My car is about to hit the 100,000 mile mark and it’s time for a checkup. Should I take it to a dealer who specializes in my car or will any old mechanic do? This question comes up a lot. There is always going to be the big debate of which is better. A lot depends on whether you are willing to spend the extra money at the dealership because you know the mechanics there know about your specific model.
Taking your car to the dealer may cost you a little more than a general mechanic. But what you get for that premium is satisfaction that the mechnic working on your car is certified to work on your specific make and model. General mechanics are not trained on one particular car and may not know all of the little ins and outs of your specific model. Also, after 5 years chances are most major parts on your car are still under warranty. The dealership will honor this warranty and fix the problem free of charge, possibly without even charging labor costs. But if you take it to the mechanic down the street you will be paying for every hour spent figuring out what is wrong as well as paying for the parts needed to fix the problem. If a part needs replaced on your car the dealer should be able to get the part quickly, if they don’t already have it, where as the general mechanic will probably have to order it and it could take weeks to get the part in.
There’s a lot to be said for taking your car to the general mechanic if all you need is a belt replaced or an oil change. They are fast and fairly inexpensive; but when more major work needs to be done on your vehicle it’s best to let the professionals do it. Dealer mechanics have had lots of experience and are licensed to work on your specific vehicle.
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