dbarnhart

I have a quote from Saccucci Honda for the Honda Maintenance Program. For 48 months and 60K miles it is $1045. It covers:

All maintenence as indicated by the Maintenance Minder.
Oil Changes
Tire Rotations
Air Filter and Cabin Filter
Fluids(ATF, Rear Differential, Transfer, Brake)
Multi-Point Inspections

I'll call them to confirm that this applies to Acura as well, and to determine which Acura dealerships in my area honor it. (Their quote says "Accepted at 99% of Honda dealers. Call 1-800-999-5901 to confirm your dealer accepts it.")

I'm trying to determine if it is worth it. I'll likely do my own oil and filter changes (including oil, cabin, and engine filters).

Input anyone?

dirleton

Why pay for things you are going to do yourself?

dbarnhart

Good question, and perhaps I was not clear. I'm certainly capable of changing the oil, oil filters, cabin air filters, and engine air filters. My choices are:

1. Buy the Maintenance Program and let the Acura dealer do it all.

2. Do my own fluid and filter changes and pay the dealership piecemeal to do the other items such as inspections and transmission service.

My question is: Except for oil changes and cabin/engine air filter replacements, what should I expect regular service to cost over the first 48 months of ownership?

dirleton

I suppose it's highly dependent on how many miles you put on. Either way you need to figure the maintenance program is being sold for a profit, which means you lose.

ceb

Hard to say. You'll probably have about 8 services in the 60k miles. Half will be oil changes and rotations. In my area those are $129 without haggling or coupons, so figure about $500 for those.

The other services are more involved and there be at least one tranny/transfer case fluid exchange. Even if they average out to $200 each that is $800 for a rough total of about $1300.

That's without haggling and doesn't take into consideration the convenience of just dropping it off and saying "please do an ABCD123456 service".

The bottom line is this:

If you do most of the services yourself then DIY is clearly cheaper by a couple of hundred $$

If you haggle over each service then you'll probably break even

If you normally just drop the car off then you'll make money.

I don't do my own servicing so I think the maintenance plans make sense. The plan you will get in the mail will be from Acura, not Honda and will show up in the Acura service computers - you don't really need the stuff they mail you.

I called the 800 number before I bought the plans and verified that all of the likely dealers in my area took the plan - they do.

ceb

Not really. Yes, they make about $200 on the plans but that is based on the reimbursements from Acura for the maintenance work - Acura reimburses about $80 for the $120 service you or I would pay.

dirleton

And I'll bet they do a real thorough job for less than normal fee.

dirleton

"Half will be oil changes and rotations. In my area those are $129"


Really?

Mr_MDX

One thing to consider is that when you change your own fluids, you get a chance to see its actual condition. You get to see if there are leaks developing, and you know how much was put in. And when you rotate your own tires you know for sure the lug nuts were soft torqued, then properly torqued and in the proper sequence. (helps to prevent rotor warpage)

Besides.. I don't like to take time out of my busy day to go have a car serviced. I like to do my own service and when its most convenient for me.

dirleton

Given how slimy the average dealership is in most of their activities it is hard to figure they are on the up and up when it comes to service.