60k miles car maintenance approaching

[Radiance]

I have a 2006 Honda Civic, it is now due for oil change, until now I always take it to the dealer = $22 oil change and x points inspection.

Now it is approaching is 60k miles so I am sure they will recommend between $400-$600 worth of maintenance.

How do I determine what is really necesary and should I take it back to the dealer? If not where do I take it?

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by Radiance

I have a 2006 Honda Civic, it is now due for oil change, until now I always take it to the dealer = $22 oil change and x points inspection.

Now it is approaching is 60k miles so I am sure they will recommend between $400-$600 worth of maintenance.

How do I determine what is really necesary and should I take it back to the dealer? If not where do I take it?

Pay for the honda schedule maintainance at the honda dealer
make sure the car makes it to 120k miles

I do whatever maintainence honda suggests, and sometimes the bill is 1k+. If that 1k is a problem your issue is with budgeting, not with a car repair. You should expect 1-2k of repairs per year on a car with 60k miles.

[Radiance]

Yes, I am ok, I set aside $100 per month for car maintenance.
Just wandering if I was taking unnecesary precautions, when I tell my coworkers I take my car to the dealer they look at me like I insulted their mom.

Amen for 120k!

[mommyof4]

Originally Posted by Radiance

Yes, I am ok, I set aside $100 per month for car maintenance.
Just wandering if I was taking unnecesary precautions, when I tell my coworkers I take my car to the dealer they look at me like I insulted their mom.

Amen for 120k!

My mother has owned Honda's for 20+ years, and has always done the scheduled maintainence at the dealers. So far, those cars have done extremly well, and she has had little to no "extra" maintaince done to them. An ounce of prevention....

[safari]

I don't mind paying more at the dealer because it gives me a peace of mind.

[Radiance]

Thank you!
I have an appointment for Monday, they are giving me a loaner so that I can take it on a week day.

[MonkeyMama]

I don't agree with the other comments at all. If it ain't broke, why fix it.

What you need is to ask your co-workers where they get their cars maintained. Get a reccomendation for an honest mechanic. I have never paid the high price dealership for maintenance, and would never expect $1k+ in repairs on a car with only 60k miles on it. (Hell, one with 160k miles on it).

Spend $500 simply because the car hit 60k miles? Sounds like a waste of money to me. I think maintenance and prevention is important. It's just that a good mechanic will save you a LOT of money.

My family does not follow the "recommended maintenance" and we tend to keep our cars on average 15 years. But we have a really awesome mechanic on our side. For a newer car, we take in once a year just to make sure everything is okay. This is coupled with a full service oil change twice a year. So the car gets looked at, on average, every 4 months. That is plenty of prevention if you want to keep your car 200k miles, from my experience. (My mechanic will charge $100 for a lookover and will usually never find anything that needs to be done, anyway). The whole philosophy is to only fix things that need fixing.

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by MonkeyMama

I don't agree with the other comments at all. If it ain't broke, why fix it.

What you need is to ask your co-workers where they get their cars maintained. Get a reccomendation for an honest mechanic. I have never paid the high price dealership for maintenance, and would never expect $1k+ in repairs on a car with only 60k miles on it. (Hell, one with 160k miles on it).

Spend $500 simply because the car hit 60k miles? Sounds like a waste of money to me. I think maintenance and prevention is important. It's just that a good mechanic will save you a LOT of money.

My family does not follow the "recommended maintenance" and we tend to keep our cars on average 15 years. But we have a really awesome mechanic on our side. For a newer car, we take in once a year just to make sure everything is okay. This is coupled with a full service oil change twice a year. So the car gets looked at, on average, every 4 months. That is plenty of prevention if you want to keep your car 200k miles, from my experience. (My mechanic will charge $100 for a lookover and will usually never find anything that needs to be done, anyway). The whole philosophy is to only fix things that need fixing.

While I agree to some extent, I was told (for example) that when my truck needs it brakes or rotors replaced (was not sure which) to expect that bill to be close to $1200 (its $500+ for each part I think).

I realize that part does not need to be replaced very often, but my point is budget $1000-$2000 per year for car maintainance... if money is not used, then bank it, but if you need it, tap into the budget.

For a vehicle like an accord, there are honda discussion boards to really find out what is needed if OP is in a financial crunch.

[poundwise]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't work well with a timing belt. Some routine maintenance, that may not always seem immediately necessary, is important in order to avoid future problems. Following basic intervals, to some extent anyway, is a good way to maintain a car well and have less "broke" to "fix" along the way.

[safari]

I don't want my car to break in the middle of a trip. Aside from a safety issue, it's a great inconvenience when a car breaks when I really need it to get somewhere. It always happens in the worst moment, in accordance with the Murphy's law. I'd much rather fix it before it's broken, even if I end up paying more that way.

[Radiance]

Hello,

If I had a good mechanic whose good judment I could trust, perhaps I could apply MoneyMama's strategy.

I will be in the look out, but when asking for references, I don't get any particularly good ones.

