Servicing

[chi tang]

Hello all and again Im in need of some impartial advice.

I took my car in for a 70k service and parted with £330. 

I was also offered an £860 3 year Toyota service plan which covered my next 3 services. To be honest I was quite upset at the price increase in services and contemplated at the time to shop around other dealers and see what they had to offer.

At this point I was then offered an alternative option, TEC (Toyota Essential care). For the same next 3 services and 3 MOT's included for £540. I was told my book will still get a Dealer servicing stamp so it all seems too good to be true.

 

So there must be a difference in service seeing the price drop. Has anyone got the gold or silver service done before?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Toyota Essential Care has only just been introduced in the last month. Basically it is to encourage owners of 5 year+ models to continue using Toyota dealers. Quite a few owners, whether the vehicle is Toyota or another marque, once the warranty expires, move onto independents for servicing, and TES is a tool to keep your business within the Toyota dealer network. So it is priced accordingly.

Other manufacturers have similar schemes  - eg Volkswagen offer fixed price servicing for 3 year old plus cars, Hyundai have their 5 year+ scheme, etc.

Nothing wrong with the scheme or servicing. Conversely, you'd be wasting money sticking with the Fixed Price Service scheme.

[Heidfirst]

1 minute ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Nothing wrong with the scheme or servicing. Conversely, you'd be be wasting money sticking with the Fixed Price Service scheme.

Unless you have a Toyota Extended Warranty where I very much suspect that the full service regime is still required - perhaps Devon Aygo can confirm if he sees this?

[FROSTYBALLS]

The only reference to warranty is that the original manufacturers warranty should have expired - 

Toyota Essential Care Servicing only applies to UK specification models that are over 5 years old and where the original manufacturer’s warranty has expired. Additional items may be required on some services. Only at participating Authorised Toyota Service Centre. Prices correct as at April 2016 and are the maximum retail price. Authorised Toyota Service Centres are free to offer prices lower than above. 
*Sevicing from £15 a month 
*This comprises of 1x silver, 1x gold, 2x MOT. MOT not applicable in NI or channel islands. For NI this will be replaced with an MOT Pre-Check. The monthly amount may vary dependent upon the payment term. 
*Subject to change in national VAT prices

[Heidfirst]

yes. but the terms of the extended warranty require " Vehicles must be serviced and inspected by a Toyota Dealer at least once a year (or more frequently for high mileage drivers), on accordance with the recommended service schedule. " so it is possible that "Toyota Essential Care offers a reduced cost alternative to Toyota full servicing" does not meet that requirement & would therefore invalidate your Extended Warranty.

That is why I hope that Devon Aygo can confirm whether that is the case or not.

[FROSTYBALLS]

... but there has been no change to the service interval requirements (12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first). So a vehicle having the Toyota Essential Care service should still comply with the requirement of being serviced and inspected by a Toyota dealer at least once a year.

[Heidfirst]

my read of it though is that the Essential Service is not just the exact same servicing but at a lesser price, it is a less thorough servicing regime & therefore may not meet the requirements to keep the Extended Warranty valid. That's why I hope that Devon Aygo sees this & responds. If he doesn't I may well enquire of Toyota myself.

[Devon Aygo]

On 5/19/2016 at 2:23 PM, Heidfirst said:

Unless you have a Toyota Extended Warranty where I very much suspect that the full service regime is still required - perhaps Devon Aygo can confirm if he sees this?

Using Essential care servicing will not affect the extended warranty, confirmed with the warranty company todya.

[Heidfirst]

Thank you, DA.