If only you could see my fine head .... no hair

Yorky Bob wrote:

...whoever thought letting untrained girls into service departments wants shafting with the handle of a sledge hammer...

Bobupndown wrote:

Maybe to wealthy people £600 is not a significant outlay but I suspect to most working families it is.

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Fair point . However I don’t think many “ working families “ spend £50,000 on new out of the showroom Audi S4 Avants or for example . I’ll still maintain that while such a valuable asset is under warranty I’d have it in the main dealer network , where it will get immediately all the updates both software and equipment wise that an “ Indy “ can’t do. If you have a major failure needing a ten grand engine , sure in theory your rights to a repair after having it serviced anywhere are guaranteed , but the onus is on you to prove that genuine parts and oils etc were used and procedures followed .You have to have all the doucumentation to prove that . If it’s in the main dealer network the onus is just on them

Out of warranty it’s a different matter . I took the Freelander out of main dealer network when the LR extended warranty expired at 5 years old . The Scooby ( which being an old fashioned sort I bought cash ) will stay with the main dealer for good. . Having said that as I’m anal about oil dilution despite being told it’s not needed I have had a 6 month oil and change in between services and the dealer charged a fairly reasonable £130 , but he doesn’t have Audi overheads .

Also depending on how a car is financed can have an issue on what you can and can’t do in terms of servicing , for example some finance agreements (but not all ) are dependant on using the main dealer networks as that is part of the calculation of the GFV.

But at the end of the day it’s each to their own and we all have different attitudes towards risk , me , I’m. risk adverse  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

I phoned my Audi dealer to get a price for a major service and was told a price, then the girl said "Oh but it will be extra because a major service doesn't include an air filter"

Yeah, ok then. Indie did it in the end much cheaper

When I had company cars the leasing company insisted that they always went to a franchised dealer for any work. I once limped into my local garage with a sick car and the leasing company refused to deal with them, even declaring that they would send a breakdown truck if it was undriveable. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE