Technical First Service

[PandaPaul]

dont see why a premium brand or powerful vehicle should come into itits based on how long it actually takes to complete the job.

Some cars you have to remove mounts to get oil filter off etc....those cars(models) should have higher service costs because they take longer.

Premium brands cost more because plush showrooms with nice coffee and lots of staff cost money and the customer pays for it. Most of the Fiat showrooms I've visited are bargain basement,and no-one notices you when you walk in, so why are they charging so much? The labour rates are self explanatory..

..and I wasn't aware that Fiat Pandas had so many parts to remove before you could get to the oil filter!

 

[T14086]

Premium brands cost more because plush showrooms with nice coffee and lots of staff cost money and the customer pays for it. Most of the Fiat showrooms I've visited are bargain basement,and no-one notices you when you walk in, so why are they charging so much? The labour rates are self explanatory..

There are some excellent 'plush' looking Fiat garages.You also have to remeber each department pays its way...service dept dont contribute to coffee machine in showroom & neither do sales dept contribute to workshop tools in their respective budgets.


The garage I often frequent charges £40 hour & is plush

..and I wasn't aware that Fiat Pandas had so many parts to remove before you could get to the oil filter!

re-read my post it said "Some cars you have to remove mounts to get oil filter off" I never said panda (although a you do have to remove/refit metal cover on 1.3MJ version) thus its commonsense the longer it takes to complete a service,regardless off what car it is & its engine output,the more it should cost.

 

[gib1970]

Fiat dealers rip you off with the service prices because, in all likelihood, after 3 years of poor after-sales customer care, warranty work and servicing it's the last they'll see of you and your car.


...the dealers know this, so they get their pound of flesh off the customers while they can

 

[T14086]

Fiat dealers rip you off with the service prices because, in all likelihood, after 3 years of poor after-sales customer care, warranty work and servicing it's the last they'll see of you and your car.


...the dealers know this, so they get their pound of flesh off the customers while they can

Gib....dont go to a fiat dealer then its simple & for your information you DONT have to go to a Fiat dealer even during warranty period...obviously though you know this!

 

[gib1970]

yes i know...very true - if i did buy another fiat new then i would go elsewhere from day 1 for the servicing.

but i cant see it happening anyway so doesnt apply, sadly!

 

[T14086]

yes i know

Then why say it? It is well documented throughout this site that you are free to go anywhere for your services however the majority (after paying a large sum initially for the car) choose to stay with dealer servicing for at least 2 years and the benefits it offers.For cars out of warranty alot of people do it themselves however not everyone can or have the correct tools so they take advantage of reduced priced dealer or Fiat services.I must also point out here that most garages offer a reduced rate for older Fiat cars,this not only retains the customer but improves the chances of the customer buying from then again....a simple rule of business!

I do work at alot of garages (not just Fiat) and have done for nearly 20 years and if you think the service quality is poor at Fiat garages then I can assure you it is certainly is not.

I can only 'assume' you have had a bad experience at a Fiat garage however if this is the case then its unfair to generalise them all in this way.

 

[doctorchris]

Panda 4x4, I don't see how you can get to the oil filter without removing the sump guard, so another point for T14086.

 

[T14086]

Its not about points its about getting the 'correct' fair deal for the customer no matter what car they drive.I think its unfair people have to pay more because they have a expensive car...end of the day the mark up a garage makes from selling a £20-25K car is huge compared to the few hundred pounds a garage makes from a panda,yet the customer of the expensive car has to pay more for services/repair work when it could be a easy straight foward service compared to as you correctly state DrChris a panda 4x4 version.

 

[PandaPaul]

Why do some Fiat dealers charge over 60 pounds more for the same service, all other factors being equal? Surely the parts used are exactly the same, bought at the same wholesale price. How can labour rates vary so much in just 10 miles?

Surely some are just ripping their customers off?

Are Fiat Panda 100HP's complex to service? More so than the Leon or Suzuki in my post. No, of course not. So why are they consistently more expensive?
The same price, at least, would seem reasonable.

The question of profit in the new car sale is complex, as smaller cars are sold in much higher volumes, so profit margins are tighter, and many dealerships discount heavily to achieve target related sales bonuses which are greater than straightforward profit margins on individual cars.

We all need to shop around more. Dealers are only too aware most people don't!

 

[ScoobyChris]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I was looking at the Fiat servicing deals (http://www.fiat.co.uk/Content/?id=2346) and wondering if these worked out cheaper than paying for each service individually. Having a scan through the prices on this thread, I'm guessing if the cheapest 12k service is £160 then it makes the deals look quite attractive (I'm presuming the cambelt is done at year 4/72k service?).

The other option is to find a good local independent specialist and lose the FFSH... hmmmmm.

Any thoughts/opinions?

Chris

 

[Jai]

for our usage, the plans are way to much, i'd rather pay for them individually, and go from there, at year three, make the choice to either stay one more time, or from here on go outside the dealer network.

 

[T14086]

We all need to shop around more. Dealers are only too aware most people don't!

Customers also need to learn to budget properly....the amount of times I see a customer put pen to paper with no idea of servicing costs,insurance & budget for maintence as most hope to keep cars for 5 years.

Servicing is expensive relative to what? Some services leave the dealer after expenses with just over £15!

We all want things for nothing or at least cheaper but sometimes you just have to pay for things that to some seem overpriced.... for me its phone standing charges, council tax

 

[Trefor]

Thames Fiat Slough just quoted me £160 inc. for the first year service (oil, filter, pollen filter, labour). I got a 10% discount offer in the post so it will be £144. Booked in for a few weeks time.

 

[Andy Panda]

Just had my first service at Thames in Slough and was charged £177.Oil and filter and pollen filter change.They also informed me that my exhaust was damaged and was blowing so are gonna replace it under warranty (must be a very slight blow i've not noticed it) which I thought was good of them,was also pleased with the turn around of just over an hour.The price did seem a bit steep but according to the menu on the wall next year's one will be £305 It looks like I'll just have to trade-in for a new one before then

 

[PNL]

I payed £95 for the first service on my 1.2 Panda ..now the first service is due on her in doors stilo and she is talking about going else where as they want £125 for basically an oil and filter change ..I did point out to her that they use better quality oil [selenia ] and beter quality oil filters [not unipart :yuck: ] and she said she is going to think about it I dont think they will charge her the £75 they quoted if she askes them to use fiat oils and filters ..

 

[j6pkp]

i have been told that my 18k service (second year) will be £102-£120 at the dealers i got mine from, norris bro's in tamworth.
seems very good to me considering the servicing for my smart roadster was every 7k and cost £240 minor and £3xx major!!

 

[Trefor]

Just a quickie to comment on good service. Had my 100HP's first service this morning. Got there at 8.15, pleasant waiting area with drinks, sofas. Car ready by 9:30. 143 pounds inclusive.

Dealer said they are awaiting information from Fiat on the noisy brakes when moving slowly or reversing. They will contact me when they get an answer from Fiat.

 

[Derv drinker]

Jumping the gun a bit - MJ second service £195.12 SGM, Southampton, quite reasonable buy the siound of it.