Dealer Service Prices

[John Varela]

I just want to bitch.

We just took my wife's 1999 Forester in for its 30,000 mile service. (That's
right, the car will be six years old next month and only has 30,000 miles on
it. Talk about little old ladies... and take into account that the 30,000
miles include a trip from Virginia to Phoenix and Salt Lake City and back.)

The dealer reported that the license plate lights were burned out. They
wanted $38 parts and labor to replace them. Two bulbs cost $2.68 and the
labor was less than 15 minutes, not counting time for the trip to the parts
store.

 

[Edward Hayes]

So now you know that the dealers minum labor charge is 1/2 hour. Some
dealers have a minimum charge of one hour or 70 dollars. That's why I am a
DIY or at the very least request a call for any additional work. ed

 

[Crash]

mine just includes it in the service labour for the oil change, just charged
the parts, about $1 per bulb.

 

[ssuing8825]

The dealer in Silver Spring Md is quite a bit more expensive. They
wanted $650 for the 30,000 maintence. I shopped around and found a
non-subaru service center to do it for $350. They also put on new
brakes, aligned all 4 tires, and did a complete fuel system flush,
washed and vacuumed the car for $840. I could actually tell that the
had maintence. It was quicker and more solid. So I'll stay away from
the dealer. Seems to me people go there because they are "Experts"
with that car. Car maintence isn't rocket science, it the service
thats difficult to find.

I keep the records myself.