Service job - was this fair pricing?

I just took my Subaru Impreza 1993 FWD from independent mechanic. It has 98,000 miles on it. This was my first time in that shop and I wonder how I did with regard to trying to keep the cost down.

The final count:

  1. I bought front brake rotors (Brembo), pads (Akebono ProACT ceramic pads, axle set), Subaru OEM fuel filter. Combined cost 4 with delivery.

  1. The shop performed the following services at my request:

- Front brakes installation

- Tire rotation

- Brake fluid change (hasn't been changed for 3 years/35K miles);

- Coolant change (hasn't been changed for 3 years/35K miles, its pH was close to 7.0 while normal is supposed to be >8.5);

- Gear oil change (has never been changed before in this car);

- Regular oil/filter change;

- Change fuel filter;

- General safety/obvious weak points inspection.

Total paid to the shop was $442 which is broken into: $170 brake job labor, $180 other job labor, $23 taxes and the rest is other parts/supplies).

All in all, it went right under $600. This sounds reasonable to me, particularly since the car does not seem to show any troubles. But then, I have no idea having always bringing the car to Subaru dealer before. What do you guys think? Any comments?

SimGar

Reply to
Simon Garfunkel
Loading thread data ...

If the shop has experience with soobs, they likely did a good job with the coolant change. It can be tricky to burp all the air out. I guess the PCV valve/system got changed/cleaned? Also, can't help wondering about the timing belt condition.

otherwise, seems reasonable.

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

Whether you got a good deal or a smokin' deal depends on where you live. Here in northern NY it's a heck of a lot harder to get brake bleeders loose and to change fuel filters than it is in Arizona or So. Cal.

Reply to
Steve Austin

Why would changing fuel filter be harder in different places? I am in Southern WI.

SimGar

Reply to
Simon Garfunkel

Road salt does some real funny stuff to things like that.

Reply to
Kruse

It's a "Foreign car service" and from what I've seen, they do mostly Subarus and Volvos. As for PCV, I guess I have no idea but the sheet states "reattached breather hose for PCV system". Whatever it means. PCV valve is certainly not on the list of parts. I seem to remember it's a cheap part? How important is it to check it? Is it easy to clean or is it advisable to change?

Did not mention that explicitely. It was changed by Subaru 30K miles ago, so I imagine it should be fine. Also, according to

formatting link
, thiscar has non-interference engine, so perhaps I don't have to be anal about timing belt in the future?

Hope so.

Reply to
Simon Garfunkel

Sounds like you did fine. Much better than I did at my 100k service at an independent at least.

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA
Reply to
Todd H.

If's the work's all been done, if you're happy and if you'd go back there, then it's a good price. Cheers

Reply to
hippo

If you really wanted ot save money, you should have dont it yourself. Otherwise the prices looked OK.

Reply to
scott21230

Simon Garfunkel wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Nobody up to now has congratulated you for being in a small minority of car owners. You are part of that minority that actually maintains their cars. Let me be the first here to give you "two thumbs up" for your diligence.

The prices you paid look reasonable to me. But more than that, even if you had paid more, down the line you are saving yourself untold amounts of money, time, and grief, by simply maintaining your vehicle as the manufacturer intended.

I am convinced that, generally speaking, most modern car problems are simply the result of neglect and/or incompetent servicing.

My mechanic tells me 90% of people never even check their oil, much less change it or do anything else...until something breaks.

Reply to
Tegger

Thanks :-) Well, considering that in the past two years maintenance cost was ~ $600/year while new car if minimum $250/month, maintenance of this old but thus far reliable car is a no-brainer. Also, $600 is only 25% of all annual car-related expenses here (gas, insurance, parking permit, etc).

SimaGa

Reply to
Simon Garfunkel

innews: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

My buddy's ex wife had a new Honda blow up on her at ~100K miles. Had to replace the engine. She never once changed the oil (and probably never checked it). California, unfortunately, is a no-fault divorce state, so this was yet one more in a long, long line of stupidities that he ended up paying for.

Reply to
BroTher Zachary

I've seen estimates that one-third of new car owners never change their oil. They might top it off, but they just trade it in after a couple of years.

Reply to
Ken Finney

No-fault just means that you dont have to concoct a grievance in order to file for divorce, if I understand the law correctly. Has nothing to do with who is responsible for what.

But I understand your point. Alimony states, etc, can make you wish you had never met the bi*ch.

I believe that far too few people here in Amerika realize that you have to maintain a car.

Reply to
<HLS

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.