I really cannot use my co-workers feedback, some do oil change and that is it, most think a 3 year old car is an old car. One of them is in debt and he is applying to buy a camaro. He has a vue SUV in working condition,,, Welcome to South Florida.

Remember the bonus I mentioned? 2 coworkers friends are using them to give car downpayments because "they have waited long enough" and " they deserve it". I smile and say, I like my little Honda Civic and I deserve to be debt free. They respond "That is really awesome" but they are getting their new car... sigh

Scheduled maintenance is based in averages, I agree that a good mechanic can make a good assesment of REALLY needs to be done, but that requires experience, knowledge and honesty...I think Monkeymama is really blessed.

Meanwhile I am reaching for my car maintenance fund and have my 60k maintenance done and pay my $440 ouch...I called in and that is what it costs.

[PetMom]

I agree with having a savings set up for repairs/maintenance but I have to agree with Monkey Mama on using the dealer service. Sure if it is working out and you like the dealer etc...keep with what you like and have had success with. Some warranties require you go to dealer for maintenance.
As a woman I am a potential sitting duck for advice on cars - I ended up making my husband take it in because of this.

We were so glad to find an honest mechanic who actually does the repairs at your driveway (quite obviously there are some things he is limited in - but tells you what is needed exactly so as to not get unnecessary work). His rates are ridiculously reasonable and he is a delight. He spends his spare time on reading up on latest car issues/news/recalls.

He is in such demand now that it takes a few weeks waiting list to catch up with him, even in these hard times. He has trouble keeping up with his business, although if an emergency happens with a 'regular' he still will get out to your home within a day or so. His only advertising is by word of mouth.

[terces]

If you have to use the dealership....check for coupons first. Many put them out on their websites or in the mail. Because of a current warranty I have on my camry... I have to use the dealership. But I always have a coupon in hand.

[bjl584]

I do all of my own maintanence on my vehicles as I'm handy and have somewhat of a passion for automobiles and working on them. I'm not sure if you are mechanically inclined or have the tools and facility to do your own work on your vehicle, but if you do you can save a lot of money. The dealership wanted $1000+ to change the fuel injectors on my old truck, but I was able to do it myself for $300 in parts. The dealership wanted over $300 to do my brakes on my car, but I did it myself for less than $100 in parts. I would have to say that at 60,000 miles there isn't going to be much wrong with your honda that would justify a 400 to $600 dollar repair bill. At 60,000 miles they will "recommend" that you change the shocks, brakes, rotors, maybe a CV joint and tie rods. But, they are the dealership, and money is made in service not in selling cars. Just because they recommend that something be done, it doesn't mean that it needs to be done. At 60K I would have the coolant system flushed and have your transmission fluid and filter changed. Everything else on the car should be in good working order. The next thing that you will want to have done is to have the plugs, wires, fuel filter, and timing belt all changed at 100,000.

[snafu]

Until current vehicle, I'd always bought/maintained a Honda Accord. I too had coupons to lower the cost of routine oil change. Part of the reason I bought another brand was that they always handed me the Service Report with a 2nd page of service recommendations.

I'm one of the lucky ones who has a trusted mechanic. Each time I took the list to him, he suggests I wait until the car signalled the need for work. For example, you know you need brakes when they squeal. That's why they have that 'squeal' feature. He knows that dealership is one of the most expensive/successful in our region and part of their success is due to the fact that students/apprentices do the actual work using imported [read tarrif/tax] parts with one journeyman overseeing a crew of 20.

I got my excellent mechanic by stopping by a nearby high school that had an auto program for their students. The dept. head referred me to his staff who all run their own home based auto repair businesses. One lived nearby and he's terrific. If a procedure is more than he is equipped to handle he knows who I should see and facilitates the appointment. No guesswork about work needed.

I suggest you review your car's manual and note the procedures needed due to timeline or mileage to help know when maintenance is required to maintain any remaining warranty. Likewise check on-line to research any recalls or issues others have with their Civics. Don't count on the corporation or media for that info. Toyota kept silent until the numbers were overwhelming.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

Pay for the honda schedule maintainance at the honda dealer
make sure the car makes it to 120k miles

Why only 120K?

Here's my spin. I always do service at the dealership. Yes, I could get it cheaper somewhere else but I have never seen any reason to trust an independent mechanic any more than I trust the dealership mechanic. In fact, I trust the dealer more because they have a bigger picture and a bigger reputation to protect. If they get a bad rap, they have a lot more to lose than Joe Nobody at the corner garage.

What do I do? When the service guy calls me after checking out my car and rattles off a list of suggested service, I ask which items really need to be done to keep the car running properly and safely and which items are just fluff. Every time I have asked that question, he has knocked numerous items off the list he just gave me. Just last week, I had my 1998 Camry in for service. Once again, I got the call listing a slew of suggested repairs. I asked my standard question and voila, the bill dropped by a couple hundred dollars when the fluff was removed. Just because they suggest stuff doesn't mean you have to do it. Make it clear that you just want the stuff that is really necessary.

Another reason I go to the dealer is that they provide a free rental car. If I did my service at a private garage, I'd have to arrange and pay for a rental separately which would be a pain as well as an added expense.