Finding good shop pays dividends
Trust means a lot in vehicle repair
According to the Canadian Automobile Association, the average cost of vehicle maintenance and repair was just over $1,000 per year or $0.07 per kilometre (last updated in 2013 for a car driven 18,000 kilometres annually). And, of course, this figure climbs as the age of a vehicle and the distance travelled increase.
But what can you do? After all, it’s the cost of owning a vehicle; it’s inevitable, like death and taxes, right? Well, a little homework and some smart shopping may save you hundreds of dollars — or more — over the life of your daily driver. At the same time, you might be able to dispel a few myths on what type of service shop is the most expensive or the cheapest.
For the sake of this little unscientific survey, we’ve selected some common repair items on one of Canada’s most popular vehicles: the Honda Civic.
For a 2012 Civic LX model equipped with a 1.8-litre engine and air conditioning, we looked at the parts and labour fees for replacing a steering outer tie rod end (with a wheel alignment check) and replacing an engine serpentine drive belt.
An Ontario OEM Honda dealership quoted $26 for the tie rod end and $39 for its installation. A full four-wheel alignment check and adjustment would be an additional $90, for a total of $155 before taxes. A small independent shop quoted $52 for a name-brand aftermarket tie rod end and $124 labour, for a total of $176. Interestingly enough, this shop offered the option of doing the job without a full alignment service but simply including the one adjustment affected by the replacement of the tie rod end — the front wheel toe — at a lower total cost of $126.
At Canadian Tire (with a posted labour rate of $90 per hour), replacement of the tie rod end would cost $54 and a complete alignment service would run an additional $90. Unfortunately, they don’t carry a tie rod end under their own brand name but would likely source it from a neighbourhood parts store (NAPA lists theirs for $49 for example), bringing the total to $193.
For a serpentine drive belt, our indie shop quoted $59 for parts and $43 for labour, totalling $102. A Honda dealer wanted $61 for the part and $78 for labour, bringing the bill to $139, and at CTC it would cost you $45 for the belt and $45 for the labour, totalling $90.
The one unstated value that this price comparison doesn’t reveal is the benefit of sticking to a trusted service provider. Having someone who knows you and your driving habits, and most importantly, the service history on your ride, can save you money and more in the long run. When you become a regular customer and take the time to build a good working relationship, your shop will be looking out for your interests and driving safety. Driving.ca