I have owned new cars and I have owned used cars. The difference between the two is usually, “who drove this vehicle before I did & how did they drive it?”
Most people would say you don’t have to ask that question of new cars because it’s new! However, what happens when you need to get certain services for your new car that aren’t covered by a warranty? Where do you go for maintenance? A dealership or an independent mechanic?
Typical maintenance services the consumer pays for separately are:
Oil changes, brake fluid, power steering, transmission fluid & rear differential top offs, tire rotations, brake work, sensors, lights and various other repairs that generally aren’t on the list of covered repairs.
So, is it better to bring your new car to the dealership or take it to an independent mechanic?
That was the subject of a recent survey of car owners conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center. The results were that of those who responded, 71% of those who only take their cars to independent shops were very satisfied with the service the received.
Alternatively, of those surveyed who only take their vehicles to the dealerships, only 53% were satisfied with the service provided by the dealership repair shop.
Although it varied by make & model, the overall result of the survey showed that people are generally more satisfied with the independents than the dealerships.
Me personally? I enjoy going to Dave Bierle my auto mechanic (The Car Shop, Lancaster, CA 661-951-0840), not because he could probably crush me with one arm, or even that he charms my wife & I with his typical gruff exterior. No, we go to Dave because I can guarantee Dave will tell me what’s needed, not what he wants to upsell me on. We are always cared for by him and his professional staff and we have never had cause to worry.
So I agree with the 71%.
How about you?
Do you prefer dealerships or independents for your vehicle maintenance?
Leave me your comment.
Anthony
