New Owner Servicing Advice Needed

[The Lonely Hunter]

Hello all. I joined the Toyota owners' club today and I'd like advice on service costs.

I know you guys will be the best people to ask.

I bought a low mileage Rav 4 D4D XTR 59 plate a couple of months ago from a franchise.

It has a Toyota approved used extended warranty until May 2014.

A service is due later in August. Despite its low mileage, the nearest franchise to me are asking £300 for a 4 year service. (It will be 4 years old in Sept)

The car has no faults apparent to me and the franchise service appears to be a load of checks and an oil change, hardly 300 quid's worth in my opinion.

It is worth seeking out an independent Toyota specialist who would not invalidate the warranty or is it advisable to stay with a franchise?

If independent, does anyone know the best independent service specialists in the South Cheshire/ Shropshire / North Staffs area?

Many thanks.

[Parts-King]

Is it a used car warranty or a Toyota extended warranty? There is a difference, you can get a car serviced anywhere on a used car warranty, but with an extended warranty you MUST have it serviced at a Toyota dealer

T&C's extract

You must have your vehicle serviced and inspected by a Toyota Dealer or Service Outlet at least once a year (or more frequently for high mileage drivers) in accordance with the recommended service schedule.

Toyota dealers offer fixed price servicing and the prices are competitive

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/generic_editorial.jsp?navRoot=toyota_1024_root&fullwidth=true&noLeftMenu=true&forceText=%3cnone%3e&edname=Owners-Service-Servicing&id=Owners-Service-Servicing&zone=Zone+Ownership&sr=Mall

Kingo

[The Lonely Hunter]

Thanks Kingo for the quick response. That's why owners' clubs work so well.

The warranty is the "manufacturer equivalent cover for approved used vehicles less than 5 years old" according to all the docs so I guess that is the approved used one.

As well as yours I've now read a number of posts on the forum saying that the fixed price services prices at the Toyota franchises are competitive but £300 for what is essentially an oil change and check-over seems a bit steep. I've paid less than that for a similar service and cambelt at other makes' specialist indies before.

[Parts-King]

Manufacture equivalent cover sounds like extended warranty to me. Best have it right as if you get it serviced at an indie you can wave goodbye to the warranty, if it is a used warranty, you are OK

Kingo

[The Lonely Hunter]

Thanks Kingo.

Yes, I can now find the words "extended warranty" (although it was 3 months out of the manufacturer's 3 years when I bought it).

In the terms and conditions it defines "Service Centre" as "An official Toyota retail centre or service outlet appointed by the warranty provider" so you are right.

However I thought that the block exemption ruling had put an end to that.

[Parts-King]

However I thought that the block exemption ruling had put an end to that.

Thats why it is important to know what warranty you have

Used car warranty-anybody can service it

Extended warranty- NOT part of block exemption, it is NOT insurance based and basically the warranty provider can make any terms and conditions they want to, in this case you must have it serviced at "An official Toyota retail centre or service outlet appointed by the warranty provider"

If you get it serviced at an indie, you WILL lose the warranty

Kingo

[FROSTYBALLS]

The other issue that you may wish to consider is that if vehicles are serviced outside of the manufacturers dealer network, any subsequent request for goodwill towards expensive repairs are more likely to be declined. This applies to most manufacturers.

There are examples of goodwill being declined on these forums, due to servicing being done outside of the dealer network.

BBC Watchdog recently featured timing chain problems on some BMW's - BMW was not making goodwill payments where vehicles had been serviced outside the BMW dealer network.

[dwilson]

My wife's RAV is older and out of warranty but I am going to pay the £300 for the service later this month. Next year it will be about £200. My little Aygo will cost me about £200 and next year about £100. Compared with the cost of buying a car it is a small amount and when I come to trade it in I am sure a full TSH will be taken into account. I know when I buy a used Toyota I look to see if it has been serviced at Toyota garages. I also have a 17 year old Micra that I only occasionally have serviced at an independent but the petrol and road tax are the main value in that car! A low mileage 59 plate is to be treasured and serviced by Toyota IMHO, that way you will be protecting your purchase.

Cheers,

David

[The Lonely Hunter]

Thanks for all the informed advice Kingo, Frosty and dwilson.

That's why I came here.

Appreciated.

[Davrav]

You could ask for a discount or buy your own oil [equivalent or better spec] and have them use that. It could save a bit.

Other option is a service plan to spread the cost.

[Parts-King]

Thanks for all the informed advice Kingo, Frosty and dwilson.

That's why I came here.

Appreciated.

No problem

[redlew]

Yes_ I've got a service plan which makes it a lot cheaper -worth calling Mr T