What do you do (re servicing) as your car gets older???

[MetManMark]

Our car (Auris TS hybrid) is 8 years old. It has been trouble free until last week when we needed a new suspension bush costing £500. I appreciate that the car is no longer new but this came as a bit of a shock - both in terms of needing the work doing ((probably due to the state of the roads in Devon and the fact that we tend to use a fair few country lanes) and also the cost. Two hours at £168 / hour at our dealership in Exeter. This seems a *lot* to me!

I have already signed up for a service plan for the next three years but after that I am sorely tempted to find other independent garages to do the work. We used to have a SAAB and there is an excellent SAAB specialist in Taunton. I don't *think* there are any Toyota independents in the SW. Hopefully there might be in three years time - or somewhere specialising in hybrids. 

 

As the car gets older it won't take much going wrong with it to make it no longer financially viable to keep it on the road which I find really sad 😞

 

Any thoughts / suggestions out there?

 

Thanks in advance

Mark

 

[Mojo1010]

Use an independent for the bushes, any mechanic can do without extortionate fee. 

[Rhymes with Paris]

I use a Japanese vehicle specialist here, formerly known as Toyotek.

Do you have similar down there?

A quick Google throws a few up, sorry couldn't see if they take hybrids though.

[Bper]

IMO as the vehicle gets older it's dependent on the value of the car and the cost of any potential repairs. Toyota as we know is very reliable but problems do and will arise as the car gets older.

It inevitably comes down to budget whether to trade in for a newer model or keep the existing. Once out of Warranty if my budget did not stretch to a new one I would seek an independent garage for servicing etc and monitor any costs. If they started to become to high I would look for a newer 2nd hand model.

 

[MetManMark]

43 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

Use an independent for the bushes, any mechanic can do without extortionate fee. 

Good point - something to bear in mind for future. On this occasion it was associated with the MOT so I didn't really have time to faff around...

[MetManMark]

31 minutes ago, Rhymes with Paris said:

I use a Japanese vehicle specialist here, formerly known as Toyotek.

Do you have similar down there?

A quick Google throws a few up, sorry couldn't see if they take hybrids though.

I did google for Toyota in the SW. I'll expand that to Japanese independents 🙂

[MetManMark]

25 minutes ago, Bper said:

IMO as the vehicle gets older it's dependent on the value of the car and the cost of any potential repairs. Toyota as we know is very reliable but problems do and will arise as the car gets older.

It inevitably comes down to budget whether to trade in for a newer model or keep the existing. Once out of Warranty if my budget did not stretch to a new one I would seek an independent garage for servicing etc and monitor any costs. If they started to become to high I would look for a newer 2nd hand model.

 

As soon as the 3 year Service Plan has concluded I think I will be looking for an independent... I am less keen on looking for a newer 2nd hand model. I want to keep our 8 year old car for another ten years - I don't want a new car as our children pass their test :).

[TonyHSD]

But what was wrong with the bushes? And what bushes exactly? How many miles has the car in total! Have they showed you the worn parts?
 Dd you feel any knocking, creaking or squeaking noises from the suspension while driving? 
Toyota cars has basic suspension that is very reliable.They do have their quirks that needs attention from time to time but replacement anything before 100k miles or even more  is either misused or neglected, otherwise with day to day use even on the horrible uk roads , which are really bad indeed the suspension bushes will survive a good long miles. 
Many garages including main dealers are looking for extra cash as of the current economical situation and they tend to push and up sale parts and services without bee any need of. Something to be aware. 
If we exclude the above , the best place to maintain and repair your Toyota when under warranty is trustworthy dealer and after that ad diy or trustworthy local mechanic, but someone who takes pride of his work, sadly almost impossible to find people like that.
The car trade has always been a toxic environment because of people involved., not all, but many. 

[MetManMark]

2 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

But what was wrong with the bushes? And what bushes exactly? How many miles has the car in total! Have they showed you the worn parts?
 Dd you feel any knocking, creaking or squeaking noises from the suspension while driving? 
Toyota cars has basic suspension that is very reliable.They do have their quirks that needs attention from time to time but replacement anything before 100k miles or even more  is either misused or neglected, otherwise with day to day use even on the horrible uk roads , which are really bad indeed the suspension bushes will survive a good long miles. 
Many garages including main dealers are looking for extra cash as of the current economical situation and they tend to push and up sale parts and services without bee any need of. Something to be aware. 

