Service for a Volvo?

dvaey said :

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

dvaey said :

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

Bit hard to align a beam axle rear…

A pulsar with a rear solid axle? Id like to see one of those.

Pulsars are FWD, the rear is fully independant, no axle. Mechanics seem to think we’re stupid.. they dont realise if they treat someone knowledgable like theyre stupid, it makes them look dumb and will probably cost them a bit of business..

Not all of them, N14 & 15 Pulsars have a solid axle, its not a drive axle but it is a beam none the less. Other front wheel drive cars have them as well such as Mitsubishi Magna, Colt, Lancer, Hyundai Excel/Accent, Ford Focus, Mazda 121. Its pretty common as its cheap.

Solidarity said :

Oh, a 240. Bulletproof motors.

Get your mechanic, whoever you choose, to write down which parts you need, and what they cost, and if you can wait a fortnight, order them off the http://www.fcpgroton.com website.

FCP Groton vs. local pricing is insane, even with shipping from the states you’ll still save hundreds.

THANKS!!
😀
I’ve been looking for this kind of stuff for a while!

minkshaman said :

Lazy I said :

Depending on how many k’s the Volvo has done the full service can be costly.

The halogen fluid for the European headlights is roughly $200 trade price (materials alone), and depending on how the car is driven the muffler bearings often need replacing as part of a full service.

$750 sounds fair if the above items are included.

AHAWHAWHAW! YOU SO FUNNAY!
if I didn’t already know about the elbow grease/headlight fluid gag, then I may have been taken in.
well written, very professional sounding, A+ for effort.
please call if you ever snap the built-in cup holder off your PC.

in other news, thanks to everyone who was actually constructive.
I guess I’ll go with Vince if he’s trusted. it’s just $750 is a lot of money 🙁
car is an older volvo, ’92 240.
over 300K on the clock.
the guy who previously owned it didn’t take great care of the interior, so I have no idea how he took care of the engine.
Fuel economy isn’t as good as it used to be.

Thanks again for all the responses.

Oh, a 240. Bulletproof motors.

Get your mechanic, whoever you choose, to write down which parts you need, and what they cost, and if you can wait a fortnight, order them off the http://www.fcpgroton.com website.

FCP Groton vs. local pricing is insane, even with shipping from the states you’ll still save hundreds.

dvaey said :

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

dvaey said :

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

Bit hard to align a beam axle rear…

A pulsar with a rear solid axle? Id like to see one of those.

Sure, it’s called an N15.

Lazy I said :

Depending on how many k’s the Volvo has done the full service can be costly.

The halogen fluid for the European headlights is roughly $200 trade price (materials alone), and depending on how the car is driven the muffler bearings often need replacing as part of a full service.

$750 sounds fair if the above items are included.

AHAWHAWHAW! YOU SO FUNNAY!
if I didn’t already know about the elbow grease/headlight fluid gag, then I may have been taken in.
well written, very professional sounding, A+ for effort.
please call if you ever snap the built-in cup holder off your PC.

in other news, thanks to everyone who was actually constructive.
I guess I’ll go with Vince if he’s trusted. it’s just $750 is a lot of money 🙁
car is an older volvo, ’92 240.
over 300K on the clock.
the guy who previously owned it didn’t take great care of the interior, so I have no idea how he took care of the engine.
Fuel economy isn’t as good as it used to be.

Thanks again for all the responses.

joeyjojojuniorshabadoo said :

dvaey said :

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

Bit hard to align a beam axle rear…

A pulsar with a rear solid axle? Id like to see one of those.

Pulsars are FWD, the rear is fully independant, no axle. Mechanics seem to think we’re stupid.. they dont realise if they treat someone knowledgable like theyre stupid, it makes them look dumb and will probably cost them a bit of business..

Solidarity said :

For whatever reason, if you need a new mechanic for your Subaru, go see Mick at Techworkz, he is a Subaru GOD.
Just sayin’

Another vote for Techworkz, however a note for the topic originator – minkshaman – Techworkz services my Ford Focus XR5, which run the Volvo 5 cylinder turbo motor from factory (Ford owns Volvo)
I’ve had 2 services there (last one this past Friday) and the work they do has been exemplary.
Yes they are a Subaru specialist however they are trying to establish themselves at workshop that does it all.

