j8mie

I've been giving this some thought recently as I've just had my car serviced by my local Honda dealership. I'm not unhappy with the work they do, and the price wasn't too bad I guess. However my car is now five years old and I'm wondering if it's worth while me getting that Honda stamp in my service book anymore?

So when do you folks stop using Honda, and get someone else to service/MoT your car? Does a full Honda Service History really add any value to the car, when it comes to selling up?

Discuss.

simonprelude

Personally I would not buy a used S2000 without FHSH unless the owner could prove reasons other than

Bibbs

I'm the opposite of Simon.

I don't see why a dealer should be paid an extorsionate amount, when I'm as qualified as most of the monkeys there. The only time I'd use them, is if the car is in warranty.

My car is an import, and outside of warranty. I can change all the bits that need changing. Then I know it's been done proper. Just because you get a book with a Honda stamp, doesn't mean it's not going to fall apart.

But I do keep all the reciepts, a log of what was done and when. I know it would put a LOT of people off. But then the money I've saved by DIY'ing will have to cover that when i come to sell it.

When buying, I would always check over a car weather it had a FHSH or not. I certantly would pay a premium. But I think I'm in a minority there.

Nick Graves

Go tehre once a year for the stamp & do the rest yourself, assuming you have the ability.

For TSBs & the like, there are many advantages to using a main dealer.

And if you're worried about a couple of hunderd quid a year, you probably can't afford to maintain the car properly anyway.

MB

Ive got to say, with the price of Honda dealer serivicing, I was happy to just use them. Supply your own fluids etc as they do rip you off a bit there...

The S doesnt have any specialist maintainers either - not that the car is anything special in a servicing respect, but I wouldt just take it to a back street place - would have to be a good tuning outfit.

With the Evo I dont even think about using a dealer, and its an 03 car. The specialist I use knows more than enough about the car, and its quite commonly accepted.

MB

mikey k

I will continue to use HUK for service whilst it is in warranty. Any thing "special" I have a very good local specialist who does that. They will get the service once it is out of warranty.
I do an extra oil change once a year myself.

Robintegra

Im stuck with this at the moment,

My car has just gone onto 20,000 Miles and just gone 3 years old,

It has 2 Honda stamps already, Just rang Honda and they want

Lurking Lawyer

Honda servicing is pretty cheap compared to that for most cars of similar performance - Porsche and BMW rates for the Boxster and Z4 would make your eyes water.

If I could have found a decent independent specialist whom I trusted to know the car, I would have used them once the warranty was up. I think part of the problem is that there are no recognised independent Honda specialists (at least within the S2000 community anyway - I can't speak for other models) and so it makes the decision to stick with main dealer networks more clearcut in the sense that there's little alternative.

If there were recognised indies, I think more people would use them. It wouldn't be an issue on resale if the indie had a good reputation. That's what seems to happen with Porsches and prospective purchasers essentially treat a recognised indie stamp as being as good as an OPC stamp.

As the car gets older, maybe someone will spot the gap in the market and offer expertise at rates lower than Honda main dealers.

Nick Graves

Just gone 3 y/o?

You missed the chance to get some last-gasp warranty work in & you're worried about the cost of a service?

Unless I'm missing something, sounds penny-wise, pound-foolish to me.

Robintegra

I purchased the car private, 8 days after it was 3 years old