🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug4.181631.9836@fid.morgan.com> joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
>I am in the market for a new car and have narrowed the field 
>somewhat to one of the following, in approximate order of
>preference:
>
>Toyota Camry, Lexus 300, Acura Legend, Ford Taurus (or Lincoln Town Car)
>
>I prefer the Camry for the price and well known reliability.
>The Lexus is also nice but about 8-10k more money. Both are
>made by Toyota.
>
>The Legend is a good car but I hear of expensive maintenance,
>  i.e. tuneups etc - someone told me a tuneup costs $500!
>
>My real question is: What are present car owners seeing in charges
>       when they visit the dealer for normal maintenance fees?
>
>Joe
>joec@morgan.com
>

the only reason these cars can be expensive to maintain is because the 
dealerships charge a fortune for simple stuff.  they figure since you can
afford an expensive car you can afford to pay $70 for an oil change.
don't fall for all that scheduled maintenance visit crap.  get your oil
changed at the quick-change places(but watch them do the work).
acura does all kinds of unnecessary stuff...like changing brake fluid at 15k
miles and such.

In article <1992Aug4.181631.9836@fid.morgan.com>, joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
|> I am in the market for a new car and have narrowed the field 
|> somewhat to one of the following, in approximate order of
|> preference:
|> 
|> Toyota Camry, Lexus 300, Acura Legend, Ford Taurus (or Lincoln Town Car)
|> 
|> I prefer the Camry for the price and well known reliability.
|> The Lexus is also nice but about 8-10k more money. Both are
|> made by Toyota.
|> 
|> The Legend is a good car but I hear of expensive maintenance,
|>   i.e. tuneups etc - someone told me a tuneup costs $500!
|> 
|> The Taurus would also be good but I suspect the Camry would be
|> more reliable and that is a major concern of mine. (I have had 
|> MAJOR reliability problems with an 87 Maxima).
|> 
|> My real question is: What are present car owners seeing in charges
|>        when they visit the dealer for normal maintenance fees?
|> 
|> 
|> Thanks in advance
|> 
|> Joe
|> joec@morgan.com
|> 

Today's new cars do not require that much normal maintenance as most, if not
all, of the cars functions are controlled by the engine computer.  About the
only things that can be done, that I know of, is:

Changing air filter and other emission controls filters (PCV valve)
Change oil/oil filter
Change spark plugs
Add fluids as necessary
Change tranny fluid/filter (at least on my auto)
Lube chassis

I had some work done earlier this year on my '87 Monte SS (lack equip. to do it
myself) and the guy at the shop I went to basically said that they are snagging
you for $$$ just to go in for a tune-up.  $60+ for 8 spark plugs, labor, some 
washer fluid :-), and a timing check seems like alot of money to me for
something I can do myself so I do do it myself!

An ex gf of mine took her '87 Mazda 626 in to the dealer for normal maintenance
and ended up paying $400+ !  Barring, equipment problems, I help her out with
maitenance now and end up saving her alot of $$$.

The point of all this babbling is that most of the maintenance can be done by
yourself as it isn't that complex even for someone who knows little about auto
maintenance (like myself, but I'm learning...).

-- 

Eric Alter		alter@rchland.vnet.ibm.com
IBM Corporation		Rochester, Mn

In article <1992Aug05.153232.15960@rchland.ibm.com>, alter@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Eric Alter) writes:
|> 
|> An ex gf of mine took her '87 Mazda 626 in to the dealer for normal maintenance
|> and ended up paying $400+ !  Barring, equipment problems, I help her out with
|> maitenance now and end up saving her alot of $$$.
|> 
|> The point of all this babbling is that most of the maintenance can be done by
|> yourself as it isn't that complex even for someone who knows little about auto
|> maintenance (like myself, but I'm learning...).
|> 
|> -- 
|> 
|> Eric Alter		alter@rchland.vnet.ibm.com
|> IBM Corporation		Rochester, Mn

I applaud your initiative and hope you find that you can enjoy doing the work as
well as take pride in knowing you've probably taken a little extra time to ensure
the maintenance is up to the highest standards possible. Even if you decide your
time is worth more than the money you save and never do it again you will have 
gained the benefit of learning about it.  Most people wont even try it so I have
no sympathy when I hear the rip-off stories. As usual, being an educated consumer
is your best defense.

$0.02
Ericy

alter@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Eric Alter) writes:

>Today's new cars do not require that much normal maintenance as most, if not
>all, of the cars functions are controlled by the engine computer.  About the
>only things that can be done, that I know of, is:

>Changing air filter and other emission controls filters (PCV valve)
>Change oil/oil filter
>Change spark plugs
>Add fluids as necessary
>Change tranny fluid/filter (at least on my auto)
>Lube chassis

You forgot...

Change fan, air-con and water-pump/power-stearing belts
Replace heater-hoses
Replace radiator hoses
Change petrol filter
Replace emmisions control hoses
Flush radiator

what else? next person...

>The point of all this babbling is that most of the maintenance can be done by
>yourself as it isn't that complex even for someone who knows little about auto
>maintenance (like myself, but I'm learning...).

Fully agree.  One of the best maintenence tasks you can perform, apart from
making sure you have oil and water is to spend 10 minutes a week just 
staring/poking/looking around and at your engine and engine bay.  
Doing this I have managed to detect water-pump, radiator, fuel-pump,
fan-belt, alt-bracket, carburettor-gasket and other problems before they
turned into terminal failures :-)

Regards Scott.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.                 Perth -->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

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