Thanks Tony. It was an MOT fail "Suspension Arm Bush".

I didn't ask to see it - perhaps I should have done. The car is 8 years old with 50k miles on the clock. 

There were no knocking, creaking or squeaking noises from the suspension.Upon replacement the car felt no different. What also makes me suspicious is that the car was serviced three months ago and this wasn't picked up as an advisory. The whole thing feels a bit fishy to me :(. Or maybe I am being a bit paranoid!

 

Mark

 

[TonyHSD]

1 minute ago, MetManMark said:

Thanks Tony. It was an MOT fail "Suspension Arm Bush".

I didn't ask to see it - perhaps I should have done. The car is 8 years old with 50k miles on the clock. 

There were no knocking, creaking or squeaking noises from the suspension.Upon replacement the car felt no different. What also makes me suspicious is that the car was serviced three months ago and this wasn't picked up as an advisory. The whole thing feels a bit fishy to me :(. Or maybe I am being a bit paranoid!

 

Mark

 

Hi Mark, 

I can tell that most likely you have been screwed and you have not been paranoid at all. 
My Auris has gone to the moon 🌙  262000 miles and it’s still on its original suspension with only things changed were stabiliser bar bushes and links , not long ago at 250000 miles, wheel bearings and two rear springs. That’s all.  
Ok, there are motorway drives mostly but the uk motorways are horrible as well plus I do a lots of country lanes and London drives , London is like Gaza , that bad roads and speed bumps , restrictions, broken surfaces, potholes, huge kerbs etc , very car unfriendly environment.
Main dealers are constantly pushing customers and unselling products, ac regas on a one year old car, engine flush on a 20000 miles engine, fuel additives on a recent less than year old cars, paint protection that they does not apply correctly, unnecessary cameras, and the list goes on. 
Apologies, I don’t want to add oil to the fire but that’s the reality. 

[Mojo1010]

1 hour ago, MetManMark said:

Good point - something to bear in mind for future. On this occasion it was associated with the MOT so I didn't really have time to faff around...

I only use dealers for servicing to maintain the initial warranty (normally 3 years). After that it's all independent for all the works, thankfully most of the cars i owned require just the oil changed. Refuse to drop the pants and bend over at the dealership counter. 

Take my car to MOT only place, no repairs on site. Advice is not to do mot and servicing at the dealer at the same time. 

[Eddiefh]

Please don’t take this to heart but I’d say they’ve had your trousers down , I can’t see how you’ve been charged £500 , I sell bushes and there £5 - £10 I know there charge over £100 an hour in labour but still 

[MetManMark]

1 hour ago, TonyHSD said:

 

 

This is their report: https://video.citnow.com/vts4rxWmx-d

I was at home when they did the MOT (12 miles away without a car). They flagged that the car wouldn't get through the MOT without the work being undertaken. Perhaps in hindsight I should have gone and taken a look with them or asked for sight of the part. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. We have gone down some pretty shocking back lanes over the last year or two. In future I will steer clear of back lanes and also make sure that I am around for the MOT itself. And make sure that the MOT is well in advance of the due date...

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Mark 

 

[MetManMark]

17 minutes ago, Eddiefh said:

Please don’t take this to heart but I’d say they’ve had your trousers down , I can’t see how you’ve been charged £500 , I sell bushes and there £5 - £10 I know there charge over £100 an hour in labour but still 

£140 / hour plus VAT! 

Interestingly the garage gets lots of 5 star reviews from people who say how great it is that you can get a coffee from the dealership. At £168 / hour they can afford a decent coffee machine!

[Eddiefh]

Could have got a new arm fitted at a local garage and still had change for a good meal out and a skin full of beer and taxi home 

[TonyHSD]

15 minutes ago, MetManMark said:

 

This is their report: https://video.citnow.com/vts4rxWmx-d

I was at home when they did the MOT (12 miles away without a car). They flagged that the car wouldn't get through the MOT without the work being undertaken. Perhaps in hindsight I should have gone and taken a look with them or asked for sight of the part. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. We have gone down some pretty shocking back lanes over the last year or two. In future I will steer clear of back lanes and also make sure that I am around for the MOT itself. And make sure that the MOT is well in advance of the due date...

