Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Servicing Costs - 512TR

[Dennis Liu (bigheaddennis]

Ahhh... do the math.  $129/hr.  Let's see...  $451.50 for labor on the oil
change (does not include parts!!!), divided by $129/hr, that's, uh, 3 and a
half hours.  So they're probably going by the book.  But since even a
simpleton like me, with the mechanical aptitude of a retarded eggplant, can
actually change the oil AND the brake fluid in less time than that, I think
you've just hit upon the real reason dealerships make money on service -
charging book times on work, and getting their techs to finish it in 1/2 or
even 1/3rd the time quoted.  Ah, the magic of that business.

If only lawyers could bill "by the book", rather than "actual hours", eh?
;-)

vty,

--Dennis 

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry B [mailto:larrybard [at] hotmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:01 PM
To: Dennis Liu
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Servicing Costs - 512TR

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>
_________________________________________________________________> To
unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:>
http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/bigheaddennis%40gmail.c
> om> > Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper> http://www.BidNip.com/>
and F1 Headlines> http://www.F1Headlines.com/> 
_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/bigheaddennis%40gmail.c
om

Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper
http://www.BidNip.com/
and F1 Headlines
http://www.F1Headlines.com/