Moose said :

Charlie at Hughes Mechanic used to service our old bird (1987 Volvo) until someone very rudely T-Boned me and wrote her off.

He’s always done an exceptional job on our cars and currently services my Subaru without charging me an arm and a leg.

For whatever reason, if you need a new mechanic for your Subaru, go see Mick at Techworkz, he is a Subaru GOD.

Just sayin’

dvaey said :

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

Bit hard to align a beam axle rear…

dvaey said :

c` said :

I have 2005 XC70 and use Goodyear Auto Care in Gungahlin.

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

I guess YMMV, but I’ve not felt diddled by the franchise out this way.

Lazy I said :

The halogen fluid for the European headlights is roughly $200 trade price (materials alone), and depending on how the car is driven the muffler bearings often need replacing as part of a full service.

Gold!

And what everyone else said, too. If it’s a ‘major’ service with things like timing belt/pulley replacement (and might as well replace the water pump while you’ve got the whole thing apart) then the cost isn’t unreasonable – Volvo parts are EXPENSIVE (I used to own one).

What model Volvo is it?

Charlie at Hughes Mechanic used to service our old bird (1987 Volvo) until someone very rudely T-Boned me and wrote her off.

He’s always done an exceptional job on our cars and currently services my Subaru without charging me an arm and a leg.

c` said :

I have 2005 XC70 and use Goodyear Auto Care in Gungahlin.

I took a Pulsar to their colleagues in Phillip and got a half-assed job. While admittedly only for a wheel alignment, they gave me the final printout showing only half the job was done (front fixed, rear not touched) and tried to explain that wheel alignment really isnt that important before charging me $75 for it.

Depending on what needs to be done, find a mechanically minded friend and the job will cost you parts plus a 6-pack.

I have 2005 XC70 and use Goodyear Auto Care in Gungahlin. They use ginuwine parts and seem to be quite reasonable. Two years now and no issues. I don’t think they have the Volvo diag software but I will be getting a proper volvo service when I get to a milestone service interval. Until then, I’ll save me money.

Nat @ CWC Auto Services in Ainslie will give you a good deal + a courtesy car for the day.

$750 is pretty good for a “Full Service”, did you find out what was entailed in the service? If its a book service it may take 3-4 hours, there is $400 right there plus parts.

Buy a Commodore if you want cheap servicing……..its not his fault you bought an expensive imported car…. 😉

Did you try asking them??!! Presumably the workshop you are talking about is Harmer Automotive, Vince is a top notch mechanic and I’m sure he would be happy to go through with you what he service entails.if you want a good job done go to Harmer Automotive, if you want a cheap not so good job done go somewhere else.

Depending on how many k’s the Volvo has done the full service can be costly.

The halogen fluid for the European headlights is roughly $200 trade price (materials alone), and depending on how the car is driven the muffler bearings often need replacing as part of a full service.

$750 sounds fair if the above items are included.

You think it’s too much but you don’t know what work is to be done?

If you don’t know what is being done, then how do you know how much it is worth?

I can vouch for Vince Harmer, he does quality work and he does not charge overly much for doing it. If he charged you $750, i’d say it’ll be about $750 anywhere you go.

However, as per your request, Ikes Motors in Phillip also specialise in Volvo.

What make/model of Volvo, the newer ones are nothing like the older ones. The older boxy ones are simple, reliable and cheap to run, the newer ones are the total opposite.

Need more info, really. How old is the car? How many kilometres has it done?

That said, I’m not aware of any Volvo specialists off hand, but I’d it’s possible that $750 is reasonable if you bothered to find out what it entails.

He’s not terribly cheap, but Ike’s motors in Phillips does a lot of Volvos (including ours) and we’re pretty happy.

Some may scoff at Volvo autos generally, but they’re world class nowadays…it’s just a shame the ‘official’ Volvo servicing in Canberra hasn’t kept up — their’s is the worst car and customer service that I’ve experienced in over 30 years of car-ownership.

VW – who by way of contrast has prob. the best car and customer service I’ve ever experienced – has now introduced a second service centre to Canberra – when will Volvo do the same ’cause what we’re getting now is appalling ?

Oh, I’m gonna let Volvo Aust. know too – no point carping without action.

“One guy in mitchell quoted me $750 for a “full service”.
I don’t know what that entails… is it wank?”

Oh my…