30,000 Miles/30K maintenance for 550? Worth it?
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No doubt my 2001 Legacy GT 5spd MT 11yrs 180,000 miles - total cost to me for the few actual broken items that were not broken by me meaning they failed vs suffered damage in some manner totaled up to less than $700. For the bulk of the normal cars out there this is probably pretty typical regarding REAL actual repairs cars might see. This translates to dealer shops needing to create a source of income vs simply depend on real repairs. Hence the Mileage base service packages...Sure why not, what with cars becoming more efficient/reliable (past electronics) = less shop time.
<O</O
And this thread proves it… -Add additive to fuel and oil (whatever the heck that is).<O
And this coming from a factory dealer. What’s next, “See how clean the fumes are now”.
The 2001 HG swap was a fixed price point paid to the dealer shop by Subaru. Dealer listed $1500 cost for the job though warranty type work is like HMO fixed pricing. That HG job was probably no more than $600 actual real money passed between SOA and the dealer.
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For anyone who wants a career in mechanical servicing with money making potential?
#1 Aircraft certifications engine specialists and air frame peeps
#2 Marine systems
#3 Heavy machinery
#4 High end vehicles certifications (One of the Neighbor kids spent a year in Germany going through a BMW service tech training program) He now is a top tech in CA who gets flown all over the west coast by BMW to address complicated repairs at Dealers. The American generic mechanics certification is the GED of mechanic school.
Like nearly any career today the advanced certifications are the true indicators of your professional skill set. Heck look at how the MBA today is what the BS was 20yrs ago. But even the MBA is not viewed as the industry standard for experienced top leaders. Thats where you have more specific certifications which in many cases are mandatory to even work in specific fields of work.
#1 Aircraft certifications engine specialists and air frame peeps
#2 Marine systems
#3 Heavy machinery
#4 High end vehicles certifications (One of the Neighbor kids spent a year in Germany going through a BMW service tech training program) He now is a top tech in CA who gets flown all over the west coast by BMW to address complicated repairs at Dealers. The American generic mechanics certification is the GED of mechanic school.
Like nearly any career today the advanced certifications are the true indicators of your professional skill set. Heck look at how the MBA today is what the BS was 20yrs ago. But even the MBA is not viewed as the industry standard for experienced top leaders. Thats where you have more specific certifications which in many cases are mandatory to even work in specific fields of work.
2013 Outback Limited 2.5 EyeSight & 2010 Legacy Premium, 2010 OB Limited (traded)
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If your coolant really is green you may want to consider having it changed. Your OB came with Subaru Super Coolant which is blue and still looks blue in my 2010. It is good for 137,500 miles or 11 years per your owner's manual.
Being that you already changed your engine and cabin air filter you need a oil and filter change, tire rotation and brake fluid flush to complete your 30K service per your owner's manual. I was in the same situation and it cost me about $100. in your home town. Oil change with Valvoline convential oil and Valvoline VO54 oil filter, tire rotation, check everything (ha,ha), and top off all fluids is about $25. Brake fluid flush is about $75. Check out the place behind the car wash across from Tractor Supply on 206. I have been going there for about 15 years.
I would never go to the dealer except for warranty work and I would never go anywhere and ask for the 30k, 60k or whatever service. Know what you want going in. It's all in your owner's manual.
Edit: Plugs are 60K per the owner's manual.
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Actually I think the coolant color has nothing to do with the mileage rating. My coolant is toyota pink same goes for the Legacy we bought about 7months prior. The shop manager for the entire dealer good family friend who has since left the dealer to start up his top fuel drag car shop which he ran for about 25yrs before selling it and taking a 8yr break has said that the coolant is still 100K coolant and that he saw three different colors pass through the dealer in cars shipped from Subaru.
2013 Outback Limited 2.5 EyeSight & 2010 Legacy Premium, 2010 OB Limited (traded)
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Sorry, I wasn't trying to suggest that the actual color had anything to do with the life. Just that I have never seen green in a 2010+ Subaru and if it is green maybe someone added/toppped off/exchanged or otherwise with something other than Subaru Super Coolant in which case Subaru recommends changing earlier. All the manufactures that I know of that use green do not have the same specs as Subaru.
Anyone here have a 2010+ Subaru that came with green? Maybe I just haven't looked at enough Subarus.
My shop manager said he never saw green in a new Subaru and he is an astronaut.
I'll have to remember the "muffler bearings" bit!
When I was a Boy Scout 45 years (or so) ago, when someone was on their first summer-camp we'd send them asking around other campsites for "sky hooks", and "smoke benders", preferably left-handed....
Regardless of brand or make of car, you should never ask for, or agree to, the "x,000 mile maintenance package", as it is ALWAYS over-priced. These packages are lesson 1 in the car dealer "how to maximize your profits" guidebook... Just look at the owner's manual, pick out the things that are called for by the manual, and get them done "a la carte". Half of the "inspect" items will get done anyway, as part of the basic oil change service. And there's no reason to accelerate replacements, faster than what the owner's manual says.
