High tech cars mean High Priced Repairs

[markusername]

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...arRepairs.aspx



My friend Kerry was proud to be on the cutting edge of hybrid technology when he bought a Toyota Prius a few years ago.

He's less proud to be on the cutting edge of hybrid-technology repairs. He just paid a bundle to replace the car's transaxle, part of the vehicle's new-wave continuously variable transmission, which failed just after the warranty expired.

"The dealer initially told me it would be $3,000 just for the labor, and $5,000 for the part. That's 40% of the original base price of the car!"

2005 Mercedes C Class

* Adaptive cruise-control system, which maintains a set distance from the car in front: $3,742
* Xenon headlight with washer: $1,659
* Parking sensor $345

2005 Lexus RX330

* Adaptive headlight with washer: $1,627 per light
* Backup camera: $4,217
* Adaptive cruise control: $1,318

2005 BMW 5 Series

* Adaptive headlight with washer: $2,035
* Parking sensor: $372
* Adaptive cruise sensor: $2,222

2004 Cadillac Escalade

* Ultrasonic rear-parking assist: $934
* Xenon headlight: $765
* Heated side mirror with turn indicator: $997

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...arRepairs.aspx

Also - The cheapest cars to own and fix:

• Imported vs. domestic. If the car is imported, chances are the parts need to be, as well. That can add to the price, particularly for the less popular makes.
  
• Luxury vs. everything else. All other things being equal, more expensive cars are going to cost you more to repair just because it’s what the market will bear.

Source: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...car/P35274.asp

[CRBoyd91]

All I have to say is DUH!!!!

[Tomko]

I agree that it's nice to have all of the baubles, or as they say in Quebec les beaux belles, but at some point they're gonna cost you.

My first car came fully loaded, missing only leather and sunroof from the window sticker. It was certainly an experience for me because it seemed that I was repairing or replacing something on it every weekend: electronic ride control, air shock, power antenna - twice, fog light switch - twice, six-way manual seat adjuster mechanism, aluminum wheel corrosion, et al.

My reaction was to order something new, with proven - albeit old - technology. I chose each option on that second car very carefully thinking about dependability, ease of repair, weight added to the vehicle, and purchase price. The result was what the Stripes character Dewey Oxberger would describe as one lean, mean, fighting machine. I had no grief with that car for 13 years, and it continues to serve as the favorite vehicle of one of my employees (who also owns a 733i).

I guess that Toyota hybrid Kool-Aid your buddy drank is starting to burn a whole in his wallet.

[Ming]

My reaction was to order something new, with proven - albeit old - technology.

I don't have the article but I recall reading somewhere that the dependability of cars with "option packages" is higher than those that are loaded up with dealer selected individual "options".

In other words, the "2LT" package is going to be more reliable than a 1LT loaded up with random extra goodies.

This may seem like common sense, but it is because the people on the line are used to putting the option packages together, and may miss something or screw something up when random options OR options that aren't requested/installed very much are thrown into the mix.

Of course this is going to hold true more for mass-produced cars like the Cobalt than it would for niche cars, I'd guess.

[GotAWD]

Originally Posted by markusername

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com...arRepairs.aspx

"The dealer initially told me it would be $3,000 just for the labor, and $5,000 for the part. That's 40% of the original base price of the car!"

look at me in my fuel efficient car saving money at the pump. blah blah blah.

now look at me dish out a second mortage on the house to pay for my vehicle repairs. HA! HA! HA!

[steverino]

If you are not a high milage driver, then lease. If you can't lease then sell before warranty expires. Anything that breaks down after warranty period will cost you big time. I think labor alone starts around $80/hr

[cadillacpimpin]

i guess this might be a reason why GM hasnt gotten into the hybrid game so fast... could toyota have jumped in too quickly here with out thinking this through? or were they aware of this fact (parts costing a fortune) and wanted this car out just for the image of a "green" car company, and decided to screw their customers? hopefully this guy will just up his game to a new saturn vue green line.

[Mikkoo]

Originally Posted by steverino

If you are not a high milage driver, then lease. If you can't lease then sell before warranty expires. Anything that breaks down after warranty period will cost you big time. I think labor alone starts around $80/hr

If you buy a vehicle without all the latest electronic gadgets, and it has a reliable track record you shouldn't have to worry even after the warranty expires. And $80.00 per hour is quite cheap for labor. When I left California three years ago, new car dealers were charging well in excess of $100.00 per hr.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by CRBoyd91

All I have to say is DUH!!!!

DITTO

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Duplicate post: High-tech cars mean high-priced repairs

[genjy]

Originally Posted by steverino

If you are not a high milage driver, then lease. If you can't lease then sell before warranty expires. Anything that breaks down after warranty period will cost you big time. I think labor alone starts around $80/hr

I was thinking the same thing the other day. A hybrid like the Civic hybrid and Prius would make more sense if it were leased than bought out right with cash or loans.

If leased, the car could be gotten rid of after a few years (hence warranty + fewer battery and repair worries) and the monthly lease payment could actually be low enough to save money at the pump. Since Prius and the likes are supposed to city cars, they shouldn't rack up too many miles daily as well.

[LAMRONH]

A recent piece in the local newspaper discussed this regarding Japanese sport bikes. The gist, as I recall it, was that even simple accessories like fairings cost up the wazookie. For instance, crash and wipe out your fairing and scrape your engine case and you're looking at costs of nearly half of what you paid for the bike. Talk about OUCH!
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/stor...98-1746549.php
Oops, guess I saw it in Army Times. 2004 Buick Century, anyone?

[paul3230]

Those costs are insane! And I thought my 97 Trans Am was bad..

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by cadillacpimpin

i guess this might be a reason why GM hasnt gotten into the hybrid game so fast... could toyota have jumped in too quickly here with out thinking this through? or were they aware of this fact (parts costing a fortune) and wanted this car out just for the image of a "green" car company, and decided to screw their customers? hopefully this guy will just up his game to a new saturn vue green line.

What they're talking about here is not the hybrid system, per se, but the car's CVT. This would be the same item that has come and gone on the Saturn Vue for likely similar reasons, meaning reliability. Of course, at that rate, I'd wonder what Japanese customers think of Prius reliability, after all, it was on sale there at least a year before we got it.

[Ty_99]

Those cost are outrageous, especially when the car cost so much to get in the first place. One thing people always over look when they came import is so much better, is that when that import breaks down, it will cost least twice as much to fix, as this article has proved