Toyota Dealer or local?

[Hutton]

I’m just wanting to know people’s opinions on this. My recently purchased 2005 120 series has a full Toyota service history since new. If I maintain this history it involves a 3hr round trip to my Toyota dealer not counting the time it will take for the service and any remedial work which may be necessary. However, I have an excellent local independent garage who provide a courtesy vehicle and know their 4x4s. I see to get my 100 series serviced there. It’s just because my 120 has a full Toyota history that is making me consider sticking the local garage. Any thoughts will be much appreciated.

 

[chadr]

Personally, I would not bother.

Your 120 is nearly 20 years old and I would be surprised if any of the mechanics at your "local" Toyota main dealer have any knowledge or experience of value that they could add, over and above your local independent garage. Unless of course you want the assurance of going to "Mr Toyota"? However, my first and last experience of going to them, was for a recall issue on my Collie, which was handled so ineptly, that I vowed never again.

Also, the premium you'll pay for a service at a main dealer will be money that you never see again, as I doubt it will add much to the resale value and the same £££s will probably pay for 2 services at your independent.

My 2p FWIW.

 

[Towpack]

If it was still in, or maybe just out of warranty, I'd consider maintaining the dealer record but at 19 years old, I'd also go for a good independant garage and just tell them to use OEM parts.
A few years ago I contacted a local dealer for a potential clutch change on an 80 series and they gave a price but admitted they hadn't had one in the garage for years and the mechanics currently working there had never worked on one.

 

[karl2000]

+1

Toyota is just uniformed apprentices used to doing an oil change on a Yaris. They don't know anything special about your 120

 

[Dave_S]

Comments as above - at that age of vehicle maintaining the Toyota history won't really impact the value anywhere, and I'd rather use a local garage that I trust.

 

[Towpack]

In fairness, with the rate of change in motoring tech these days, I suppose you can't expect main dealers to remain fully au fait with models that have been out of production for 20+yrs. Having access to parts and tech info is one thing but hands on experience is invaluable IMO.

 

[Raj]

My experience with Toyota dealers in my area was not that good. One said, it’s not road worthy, one said Diff oils should not be changed etc etc. mine was in warranty when I asked so I now learned and do my own oil changes. For heavy works involving weight lifting, I will go outside.
One advantage of doing own maintenance was that in last 30K miles, I changed engine oil and filters on average 3K miles as it was not expensive to buy parts. First 15K miles, I changed oil even after 500-2000 miles just to practice and trying to keep oil as new as possible.
When I bought it, it was returning 21-22 mpg average but now it’s giving 25 mpg if I stick to speed limits.
Could be due to my over serving or BP active diesel but end result is good.

I took a pic of mpg after trip to Avalanche meet. Even after driving at low gears and all that mud driving, its was sitting at 25 mpg.

I am confident we can maintain these beasts with little help from Toyota dealer and maintain better too.

 

[Hemi]

I must say my local dealer Toyota in Birmingham have been very good in the past servicing my 62 , they have an old school mechanic who serviced them when they were new , they have charged me £35 ph in the past so they can have it around the dealership to show longevity of their product, can’t fault them .

 

[nick_the_fish]

Personally would take it to a good independent garage over a Toyota garage.

 

[Shayne]

Regardless of the badge main dealers only employ parts fitters , they just keep swapping old for new at your expense until it works again . Mechanics on the other hand know why it works or won't and can fix things .

 

[Juddian]

OK so it was back in the noughties, and since then the dealer has changed hands, but, i found the Toyota dealer to be excellent with our then new Hilux, they fully stripped the brakes on major services and allowed me to supply my own Millers engine oil which reduced servicing costs a fair bit.
They certainly weren't out to fleece me, but i had history with them, i delivered a lot of their new cars as still driving car transporters then and bought the Hilux new from them, at a very reasonable price it must be said.
The same garage under its new ownership also quoted cheaper than the indy for the cambelt change on the petrol Collie and did the job fine.

Toyota have menu pricing, and whilst its a long day getting it serviced for you, i'd be inclined to at least give them a call and see what they quote for a major service, minor is a glorified engine oil and filter change which tbh i'd diy and keep the receipts, but the major is quite an in depth service.

Having said that, what have i done for the last 6 or 7 years with our 2005 120?, self serviced, i'll get me coat....

 

[toolsplus]

I like to build a relationship with a local one-man band who gets to know your car and can do any necessary job properly. It's also a more enjoyable experience. They also spend time with you so you understand what needs to be done and when.

 

[GeekOKent]

I like to build a relationship with a local one-man band who gets to know your car and can do any necessary job properly. It's also a more enjoyable experience. They also spend time with you so you understand what needs to be done and when.

Not many of these left in the UK, in an industry ow dominated by scan, replace, fit. No uncommon to find workshops dontnl have the necessary equipment to disassemble and test.

If you can find someone, don't let them go.

 

[karl2000]

I think most of the people who operate like that are now old boys looking to retire!

 

[frank rabbets]

Your local garage will service, or should be able to. So straight forward. Only take it to Toyota for specialist repair or diagnosis.

 

[Tractionman]

As others said, find a small independent (if you can).
I found one 29 years ago that I use for bigger jobs when the rain doesnt stop, or I cant be arsed, its one that has been handed down through the family from great grandad, in which all have kept a hands on approach.
Mechanics (proper ones) although they have all the modern diagnostic stuff, seldom change and have been there years, (always a good sign)and all, including the boss are very approachable for info and a laugh.
This has also led to very satisfactory recommendations for other work outside their remit too.