To me, it's worth paying to have someone change my oil and filter, because it's relatively cheap, and you don't have to deal with getting rid of the old oil. But air filter replacement is so fast and easy (both engine and cabin) that there's no reason to pay someone to do it. Actually, one a few occasions I've bought an air filter at the dealer parts counter, while getting an oil change at the service dept. And the service rep has offered to have them throw the air filter on the car for no charge, as a bit of a courtesy. But I feel bad about it, so I just take the air filter home and do it. As for the cabin air filter, it's also very simple, but perhaps a tad less obvious - but the online video that shows how to do it is very easy to follow.
Most dealers, once they see that you won't fall for the "x,000 miles maintenance package" gimmick, and that you just order what actually needs to be done, will stop pestering you, since they realize that you understand the rip-off. And one thing they DON'T want is for you to be loudly ticking off all of the reasons why it's a rip-off, in front of the other customers....
When I was a Boy Scout 45 years (or so) ago, when someone was on their first summer-camp we'd send them asking around other campsites for "sky hooks", and "smoke benders", preferably left-handed....
Regardless of brand or make of car, you should never ask for, or agree to, the "x,000 mile maintenance package", as it is ALWAYS over-priced. These packages are lesson 1 in the car dealer "how to maximize your profits" guidebook... Just look at the owner's manual, pick out the things that are called for by the manual, and get them done "a la carte". Half of the "inspect" items will get done anyway, as part of the basic oil change service. And there's no reason to accelerate replacements, faster than what the owner's manual says.
To me, it's worth paying to have someone change my oil and filter, because it's relatively cheap, and you don't have to deal with getting rid of the old oil. But air filter replacement is so fast and easy (both engine and cabin) that there's no reason to pay someone to do it. Actually, one a few occasions I've bought an air filter at the dealer parts counter, while getting an oil change at the service dept. And the service rep has offered to have them throw the air filter on the car for no charge, as a bit of a courtesy. But I feel bad about it, so I just take the air filter home and do it. As for the cabin air filter, it's also very simple, but perhaps a tad less obvious - but the online video that shows how to do it is very easy to follow.
Most dealers, once they see that you won't fall for the "x,000 miles maintenance package" gimmick, and that you just order what actually needs to be done, will stop pestering you, since they realize that you understand the rip-off. And one thing they DON'T want is for you to be loudly ticking off all of the reasons why it's a rip-off, in front of the other customers....
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If a dealer refuses to do ala cart service by responding with yes thats our XX mile service package and says "We only do service package work" or something along those lines.
RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I've come across this oddly enough that dealer closed up shop less than a year later.
RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I've come across this oddly enough that dealer closed up shop less than a year later.
The balance is part of the tire rotation too right?
Isn't that like an STS place? (by tractor supply)
I'll be reading th eowner's manual book, thanks for the helpful advice
I'm going to the dealer anyway to get my rear hatch shocks and wiper blades replaced (under warranty) I also have a 100 dollar coupon/voucher so Ill use it for that
Isn't that like an STS place? (by tractor supply)
I'll be reading th eowner's manual book, thanks for the helpful advice
I'm going to the dealer anyway to get my rear hatch shocks and wiper blades replaced (under warranty) I also have a 100 dollar coupon/voucher so Ill use it for that
2013 Outback Limited 2.5 EyeSight & 2010 Legacy Premium, 2010 OB Limited (traded)
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It was Vespias for years. They have recently been taken over by Mr. Tire but the same guys are still there. It's behind the car wash which is across 206 from Tractor Supply. You can't see it from the road. The place is decent but not perfect. Tire prices are much better now that Mr. Tire has taken over. If you go in and ask for 30k, 60k or whatever price will be better than dealer. However, I still prefer to go in and ask for exactly what I want rather than a package.
Tire rotation is free with oil change and does not include balance.
TIRE rotation is free with oil change at vespias? or at the dealer?
Also, I got the chance to look at the thin car manual where it broke down the maitnenance that needs to be done to it, and I noticed there was no mention for the manual transmission fluid and the fornt/rear diff oil just to be insepcted with a note saying that is you subject the car to severe use to change every 15k. That is crazy! What do they efine as severe use, a few examples would be nice
Also, I got the chance to look at the thin car manual where it broke down the maitnenance that needs to be done to it, and I noticed there was no mention for the manual transmission fluid and the fornt/rear diff oil just to be insepcted with a note saying that is you subject the car to severe use to change every 15k. That is crazy! What do they efine as severe use, a few examples would be nice
2013 Outback Limited 2.5 EyeSight & 2010 Legacy Premium, 2010 OB Limited (traded)
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2,129 Posts
Vespias
thtypical estimate I got for a brake job at the dealer (brake fluid flush and clean is 120. I know if you go to a garage it will be less but I would liek to use my $100 Coupon. Is 120 reasonable
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Very
Here in Ca the private garages range from $80-$90 to $150 for a flush. The dealers are all $200 or nearly.
Keep in mind dealers can be fairly reasonable when you get specific work done and add discounts. When the dealer says you need 30K service for $500 your getting $200 worth of labor and work done for a screaming deal of $500+.
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