hwk72

It's unfortunately always a question of supply and demand. Getting quotes from 3 local dealers and 2 indies in the DC area, I've had to realize 1.5 years ago that my 30k mile service was not cheap either.

However, what the shops do always have to calculate into their price is warranty work. My next repair bill (IMS, RMS, clutch, waterpump, ...) was even higher at an idny last December. But in the meantime I got a second waterpump installed and now another RMS is due - under warranty, so if they wouldn't overcharge me in the first place, their math wouldn't work. Or maybe I just went to the wrong shop?

tooloud10

Sure, but I'm not surprised to see a Land Rover owner defending a dealership's service department--you've probably had plenty of practice.

BruceP

Ha ha. Very funny.

I have to admit, I've heard some stunning horror stories about US Land Rover dealers. For some bizarre reason, I have an terrific dealer. More than once, they've actually sold me OFF repairs when I've been fretting about a spot on the driveway or some such. They pat me on the head and send me home, telling me "It's just a Land Rover." And I get chauffeured around while the truck is being serviced. The truck has been pretty much trouble free, but I still couldn't live with it if I had a bandit dealer to contend with.

My P-car gets serviced by an indie. He might be cheaper than a dealer, but not by much. I think I pay top dollar. But for me, it's worth it. For the time saved and for the confidence that it's done right. They're the ****-retentive types who use a torque wrench on wheel bolts, if you know what I mean...

Anyway, nice one about the Rover.

Team996

"At what I bill per hour..." Are you kidding me? I was enjoying this thread until I read such a haughty post. There are millionaires, I assure you, who won't lie down for a gang rape courtesy of the dealership. Some people have money AND 4 hours to themselves on the weekend; it's really not as mutually exclusive as you make it sound. But it is as ridiculous as you make it sound.

Orient Express

Ahh, a Mechanics dream, a "smart and important" person who has more money than time. We need more of these people! What is that saying, "A fool and his money....."

BruceP

This is a bit embarrassing to read, guys. Seriously. Embarrassed for you, I mean. I'm not kidding, and certainly not bragging, when I say that time is the thing I have the least of, and I can afford to buy some back from people who make their livings doing something better than I can. If you don't understand this now, then I hope for you that you will one day. It's a nice problem to have.

My priorities are my wife and kids, my company, my teaching, my book projects, my health, the stuff I do to enjoy life like cycling and skiing and spending time with my horse. There's not a lot left over for changing oil, especially when it's pretty painless to pay someone to do it for me. I'm happy, my family is happy, my car runs great, my mechanic can put his kids through school... not sure what your problem is with all this, and I don't really care. Because the opinion of some do-it-yourself snob on the internet is well below all of the foregoing on my priority list.

BruceP

My friend, if i was that much of a fool, I wouldn't have all that money, would I.

Orient Express

Said the busy and important fool!



Note to self: Be sure to bill him for an hour + expenses

(but in real money not CDN)

Team996

Thanks for being embarrassed for us, Bruce. You're just such a magnanimous guy!

hwk72

I actually share the opinion of Bruce! I'm in the same boat. I've a challenging job, kids in an age that they still want to spend time with me and I love driving the P car ...

But I did also learn to like working on the car, just only on projects that spark my interest (I did the GT3 sway bar install myself - took me almost a full night).

I'm a guy that spends money for labor on an oil change, brings the car to the car-wash ... so what. As I said, I like driving it, others may love to lay under it or detail it. Each to his own.

BruceP

Exactly. If you have the skills and the time and the enthusiasm to work on your own car, I think that's cool and I totally respect it. If you don't, and you can and want to have someone else do it for you, same goes. I was just defending the OP and arguing that sometimes time is worth more than money.

I can't for the life of me figure out how that's offensive.

BruceP

.968 USD this morning. Pretty real to me. Your joke would have been funnier four years ago, before the US dollar lost 25% of its value.

By the way, your car is beautiful. It's clear that taking care of it is a passion for you, and it shows. Glad you're enjoying it.

