how much for your first service/15k?

[Corey_R]

Well the price difference between 6 months ago and now is only 3.8% - it's quite possible that due to inflation or many different factors that the price could have gone up by that between last year and this year.

Also, as I've stated. Compared to even a standard manual Yaris, the service costs of the Golf are cheaper as long as you're not doing high km's each year. So look at the big picture.

[cube_3]

On a side note, although European cars seem on the surface to be expensive to service, looking at the entire picture can be enlightening!
For example, I don't travel any more than 15,000km per year. Which means I'm always servicing based on time rather than km. Over a 6 year period, the cost to service a Toyota Yaris 1.5L Manual is $2319 to $3218. The cost of servicing a VW Golf GTI (MKV) 2.0L Turbo with DSG is $2304 to $2969!
So in other words, the high performance GTI is slightly cheaper than a bog standard Toyota Yaris! I know which one I'd rather be driving

Interesting that as when my Golf went in for its 5th year service with 105000Km on the clock I had to get the water pump/ timing belt done, brake pads all round and the actual service and that cost $2500 all up i.e. one service already equal to the total over 6 years.

[nicandlance]

WTF!!!!! Should I sell mine before then???

[team_v]

WTF!!!!! Should I sell mine before then???

Why bother.
If you sell it you will end up out of pocket more than the service cost.
After you get haggled down and then have to go about buying a new car it would be much easier to get it done by a vw specialist and pay less and keep your quality car.

[Corey_R]

Interesting that as when my Golf went in for its 5th year service with 105000Km on the clock I had to get the water pump/ timing belt done, brake pads all round and the actual service and that cost $2500 all up i.e. one service already equal to the total over 6 years.

Servicing cost comparisons don't include things which are not part of the scheduled service. Brakes are consumables which get replaced as needed, and therefore are not included. Timing belt and in a MKV GTI does not get replaced until 8 years / 120,000km, so not sure what the deal with yours was. Also, water pump is not part of the scheduled parts replacements. So again, faults are not included as part of scheduled servicing.

If you have problems with a Toyota, obviously that's going to cost you more than the standard scheduled servicing price either. So I'm really not sure what the point of your post was.

Nic - you definitely shouldn't sell your car, because although cube_3 hasn't said what his Golf actually is, what he has stated was not a standard scheduled service. Plus Nic, your engine has a chain rather than a belt, does it not?

[cameronp]

WTF!!!!! Should I sell mine before then???

I've seen similar four-digit service costs on a Corolla around 150,000km - bits of cars start to wear out when they get old.

Osborne Park VW told me when I bought my car that the first service would cost $310. That sounds pretty reasonable, seeing some of the prices quoted here.

[hooba]

WTF!!!!! Should I sell mine before then???

You probably find that your car now is reliably costing you about $2500 every 6-9 months in depreciation, maintenance is a relatively small part of the total cost of ownership.

[cube_3]

Servicing cost comparisons don't include things which are not part of the scheduled service. Brakes are consumables which get replaced as needed, and therefore are not included. Timing belt and in a MKV GTI does not get replaced until 8 years / 120,000km, so not sure what the deal with yours was. Also, water pump is not part of the scheduled parts replacements. So again, faults are not included as part of scheduled servicing.

Yes I agree that the comparisons are based on scheduled servicing costs but the point I am trying to make is that things inevitably go wrong with a car, especiallly as it ages and you will generally pay for these things at a service as this is when they are likely to be found i.e. your costs at "Service Time" are generally higher. Its often that your car goes in for a service and you get that dreaded phone call. (Well for me anyway )

If you have problems with a Toyota, obviously that's going to cost you more than the standard scheduled servicing price either. So I'm really not sure what the point of your post was.

Yes obviously, main point as above. Note: I am a Golf and VW fan but I have come to accept that VW is a low volume seller in Australia compared to the likes of Toyota, Hyundai, Holden, Ford etc. and this means less availability and cost of many parts/consumables are generally higher than those of competitors. I recently took my car in for her 6th year service and the service cost was only $270 but she had a cracked thermostat housing so the part and labour cost an extra $500.

Nic - you definitely shouldn't sell your car, because although cube_3 hasn't said what his Golf actually is, what he has stated was not a standard scheduled service. Plus Nic, your engine has a chain rather than a belt, does it not?

Agreed, Nic definitely keep your car! ... or better yet give it to me . Just be aware that there can be significant additional costs to the car as it gets older. If I had the finances I would look at getting a new car every 4 or so years as a best point to balance depreciation and increased maintenance costs.

My car is a 2004 MK4 so has a belt rather than a chain. A chain should last longer, but probably cost more to replace?

In terms of getting the belt, brakes etc done .. this was all recommend by the dealer as the belt was "looking" worn (and this is something you don't want to risk) and the brakes had about 6 months in them. (Not bad to have the original pads for 5 years). I also had to have the Brake discs skimmed as they had uneven wear over the 5 years of braking. Was any of it a dealer being a stealer ... I don't know, but this is something you may also have to factor into "servicing" costs.

What I would recommend (as has been said in many a thread) is to go to a reputable independant VW specialist once your warranty is up. Your servicing and parts costs should at least be cheaper.

[118TSI]

Speaking to these VW specialists, getting my VW 118 tomorrow! yippie after 6 months wait, just wondering whats a good specialist in Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, anyone tried VW Village in Kesingtion, drive passed there to the gym every morning, and they seem to have lots of VW in and out of there, plus the owner must drive a MK6 GTI with 18's

Cheers 118TSI

[hooba]

My Mk5 goes to VW Village, they've been there since I was a kid, are honest, well priced, and they know their VWs.