My GF was saying today that on her mom's new Volvo that oil changes have to be done at a shop and signed off some how in order to keep the warranty. Is this true, if so how can it be?

Also her mom said they charged $500 for a tune up on the car, oil change included, but no tranny fluid change that she knows of. Good lord, I'm glad I got my Camaro.

 

My mom drives a 2002 Honda Accord, and it's pretty much the same thing. Well, I don't know if they will actually void your warranty, but it does have regular scheduled checkups scheduled by Honda that they "strongly reccommend" that you only see Honda for. In fact, there's a little orange "Maintinence Req'd" light always blinking on her dashboard, as she's waiting until she has the money to slap down ~$300.00 for the scheduled 30K mile tune-up.

I don't think that there are really any techincal reasons behind it; I think it's a marketing move. By almost forcing their customers to adhere to their tune-up and maintence schedule (and who better than Honda engineering to decide proper maintinence schedules and specifications), they're essentally forcing their cars to run in peak condition, regardless of how much the buyer might be inclined to neglect their car. That's why Hondas have such great resale value: they tend to be known as one of the most reliable makes out there. So when someone who's in the market for a new car asks their friend what they think of their Honda and they say that they've never had any problems with it whatsoever, you can guess that it's probably got something to do with the way it was maintained.

If my IROC was babied by GM engineering, I suppose it might be as "reliable as a Honda", too.

Just my opinion, though...

 

whew... glad we got our new (semi-used with 27k) honda with an after market warantee that doesnt require that crap! Just requires recipts of all the matnence items (oil, atf, brakes etc.) to show timely care and maitenence.

 

I love my Honda's. 1 car, 2 quads, 1 dirtbike.

Chet

 

explain to me why you have to BUY a warrenty on new cars. You go and drop $30,000 on a new car and you still have to buy a warenty sometimes. Also, what in the hell is done to a 2002 car that would require you to drop $300.00. These new cars practically tune themselves. I overheard a guy at the local Firestone here tell a customer, who brought in her 2001 Hyndaui, that her tune up would be about $450. there told her they where changing all the fluids,filters, plugs, belt, wires and rotate her tires. now why would you need all that done on a car that is just about 2 years old. Worse part is the lady agreed and I bet all the shop did was change her oil and rotate her tires.

 

OMG,

Taking a 2001 Hyndaui to your local Firestone dealer is not good.

Chet

 

That's totally understandable. We get cars in at work all the time where these stupid bytches act all cute and funny because it's been 15000 miles since the last oil change. Then they whine about how the car is a piece of $hit. Idiots...that's why you gotta sign off on that stuff now...

 

The only thing more humiliating than a Ford is a Swedish Ford (Volvo).

And start doing melt-down brakestands in that "reliable" Honda and see how long it lasts - thought so.... Remember, this is the company that couldn't make a fender that lasted more than two years in the midwest. Excellent car for sheep, yup. (Yup - yup - yup).

 

"And start doing melt-down brakestands in that "reliable" Honda and see how long it lasts"

lol... tried that one! couldnt break 'em loose and the tc on that accord stalls at like 2200 rpm or something ridiculous like that.

 

my old mentor used to say about the japanese, "they'll give you a great deal on the car so they can sell you parts later". he was a honda off-road guy.

But "non-domistic" cars have always been notories for their high parts prices.

spark plugs needing changing at 30k? i dont think so...

Plugs these days will last around 100k, if you get the right ones, i'm not exactly sure what kind the japanese cars use...but i cant imagine them needing changed at 30k.

My daily driver buick has had the same plugs for about 130k miles, i just looked at them the other day...barely worn.

But i do understand them charging so much to work on those things, you ever try to do anything on one of those? its not fun...

and the reason for most of the warrenties being void if the oil change is not done by the dealer is actualy for a good reason. There are a LOT of "quick-lube" places that will charge you for changing your oil...but never actualy do it.

There's two in my area. I get cars that come to me all the time complaining about one thing or another. I look at their oil and it'll be like tar. Of course they always say the same thing "but i just had it changed at xxx".

 

this can be true Mark, especially on a leased car. If it is bought outright, as long as you use the manufacturer preferred parts she should be ok.
My friend voided a warrenty by using something other than a motor craft oilfilter on his leased Ford pickup.

 

It's not leased.

Vader, I happen to love that Volvo car. Looks pretty good and is quite quick once the turbo kicks in. The braking on it is amazing. But I would still rather own my IROC.

 

LMAO
Proud member of the United Auto Workers Union
Local 291
Oshkosh Wi

 

Mark,

When the Ford, er Volvo, finally gives up the ghost, you can do what a lot of other people are doing. There were at one time a lot of conversion kits for dropping a 302 Ford in place of the lefse-cooker that came with it. Some of those fly. The trick was getting a good engine and trans, instead of the average 302. The kits are probably still available.

As for the warranty service, I believe the FTC has some comments on manufacturers requiring that service is performed in their shops only. There were a handful of federal actions against Honda back in the '80s when it tried to do the same thing. You'd think the Swedes would have been paying attention.

As for the performance and braking, hop in a fifteen year old Volvo and see what you get. If you want a fair comparison, drive a new Z-28 after jumping out of the new Volvo, then let us know what you think.

There is nothing wrong with Volvos, but I happen to live in a 150-year old Swedish settlement, and have seen Volvos on the road in large numbers for 30+ years - long before it was the chic thing to own in other parts of the country. I'm getting really tired seeing them. I must say one thing, though. Swedes may not all be Rhodes scholars, but they certainly are stubborn. Just not quite as stubborn as old Krauts. I'll stick with the "Swiss" Chevys, thanks.

BTW - Any truth to the rumor that GM/Saab is going to release a sport sedan called the Penos, to screw all those Vulvos?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beefy,

Building trucks?

 

True. Not sure it was the FTC that came down on them; but in general, if a manufacturer requires a part available only from them, or service provided only by them, in order to maintain warranty, they must provide the part/service free of charge.

 

CUT YOUR TIME BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IN HALF = DOUBLE THE LIFE OF YOUR ENGINE - Popular Mechanics

So by extending the time between oil changes the auto manufactures can pretty well predict when ur engine will crapp out - (and sell you a New car).

Oil is cheep / Changing out engines is a pain n th'*** - I change my oil every month regardless.

_____________________________________________

"Daddy ran whiskey in a big black Dodge"
(it's a Hillbilly thing)

 

No ,
Heavy duty off highway planetary axles(cranes,big forklifts,etc..)
Used to be Rockwell Int,but were spun off.Now Arvin Meritor...

 

I used to get the FTC newsletter for years (before they went to the web site). I recall that they had pending action, but it may not have been them that finally executed the action against Honda. Either way, the message was sent, ,and apparently some people aren't interpreting that message correctly. Too bad for Volvo.