MX-5 OC Forum

Hi Geoff

You worked out the “Price Matched” labour rate, if you add the discounted £20 into the equation then the normal rate works out nearer to £130 + VAT per hour.

Maybe for the next service I will have to price match again, all I need to know is which Mazda main dealer charges the lowest labour rates and their telephone number.

Richard.

Hi Alan,in defence of main dealers they have to stick to manufacturers standard times for any operations(or should do) where another garage could take twice as long and charge

accordingly,so dealers not always dearer as most others wll take longer to do jobs,or should do if the dealer knows the cars well

The work was probably done by the apprentice who if he is under 19 could be paid as little as £2.60 an hour (some sort of get out from the minimum wage).

My MX5 is due it's first annual service

I'm in West  Berks and looking at the new dealer in Reading their online price for annual service is £214.50   http://www.wlmg.co.uk/mazda

Newbury's Motorlux is my nearest dealer - and the source of my Kendo.

I'd already heard Motorlux were dear for servicing. 

How are you getting a <£180 annual service?

So far Motorlux have been helpful and have sorted out loose trim, and paint job errors efficiently.
I am just trying to avoid paying the top £££ blindly.

kevenh:

 

My MX5 is due it's first annual service

I'm in West  Berks and looking at the new dealer in Reading their online price for annual service is £214.50   http://www.wlmg.co.uk/mazda

Newbury's Motorlux is my nearest dealer - and the source of my Kendo.

I'd already heard Motorlux were dear for servicing. 

How are you getting a <£180 annual service?

 

Hi Kevenh

I got the £180 service a year ago and then it was by getting the Oxford dealer to price match the price quoted by WLMG in Reading who were new to Mazda at the time.

Regards Richard.

Just a reminder for those that don't know, according to EU competition laws manufacturers may not void your warranty for using a competitor to carry out servicing. As long as the competitor is a qualified mechanic, using OE parts, your warranty must be honoured.

As for resale value, I would be surprised if you'd ever lose anything like the money you'll save, by having stamps from independents instead of dealers.

Thanks for the feedback.

Sounds like the prices are higher this year. (coconino)

I think read about a local Berks Mazda specialist on this forum.  Maybe I'll get a quote from them.  (victormeldrew)

Sorry I didn't check how old the thread was before bumping

Hi Kevenh

How do Motorlux compare with the online quote at WLMG?

May be worth trying Johnson Mazda in Oxford. They have priced matched again for my second year service at a price that is less than WLMG Reading on line quote and are collecting and delivering my car from Reading!

Hi Victormeldrew

I believe you are spot-on about the EU competition laws but you may have overlooked one thing when you refer to stamps from Independents. What do they stamp? Mazda no longer use a service record book but they keep your service record electronically on-line. All you get is a receipt. If an Independent does the service and there is then an issue under warranty, I can see problems.

I have approached a Mazda/MX5/RX8 specialist, they told me that they have access to these on-line records but the dealer should do the body corrosion/body check. (Corrosion record also kept electronically.) They quoted for my 2^nd year service and then I managed to get this figure priced matched by a dealer.

Now anyone seen the sun?

Regards to you both, Richard.

Some of will know I have been booking my car in for service and asked three dealers for a cost Chris Allen Fleetwood, Perry's Blackburn and Ashleys Southport
Ashleys came in with the best price of £160 inc vat the other two came in at £210 inc vat so I went with Ashleys called Chris Allen to advise them then after a couple of returned calls they came back in at £168 inc vat as these are only mile and half away I cancelled Ashleys and booked with Chris Allen (to honest I don't have a problem with these guys just that they like to try and get top dollar for every thing,)
So I have called Ashley and apologised as they had got it right, and I have still saved 42 squid just spent that at Opie oils 2 ltrs g/box and 1 ltr axle oil will have on Wednesday so pray for some good weather.

Just read my first service thread (03/08/2011) and my second service just £3 dearer (included is a brake fluid change) bargin

Alan

You all seem to be forgetting something very important, a 1.5 hour service at a Main stealer is made up of 0.5 of labour and of course 1hour lunch!

Regards,

Brian, www.mx5revive.com

 Ouch, Bloody harsh that but what dealer can change oil filter and brake fluid in 0.5  still save 42 squid

Alan

Hi Alan,

of course they can't, just having a laugh, good to hear you saved some folding and spent it on goodies!

Regards,

Brian.  www.mx5revive.com

 My car is booked in at Newbury Motorlux for £185

I didn't check, but that will be inc. VAT, right?
Can people quote ex. VAT to the public? :D

kevenh:

Can people quote ex. VAT to the public? :D

In theory, no. The law states that, unless your prices will be viewed exclusively by business (non-VAT) customers, you must quote VAT-inclusive prices.

That's the theory.

 In recent conversations with friends who are still in the trade there seems to be a consensus of opinion that some years ago the UK was the most expensive country in Europe in which to buy a new car.  So the dealer had a large profit margin.  This is no longer the case, the UK seems to be around the same price as any other European country.  Less profit on new cars, so where to make up the shortfall?  Well it does not exactly tax the imagination does it?  Servicing, repairs and spares. The equation balances again!  This appears to be all dealers, not just Mazda.

   Regards  Geoff Peace.