Everyone wants to get the most for their motoring dollars, and this basic principle is more important than ever in today’s tightening economy. One of the best ways to do this is to skip buying a new car and to extend the life of your current vehicle. With average new car prices in the United States now approaching $30,000, money invested to keep your existing vehicle in good shape could save you hundreds–even thousands–of dollars per year. When you consider the true cost of buying a new car (price of the car, sales tax, insurance, license and registration fees), it’s easy to justify investing money each year to maintain your present vehicle.
Perhaps more importantly than the cost savings, the safety aspects of proper vehicle maintenance (especially for high mileage vehicles) should not be overlooked. Following sound car care practices can prevent many problems. Most manufacturers only provide maintenance schedules and menus based on typical vehicle performance and typical drivers, but these maintenance schedules have little relevance to the real world. Service by menu is not good service. The interval service scheme was devised by the dealers for the dealers and to profit the dealers and unfortunately has been adopted by most of the independent shops as well. It takes far less time and energy to sell a canned interval service than to deliver good service. While these schedules might give some guidance, there is no substitute for interactive service based on your particular vehicle’s needs and your personal driving habits.
If your vehicle has not been properly inspected for some time, or if it is on a menu service program and you want to significantly prolong its useful life, you should have it thoroughly evaluated on a regular basis by a trusted professional automotive technician who can recommend needed repairs and service. Tom Dwyer Automotive Services is completely equipped to perform all levels of inspection, repair, and maintenance. We employ experienced ASE Master Technicians who have access to your car’s specific maintenance history and who use factory-direct information that details your vehicle’s individual service requirements.
Our “Inspection for Repair” evaluation goes beyond cursory once-overs or menu services and is designed to get to the root of potential problems. Our non-commissioned Service Advisors can tell you exactly what is involved in this service, and go over the evaluation form with you before you approve any inspection. After the inspection you will be given the information you need to make decisions about your car’s needs. Service recommended as a result of your vehicle’s inspection is tailored to you and to your vehicle’s real needs. We will tell you about critically important repairs, needed repairs that can be put off for a while and items that can potentially cause problems later. We always try to help you prioritize your needed services– safety items first, impending breakdown prevention second, and then long-term preventive maintenance. We will provide you with the most accurate estimates possible for any service you request, and work is never performed without your informed consent. We want you to know what you’re buying, why you’re buying it, how much you will be paying, and what’s coming up next.
