Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

I was wondering if those with foreign vehicles always take their cars to the dealership for service or do you use regular mechanics. I have a Volvo and the dealer service says thatthey would not recommend having a non VOLVO service department work on the car especially if we have any sensor issues.
Makes me curious if they are spewing BS????

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

DH bought his Subaru in NY, but since we live in MD we found a Subaru dealership here and we always take it there. Also, we always take it when they say it needs to be serviced. We follow that sticker that they put in the windshield. It has worked so far, because the car was a 2002, and it works perfectly (knock on wood laminate, as I always do in the car when we mention how old it is! )

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

No...my car is new but for oil and that type of thing I just go near my house bc the dealership is like 20 minutes away.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

total BS.

I've had foreign cars and took them to my mechanic for non warranty repairs.

The dealer will always tell you to take the car to them.

Find a reputable mechanic and develop a relationship.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Message edited 4/22/2010 10:22:49 AM.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

neverrrrrrrrrr, we have an acura and needed "30K mile maintenance", they were charging us 700.00. instead we took it to our regular guy and he charged 200 for the same exact services.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Only when it was something under warrenty. I use my normal guy for repiars and maintenance.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

yes. but that's because of DH's line of work. Before that, I would take my car to a regular mechanic if it was something not covered under a warranty.

Some warranty work will not be covered if the car was worked on by a mechanic who did not use specific parts for that car.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

If the car is new/leased I take it to the dealer for any repairs. Anything beyond wear & tear would be covered under warranty, so I wouldn't bring it to my local mechanic where I would have to pay for it.

The only thing I don't bother taking it to the dealer for is Inspection & oil changes. I take that to my local mechanic.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

We have 2 BMW's. We used to take it to the dealership and it was outrageous! Now we have a personal mechanic who used to work for the dealership He charges half the hourly fee and does a GREAT job.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

I don't think I ever went to the dealer after the warranty was up!!

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

only if its under warranty otherwise no, bc my FIL is a mechanic and he fixes our cars for the cost of parts only.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

See thats what I thought. We have a sensor issue and they want a ridiculous amt. A referred mechanic is like 300.00 less...in fact ever mechanic I spoke to is LESS

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

my whole family takes their cars to the neighborhood mechanic, who now is part of my family (it's DH's uncle and we were going there before DH and i were even together!).

Message edited 4/22/2010 1:49:07 PM.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Okay, my answer is yes...but it comes with some background...

I have only taken my car to VW for everything (except some oil changes and tires) the whole time I had it.
Back in 2007 I was told I needed a new muffler by VW. It was $$ and I also needed tires etc so I went to Meineke got the new muffler.

Turns out it was my catlyic convertor. But it was no longer under warranty. So I went back to Meineke. Well 2 CC's later and my check engine light is always on because my CC isnt good.

Now I will NEVER go to a Meineke, not only did I have that bad expereince but I can't even tell you how HORRIBLE the corporate customer service was.

I do take my car to a small local repair shop now, but ONLY because my FIL has dealt with this man many times and so far so good.

Future cars, I think I would hesitate to go to a non dealer service station. My DH's car only goes to Nissan (again expept for oil changes and tires)

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Yes, always.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

I never did unless it was a warranty issue but with my car now all maintenance is covered so I only take it to the dealer......which is a pain cause its not close and there are only 2 dealers on the island that sell/service the car.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Only when it was in warranty. That way I had no issue with them saying it was not covered under warranty because of something another mechanic did. Out of warranty, I take it to a regular mechanic and save a ton of $$$.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

No --- i know the dealership is great - but they are a little too $$$ to me.

Knock on wood, haven't needed anything major on my car...just brakes.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

I hardly ever bring my car to the dealership because i feel like they are ALWAYS more expensive than a regular repair shop.

Re: Do you ALWAYS take your car to the dealership for repairs?

no, just a regular repair shop.