Where has most of your money gone on cars?

[Sinbad]

Mercedes charges R798 per hour labour if not covered by motorplan or warranty at the moment

Which is cheaper than what VW charged for labour on Touaregs 3 years ago.

 

[Kal86]

Which is cheaper than what VW charged for labour on Touaregs 3 years ago.

What did they charge back then?

 

[rorz0r]

Is that cos your slowpel is always broken?

Lolz

They don't break as they were assembled with German precision and not by someone day dreaming about their afternoon siesta.

Is that supposed to be a reference to the car/s Sinbad doesn't have anymore?

 

[DanH]

Mercedes charges R798 per hour labour if not covered by motorplan or warranty at the moment

You sure about that?

I paid R750ex vat in total today at Mercedes Somerset West to have an aircon leak fixed and regassed on a 2004 w203 c class. And I got a complementary coffee and a Cape Times to take home and they dropped me off 30km away and offered to pick me up aswell. They also said I should come back in 2weeks time for a free checkup so that they can check that there are no additional slow leaks.

I'm struggling to understand how they made money.

 

[boxerulez]

Zero - that's what maintenance plans are for.

But actually I lie. I've probably bought 8L of oil topups for my A4 2.0T over the last 4 years because it drinks oil due to crappy piston rings. That, and tyres.

Also, in terms of maintenance, nothing much except normal service costs, except for a PCV replacement as a free oil consumption campaign from Audi.

It has been a very reliable car for its first 5 years of life.

Well sorry for all the motorplan men. your spend is depreciation.

Either you buy new... motorplan pays your way and your car depreciates or

you buy used like me...replaced clutch on 169 000km. 29years on one clutch... R1400 parts... labour self service.

last december replaced drive axles with used ones... R250 ea again free labour.

1985 BMW 318i.

 

[boxerulez]

Different cars over the past 12 years:

1. Piston through the block - reconned engine + labour. R20K.

2. Gearbox Replacement (both mounts snapped and "dropped" the gearbox) - around R12K

3. The second last car that I purchased (and took back within 5 days) would've cost me over R60k for electronics (ecu, wiring, aircon) and other odds n ends to be replaced. Bought the car at a "reputable" national dealership and immediately took it to a mechanic for inspection (I've learnt to do this over the years as car salesmen are lying bastards looking out for themselves). Was surprised and shocked when I heard all that was wrong with the car; the car that supposedly passed the dealership's checks. Took the car back, lodged a complaint with their head office, reported it and got my lawyer involved. Took a couple of months just to get my money back and I'm still waiting for a settlement (many months later).
Financially, I didn't lose a cent but my time is valuable and this adventure had cost me lots of time, not to mention the frustrations.

From now on ask them to take the car to your mechanic. If they shy away you can know they are hiding it on purpose. Most dealers have no problem to let you do that.

 

[boxerulez]

Mercedes charges R798 per hour labour if not covered by motorplan or warranty at the moment

Not far off Ford.

EC Motors charged my brother R610 p/hour this week.

2010 Fiesta... 40k km. Slave popped...brake fluid all over clitch plate.

Replaced clutch and concentric slave. skimmed flywheel.

R8000.

 

[saturnz]

I've never driven much, so I've never spent much on maintenance and repairs but I have wasted a lot of money on car batteries, I've probably purchased more than 20 already.

 

[Rouxenator]

Aircon units are usually from a supplier like Bosch. They end up fixing and regassing your aircon, not the dealer.

 

[Kal86]

You sure about that?

I paid R750ex vat in total today at Mercedes Somerset West to have an aircon leak fixed and regassed on a 2004 w203 c class. And I got a complementary coffee and a Cape Times to take home and they dropped me off 30km away and offered to pick me up aswell. They also said I should come back in 2weeks time for a free checkup so that they can check that there are no additional slow leaks.

I'm struggling to understand how they made money.

I phoned Grand Central Motors in Midrand to enquire about my SLK and was told it was R798 an hour.

 

[Sinbad]

750 per hour at Mercedes William nicol. Touaregs were 850 ph at Hatfield VW Bryanston years ago.

 

[silver6933]

Mods

 

[HavocXphere]

Lots of money on services. Way to much imo.

Thankfully no longer have a car. Good riddance.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Lots of money on services. Way to much imo.

Thankfully no longer have a car. Good riddance.

What do you use for transport?

 

[ChocolateBadger]

2005 1.4l polo classic. 160k on the clock
Cam belt done at dealership - R4k
New leads - R600
New coil pack - R1300
I sevice it myself so R550 service pack from midas.
R300 Magnetec oil.

Though a few replacements are in the pipeline. New clutch I'm looking around 5K and about R700 to have the roof lining replaced. It's getting saggy.

 

[HavocXphere]

What do you use for transport?

Walking. But there is also working public transport here should I need it.

 

[FalconZA]

1988 Toyota land cruiser

100k diesel engine rebuild
50k gearbox replacement
14k various repairs done to the clutch
10k crank pulley replaced
25k Suspension replaced


don't EVER let people convince you into old 4x4 they ARE NOT reliable.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

Walking. But there is also working public transport here should I need it.

Whish that was an option for me. I would gladly go without a car. Only really need it for dropping the kids off at school and monthly grocceries run.
Think I should dump the wife and kids?? Could save a lot of money...:twisted:

 

[chickenbeef]

2005 Toyota Corolla - ~180k KM

Most expensive (and only issue apart from services) was shocks - R3000. Had to replace them 4 months after buying the car

I've only had it for 14 months though.

 

[Charly]

R60k for the replacement of some major part/assembly that was part of the drive train on a Mercedes GL (not the engine, was 3 years ago so I don't remember. Propshaft or diff maybe? ). That was the only major problem we had with it in the 7-8 years that we had it (sold it last year for a new one).

Was covered by the motor plan so it didn't cost a cent. Also (usually) got a free car to use while it was in for services so that was nice.

Mods

Lol. Like what?