How many of you really bother with main dealer? Any advantage over one another?
- Main Dealer
- Independent
0 voters
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I have to drive an hour + to get my Alfa serviced tomorrow there’s no dealer in my area and no one independent I’d trust. I’ve always preferred the dealer as I think they’re probably more up to date with the model/brand.
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My Merc used to go to the main dealer, and was under extended warranty. Then I cut my daily commute from 47 miles each way to 4 miles, sometimes by cycling, so I cancelled the warranty and used a well respected local independent specialist.
Did that for over three years, then noticed the specialist’s prices had jumped to almost main dealer level but without the frills and decent courtesy car. They also seemed to be pushing for more work to be done on the car.
I’ll be trying one of the other two specialists from now on. So be careful.
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I tend to buy cars 2-3 years old that someone else has taken the intial hit for but there’s a bit of warranty left, so it might be a main dealer for the balance of the warranty then my friendly local guy who collects from my front door, and shoves the keys through the letterbox with the invoice on the seat and an expectation always met that I’ll pay as soon as. He’s good for a beer with too from time to time. Much better than making your way to a main dealer the wrong end of town and having to wait till the next receptionist can get round to me, and the enormous bill for the same oil & filters etc that my bloke will use.
On a general note, it’s worth checking in with the main dealer from time to time for s/w updates and any manufacturer recalls that may be outstanding. I’ve worked in the SMMT recall business in the past, and was amazed at the volume of things that are flagged up for fixing either as a safety issue (urgent or non) and defects that can wait for the next service. One or two? Dozens in some cases, trivial and not so trivial.
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Slightly concerned by that statement. Is that during or after servicing the vehicle? 
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On the way there & back, just to ease the journey.
Naughty and my licence is precious to me.
That’s ok, neither of us has one between us.
I used to do all servicing myself, until cars became computerised and I ceased to have time.
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My 15 years old Acura lost 75% of its value but I still take it to the dealer to be serviced mainly because they are very honest, knowledgeable and use original parts.
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We have a Tesla, so there is no servicing to speak of.
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Would we so easily get our beloved black boxes serviced by anyone other than a Naim dealer.
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I’ve been driving Subarus for about 10 years now, and the dealer is great, so I always take it there.
Before that, I had BMWs (what a waste of money), and I always also used the dealer; not quite as satisfying as my Subaru dealer, but decent enough.
Always a courtesy car at both places.
Dave
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The independent I use now, who I first started using when he did ‘mobile’ servicing as a one-man-band, now grown to be a much larger business built on his reputation, has provided a courtesy car to anyone needing since he got himself permanent premises. Nothing flash, just a basic transport.
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This depends very much on the garage. With our BMWs, the local dealer is really good, there isn’t an independent BMW specialist within easy reach, but maybe I’d go to the only other, non-specialist, independent garage I know and who are pretty trustworthy.
With the Porsches, the situation’s a bit different. The 911, like my previous Boxster, has always been serviced by a main dealer, so to preserve its service record I shall continue to use one. But the local ones I’ve had dealings with are disappointing, one especially so. I’ve had good experiences with the Porsche Centre in Kendal, 280-odd miles away but close to our holiday home, so it’ll go there.
The Macan’s recently had a major service at a local independent Porsche specialist, Reason Cars, and they’re really great. Adam Reason’s a Porsche enthusiast with lots of experience, and employs a couple of very experienced ex-Porsche mechanics. Friendly, efficient, and couldn’t be more helpful. The Macan’s a keeper, so I’m happy to give over its long-term care to them.
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Yes there is.
Apparently yes, there are a couple that get a regular mention on here.
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My car is 32+ years old, but I take my car to an independent to be serviced mainly because he is very honest, knowledgeable and uses used original parts from eBay, and he is a friend.
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OK I forgot, apart from them then. 
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I use an independent Smart Car specialist for a combination of cost and better service than the Merc main dealers.
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