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Mark 

 

Ok, 
I apologise about quickly blaming them for !Removed! you up.
The bush look bad indeed. Perhaps a combination of salty roads and bumps, potholes, overload on the suspension can cause this premature wear.  
The price was high because these bushes comes together with the whole suspension arm which is an expensive part, and of course the high labour cost. Going aftermarket and independent garage here could have save you roughly about half or 1/3 of the total price. 
Good that you have access  to this video which gave us a more thorough look on the case. Once again, sorry for blaming your mechanics 
 

[Cyker]

Yeah that's not just a bush being replaced; the bush is integrated into the suspension arm and can't be removed so the whole arm needs replacement which is why it cost so much.

It does look pretty perished so fair enough.

It's a bit surprising as I've never had to replace any bushes apart from the anti-roll-bar droplink bushes in my old Mk1 Yaris, and those were known to perish quickly. I drive on some pretty bad roads all the time and the suspension is always taking impacts from potholes, speed humps etc. so I would expect a higher rate of wear than the average, but haven't needed any suspension components changed (vs. my colleagues regularly have to replace suspension arms, wheel bearings etc. on their non-Toyotas   )

Out of curiosity, did you get any advisories about it in previous MOTs/Services?

That looks bad enough I'm surprised it hadn't come up before, if only as an advisory, unless you've been driving through e.g. Rufford Ford repeatedly since your last MOT  

 

[Willss]

Difficult one. Hopefully Main Dealer knows Toyota cars better but then you're paying a lot for this knowledge/experience (and the fancy showroom).  While the car is in the 10 year relax warranty it will keep going to main dealer, after this not any more. 

 

At last service I was quoted £755 to replace front and rear pads and discs.  I pointed out that the Toyota website's online booking form for work (carried out at their workshop using same parts) quoted £610 for the job - they quickly agreed to match their published price!!! 

However, in the end I bought same genuine parts from another Toyota main dealer (£260) and paid a local garage £160 to fit them. So cost of £420 for same work/parts at an independent vs £755 quoted on the day and £610 quoted online. Doesn't encourage loyalty in my opinion particularly the on the day price discrepancy vs website!

[Eddiefh]

My business sells front left arms £72 with both ball joints , £80 for a slightly better name but both branded and come with warranty 

[Eddiefh]

That’s using your reg on your video 

[Mojo1010]

1 hour ago, Eddiefh said:

My business sells front left arms £72 with both ball joints , £80 for a slightly better name but both branded and come with warranty 

With that price my mechanic would probably charge £200 supplied and fitted. 

[Eddiefh]

20 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

With that price my mechanic would probably charge £200 supplied and fitted. 

That’s retail , trades roughly £20 cheaper 

[MetManMark]

 

Thanks all for your comments.

I agree that there is value in having MOT and servicing done by different garages. Once my 3 year service deal has concluded I am tempted to do that.

Again, I am disappointed that the FULL service that I had done at the dealership 3 months ago didn't pick this up. The MOT the previous year didn't pick it up either. For me, the lack of consistency is a worry.  

I have been told many many times in the past that the tyres needed replacing but given that we only do 6k miles a year I have put this off on most occasions. There have been two instances in the last few years where they have recorded the tyre depth actually going up from one year to the next :).

Similarly last year they flagged as an advisory that the rear brake disks were worn and suggested that these needed replacing. This year it was marked as green...

I think I need to find a local garage that I can trust....

Mark

 

 

 

[MetManMark]

3 hours ago, Willss said:

Difficult one. Hopefully Main Dealer knows Toyota cars better but then you're paying a lot for this knowledge/experience (and the fancy showroom).  While the car is in the 10 year relax warranty it will keep going to main dealer, after this not any more. 

 

At last service I was quoted £755 to replace front and rear pads and discs.  I pointed out that the Toyota website's online booking form for work (carried out at their workshop using same parts) quoted £610 for the job - they quickly agreed to match their published price!!! 

However, in the end I bought same genuine parts from another Toyota main dealer (£260) and paid a local garage £160 to fit them. So cost of £420 for same work/parts at an independent vs £755 quoted on the day and £610 quoted online. Doesn't encourage loyalty in my opinion particularly the on the day price discrepancy vs website!

I agree that it doesn't foster loyalty! What is the website to which you refer? I am not aware of this - should I have consulted this for my repair @Willss?

[AJones]

1 hour ago, MetManMark said:

I agree that there is value in having MOT and servicing done by different garages. Once my 3 year service deal has concluded I am tempted to do that.

Does your service plan have the MOTs included within the overall price, or is the MOT an optional extra? You could get it serviced, see if it finds any issues, then get it MOTed afterwards.