Resale Value - Servicing Query

[fRostiE]

The time has come for me, a lowly final year university student with no job prospects... to pluck up the funds to service my car:

2005 Honda Civic

My question is, do I continue with the cars current trend of servicing at the Honda Main Dealer, or do I now, being as the car is 3.5 years old flick to a local garage, an potentially save £100.

It’s the 48,000 Mile service, Honda have quoted me £330inc.

Will it really make a massive difference to the resale value of the car if I stick with Honda? Or is it a marketing ploy to get me to spend too much for a service?

Separate question, family members have had to pick their jaws up off the floor when I told them it was £330… Its not a Type R either, just a lowly 1.6 Sport… how much should a major service cost on this?

Thanks,

 

[fRostiE]

At first glance £330 for a Civic seems like daylight robbery.

Which is why I'm querying it!!!

The book says they will be:

replacing engine oil
replace oil filter
inspect brake wear
check parking brake
check light alignment
test drive (noise, stability, dashboard operation)

visually inspect:

tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots
suspension component
driveshaft boots
brake hoses and lines
all fluid levels and conditions
exhaust
replace spark plugs
fuel lines and connections
inspect and adjust auxilary drive belts
replace dust and pollen filter

doesn't sound like anything major 2bh!

 

[fRostiE]

maybe its just garages trying to make some money since new car sales are down so massively... going to phone another Honda dealership further afield to see if its cheaper there.

Also going to phone a local garage to get a comparative price for a non Honda service.

 

[fRostiE]

I've been phoning around garages for the past 30 minutes, found a local garage who would do it for £150inc (using Honda Parts)

Phoned Honda back with that info and said the minimum they would do was £250, he then listed the numerous jibberish things that needed doing at this 'very major service' and that it would be in my best interest to continue with a main dealer...

So i asked him to make a note on the service booking that £250 was the agreed price, guess i just stump it up. They are a good garage and have looked after me and my dads car in the past. Still, didn't know they could knock £80 as easily as that!

Thanks for your help all! £80 is better than nothing!

 

[fRostiE]

Did you ring around other Honda Dealers in your area?
They are usually best to play off each other as you're comparing like with like.

Yes, i did... both the garage local to my parents house (Nottingham), and the one nearest my uni house (Stafford) ended up at £250inc and could go no lower

nobody has really answered my question of, is a FHondaSH better than a standard FSH? I'm assuming from people answers that if i spend £100 extra for this major service and £50 extra on the next basic service, i will not recoop £150 on the sale price?

fRostiE

 

[fRostiE]

thats what im hoping is the case with this... its not a complicated car, its not a massivly desirable car, but hopefully a full honda service history will be something that makes my car (when i do sell it) stand out from those around it in price