£420 for a service, really?

[viperdave]

Hi all I’m trying to put my 97 GTS in for its service, (6000 mile 6 year), its the first one for me since buying it earlier this year, I have read the posts that indicate the costs should be around £180 - £260 from a Chrysler dealer but I have been quoted £420 from Frosts, and Suttons don’t even seem to be able to come up with a price after a week of asking, the best I’ve got from them so far is £80/hour + parts with no estimates of how many hours they expect, (do they really expect a blank cheque?) and lots of promises to call me back, granted the car doesn’t have the best service history and as such it is probably in need of a big service but that price seems a bit too high. Does anyone have any real servicing costs and good locations in the south where I can get this done(I’m in surrey/hants area) without writing blank cheques? So far I am not that impressed with Chrysler customer service and am a bit concerned as these two dealerships seemed to be the best bets for a viper in this area.

If £420 is a fair price then off I will go to Frosts, but do any of you guys have any experience you can help me out with.

[viper paul]

Seems a bit dear even Lancasters at Stanstead Abbotts only charged me a heavy £340.00 which got dropped to £240.00 when I told em I thought it was a rip off.

Especially as they admitted they did not take the wheels off as the key was missing................key was in the glove box!

My experience with my RT/10 once it was out of warranty was to buy the filters from US Automotive buy the best oil I use Mobile One and buy a cheap grease gun.

Change your own engine oil and check your own levels you can even fit your own plugs but the last two are a pain.

If you have a Good Local Garage you can even let them do it, its only really attention to detail that counts.

If the car has a problem then you will need a Jeep garage for the DRB.

In short the Viper is built like a

[Viper_Larry]

Hi ViperDave,

I bought my car last last year from Motorway Sports (www.motorway-sports.com/) in Canterbury. The dealership owner had my car for the previous 3 years, so the mechanics were well used to the Viper. I also had them carry out the recall work recently. They reckoned £160 for a minor service, but should be able to give you a proper quote. Give them a call on 01227 732233 and mention the Viper Club.

Hope that helps? They are not too far from you

[peterd]

Hi Viperdave,

I agree with Viper Larry, phone Canterbury, speak to Dave Townend, and make sure that you provide your own oil's, etc., £25 for one container of Diff oil (and you need two), shall we say is expensive.

Go to Suttons if you want you car damaged.
Go to Lancasters if you want someone to work on your car that dosen't know what they are talking about!!!!
Go to Kings and really get ripped off.

So there you have it, a very sad reflection on the state of Chrysler UK.

Buy a manual and do most of the work yourself.

Hope this helps you to make your mind up.

Pete.

[viperdave]

Now I am really confused, called motorway sports and finally got Suttons to give me a price and they are all expensive

Frosts £420 15000 mile service
Suttons £411 45000 mile service
Motorway sports £658 60000 mile service £300 in parts and lube

Now they all think i should have a different service, the car has 6000km on it now and had 30,000 mile service in 2000 (@900 km) and a 15,000 (@4000km) in 2001, nothing last year, so I can see where the problem is in deciding what’s appropriate but I’m no expert, and the service booklet is so generic its as good as useless.

I really don’t know what to do now, should probably get a service manual and get under the car myself.

Can anybody with a proper service manual tell me if it has missed anything critical with the services it has had, I’m thinking if I decide to get them to do it, I will probably go with the frosts 15,000 mile service as I was not that confident with Suttons especially when they reckoned the stock filters are as good as the K&N's that everyone else says are way better.

I think I know now why a lot of vipers get sold after a year, it to much hassle to service. Not going to let it beat me though as I have too much fun with the car even if I do have to get under it myself.

Thanks for the help

[Viper]

I've a 2000 manual can't be much different from a 97, 60,000 is a biggie, same as 15 and 45 plus :

change brake, clutch and rear axle fluid
inspect brakes
inspect/replace Auto Tension Drive Belt if necessary
replace ignition cables and spark plugs
check/replace the PCV orifice


15 and 45,000 are exactly the same:
change engine oil/filter
lubricate suspension ball joints and tie end rods
inspect and replace if nessasary air filter, thats all

doesn't sound like £400 to me !, filter £5, oil £60
a bit of grease, new air filters K&N £60 if nessasary, one hours labour £... flash dealership waste of money
in my opinion

in between 15-60 nothing major except just fluid change
and greasing up, I can send you a copy if you like

[viper paul]

Such an easy car to work on get under it yourself!!!

If you nedd any help or copies from the manual then please ask and I am sure any of us here can help you

[N GTS]

I will never go to a Chrysler UK dealer! Did once, only to get the stamp in the book while under warranty, I even leant them my '97 service manual, not all of the service was done to my satisfaction and I was ripped off 600 quid for it at Lancasters.

No one touches my Beloved except me now! I have a '97, so if you need any help or advice best thing would be for me to have a chat about it on the phone if you'd like? They are not difficult cars to work on from basic service to major work!

[Stv]

Just had the 36K done last week without the oil and filter change - would rather do that myself - Cost £180. Two hours work + the dreaded Diff oil. Viperdave, if you want the stamp then shop around, if the stamp is not important then do as Nad suggests ask in the forum for help and DIY it's more fun anyway.

Stv

[viperdave]

You are all making a convincing argument for a DIY service. Neil's sent me the service schedule and yep it looks like that little dealer stamp in the book is a waste of money, its not like I have a book full already so there wont be much loss there.

Wish me luck and I know where to come if I have any problems

Thanks all