Dutchie in NC

I have had my disagreements with Bruce, but am with him on this one... C$ hit a 30 year high aginst US$ yesterday. Euro, Sterling, and many, many more curriencies hitting all time highs (or read all time lows for US$)... we do not have ANY bragging rights when it comes to the monetary value of our currency!

Freddie

Sh*t guys it is a porsche not a honda. I wish that they would put a few thousand more on the retail price, and include the service, but they don't (ala merc, bmw, and audi).

From the top of my head, here are the prices:

Tires are Mich Pilot Sports 285/30R18 $392 each and Mich Pilot Sports 225/40R18 at $303 each. I looked online, and prices are in line with Tire Rack and Discount (plus these online retailers did not have the front and back in stock, either one or the other). Not enough of a price difference to deal with shipping and mounting. Plus, you better hope that the indy knows how to install and mount, because if they don't, you will have either balancing problems which make for a very un porsche like ride, or worst, need a new rim. If the dealer messed up my rim, they would replace it. Plus, my car is driving like new, and perfectly balanced and aligned. BTW-the tires are great and quiet.

Did not put bridgestones, see prior post.

Balance and Mount $120. Also misc. charges for disposal, and valve stems.

30k Maintenance was $800.

Wipers $68.

Alignment was about $250.

Front brake pads was $250.

Shop charge of $20 for disposing of greasy rags (????).

Sales Tax at 8.25%

I went to the dealer for hassle factor, free rent a car, and most of all, since some of the posting on here has mentioned the dreaded engine failure, since my car is under warranty, if anything, they know I have serviced my car, and wont get into the argument that they are not going to cover the warranty repair because they can not verify service or the indy allegedly did not know what he was doing.

Plus, the alignment would have to be at the dealership (anyway). They have a new alignment machine from porsche, which is awesome.

I have an indy but he does not do tires or alignment (does not have the equipment). I met him when I had an out of warranty BMW in the 80's.

So It would have been three trips (indy, tire dealership, and alignment & warranty at dealer) and many days, instead of one trip and one day.

Plus, who the wants to hang out at discount tire for 3 hours to save a few hundred dollars????

Plus, I drive my car. I put the 30,000 miles on in exactley 3 years.

My next service will be the 45k (probably next fall). I will need the service at $450. New back tires ($392 each). Mounting, balancing ($120), and alignment ($250). Brake flush for $250

My current schedule is as follows:

Daughter to volleyball at 6:30 am
Come back home to escort youngest daughter to the bus for 6:56 pick up.
Dress, at work by 8am or so.

Work 8-6, and then pick up son from football at 6:30. Home at 7:30, kids to bed, help with homework, and hopefully a sleep by 11.

Weekends can be just as bad. If I am not in Dallas helping care for my mom, then the kids have activities all day saturday, and sunday, church and kids sunday school take up the full morning.

The only way I make money is to be in my office billing hours, so if I mess around for the day (servicing my car), I am going to lose thousands.

Prosche dealer, drop off, rental ready and waiting (with choice of cars so I can get an SUV or pickup to run errands requiring same.) Pick up car, have free starbucks, and then go back to work.

Sure I could go to jiffy lube, discount tires, and do some of the repairs my self. But I wonder what the dealer, porsche, or the next owner of my car would say when all the stamps in my book are from either me or chain stores which maybe service a 911 once a year.

At least it is not as expensive as a ferrari and it is one great sub exotic to drive daily.

Bonus was that I had to drive out of town on business during the service. So I put the 400 miles in one day on the rental and not my car.

So dealership service under warranty is a no brainer. Quick, somewhat reasonable, honest, and anything is messed up, they fix. No hassle. Finally, I can lust after the turbo's on the showroom floor, while I wait for my car to be pulled up.

Freddie

Time is worth much more than $75 per hour. If I have any free time, then I rather spend it at home, and not driving around servicing my car.

I even pay $45 for a person to come to my office and mini detail my car. I guess I am just a fool. But San Antonio is in South Texas, and any extended period of time outside, requires about 1/2 gallon of water to rehydrate, a shower, and change of clothes. Then about 2 hours inside (AC)with no movement to bring your body temp within normal parameters.