Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Servicing Costs - 512TR

[Larry B (larrybard]

Dennis,
 
Thanks for your as always constructive comments.  I should also have noted that 
I would pay 15% less than the quoted prices, because the dealer has a "winter 
discount" for all servicing performed during the slow months of November 
through January.  And their normal hourly rates are $129, which doesn't strike 
me as egregious relative to the rates some Toyota, Honda, etc. dealerships 
charge for their work, especially given the general level of [in]competence one 
often encounters at those places.  (For which I am reluctant to substitute my 
own mechanical inexperience and potential incompetence -- so my trusted 
non-Ferrari mechanics (who competently service my other 6 assorted cars) will 
probably get the nod for the simple stuff).)Larry



> To: larrybard [at] hotmail.com> CC: ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com> Subject: 
> RE: [Ferrari] Servicing Costs - 512TR> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:36:03 -0500> 
> From: bigheaddennis [at] gmail.com> > Broadly speaking, Larry, it's supply 
> and demand.> > The "supply" of qualified Ferrari mechanics is small - because 
> while margins> can be decently healthy in the service business, particularly 
> as you move up> the food chain, the VOLUME still isn't enough to support 
> many> Ferrari-exclusive shops. This is complicated by the fact that the 
> downside> to screwing up a Ferrari job is monumental, as you yourself 
> discovered. So,> bottom line, there aren't that many Ferrari shops around.> > 
> Applying the laws of supply and demand, therefore, the PRICES that the> 
> Ferrari shops can charge is relatively high. They need that (much) higher> 
> margin to cover the fact that volume is low. Not so different from, say,> 
> selling expensive watches. You'll never sell as many as if you'd carry TAGs> 
> or Omegas or Timexes, but you make it up in margin.> > So how to you best 
> manage this situation, if your goal is to minimize your> costs?> > The 
> analogy I use is to compare it to a high-deductible health insurance> 
> policy.> > Pay the simple stuff out of pocket, or treat yourself (e.g., get 
> flu shots,> pay cash for check-ups, etc.) and rely on the insurance to cover> 
> catastrophic situations.> > In the Ferrari world, that translates into doing 
> the simple stuff yourself,> but pay to have an experienced Ferrari mechanic 
> do the more complicated (and> riskier) jobs.> > $451.50 **plus parts???** for 
> an oil change and fluid flush? My god.> That's insane. Even for a dry-sump 
> system, it is simply a matter of jacking> up the car, (removing any 
> underpanels if you have them), opening up a couple> of bolts and draining the 
> oil. The filter is easily accessible. Pour in> the right quantity of new 
> Mobil 1, and you're done. For the brakes, again,> just pop off the wheels, 
> attach a power bleeder to the reservoir, and bleed> each caliper. And crawl 
> underneath and bleed the clutch too. Even you,> Larry, should be able to take 
> care of both jobs in less than three hours> your first time, maybe less than 
> 1.5 hours your second. Or take it to a> local corner shop - it's not rocket 
> science, and a 512TR is no different> than other cars in this regard.> > 
> OTOH, $3100 (plus, what, $1k in parts?) for the 5-year major service sounds> 
> fairly reasonable, especially if it's an engine-out service on your car.> > 
> Bottom line, Larry, take that $106-$145/hr shop rate, and figure out what> 
> you can do yourself and what you need an experienced tech to run.> > My 
> $0.02.> > vty,> > --Dennis> > > -----Original Message-----> From: Larry B 
> [mailto:larrybard [at] hotmail.com] > Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:24 
> AM> To: Dennis Liu> Cc: The FerrariList> Subject: [Ferrari] Servicing Costs - 
> 512TR> > After previously being badly "burned" by an independent mechanic 
> who> performed major service on my car in a seriously negligent manner 
> (though> with hindsight I was admittedly quite stupid to have used him), I 
> now prefer> to use an authorized dealer even though I am aware of some 
> established> independent Ferrari specialists in my area with excellent 
> reputations, who> probably could perform any work somewhat less expensively.> 
> > Could any of you tell me whether the proposed dealer charges below are> 
> clearly excessive (e.g., at least 50% more than what is likely to be charged> 
> for the same work by an excellent independent mechanic)?> > One year service: 
> Change engine oil & filter, lubrication, flush> brake/clutch hydraulic 
> systems. $451.50 plus parts > Two year service: above services plus - change 
> coolant, change transaxle> oil. $645.00 plus parts> Five year service: 
> replace timing belts and accessory belts. $3096.00 plus> parts > > It has 
> been more than two years since I had the two year servicing last> performed, 
> and more than six years since the five year servicing, so both> are 
> recommended. I have probably averaged 3,000 to 4,000 miles annually> during 
> those periods.> > Thoughts (other than I should learn to do at least some of 
> the work myself)?> > Thanks,> Larry> 
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