?

MadMardegan

Bump

kerten

MadMardegan wrote: »

Any recommendations for a good mechanic?

NissanDoctor at Atlas tyres in Drumcondra.

He recently sorted a misfire/hunting problem in my car without using trial and error approach like many other cowboys do.

Alora

The lads in SDP are fantastic, a genuine group of lads who know what they are doin. Seriously bring your to them u won't regret it, they will give you honest advice. Had dealings with both main dealers and these lads and by far I couldn't recommend them enough.

MadMardegan

Alora wrote: »

The lads in SDP are fantastic, a genuine group of lads who know what they are doin. Seriously bring your to them u won't regret it, they will give you honest advice. Had dealings with both main dealers and these lads and by far I couldn't recommend them enough.

They're only down the road from me so I might give them a visit.

Was in the atlas tyers in Drumcondra before, was fairly happy with the work but would like to try somewhere new.