European cars more expensive to service?

[iampivot]

Some say so, but I'm not convinced. Are parts really more expensive because they have to be shipped across from Europe?

[Splashalot]

Depends on the marques and their parts prices and servicing schedule.

Until recently we owned an Alfa 147 and Subaru Liberty for 4 years. Spare parts were more expensive on the Subaru. For example - broken mirror housing: Alfa will sell you the plastic housing for not much $, Subaru insist you buy the entire mirror at approx. 4-times the cost.

Subaru specify 6-monthly services, Alfa yearly (or 10,000kms - in our case yearly).

The Subaru cost heaps more to service, but eventually the Alfa's unreliability cost more in parts.

I expect a VW will cost no more to service and maintain than most premium Jap cars.

[blutopless2]

as above... depends upon what it is you want to replace or where you go to get it etc...

as an example we broke a fog light on our 2003 beetle cabrio. rang four different VW dealers and got 4 different prices on them. ranged from 280 - 350.
of course went for the 280 then got a vw club discount on top of that as that dealer sponsored the club at the time.
I have seen standard minor service costs anywhere from $280 - 400 at dealerships. I currently get mine done for $225 at a non dealer place.
best to shop around and go somewhere where they look after you.

[alexander_the]

Some say so, but I'm not convinced. Are parts really more expensive because they have to be shipped across from Europe?

I've owned a Honda Euro before my GTI, regular service was around $400 every 6 month - total rip off and i have tried different stealers as well.

My wife owns little MINI it is 18 month old and we spent $0.00 on its service as they have 2 years or 30k service intervals, just booked it in at BMW dealership for the service and guess - fixed price of 265.00!!!

So go figure out, I am sure that parts would be more expansive, but only marginally.

[vinderliker]

I just bought a genuine oil filter housing gasket for $4.65, and was told that would the cheapest OEM part I'd ever buy!