100k service questions/Phoenix Tyres on Grey Lynn in Auckland

[Guest]

Hey guys, I'm about to buy my Legacy, and the dealer said he'd take care of the cambelt service for 100,000km. He said it would be done by Phoenix Tyres over at Grey Lynn. The guy seemed fine, but I figured I'd double-check with you guys and see if anyone's ever used them before. I'm getting a car inspection done as well before I buy it, but the inspection will happen before the cambelt change, as they don't want to get the change done before knowing that I'm satisfied with the car.

Does anyone know what else I need to replace at 100,000km, and how much should I expect to pay for the rest of it? The dealer was only willing to do the cambelt, and said the rest shouldn't be much more than $100 or so. I'm trying to find a recommended list of things to change for the 100,000km service for these cars.

So, anyone ever used Phoenix Tyres before? Got any other tips/recommendations for me?

The car I'm getting is this one:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Subaru/LEGACY/auction-238494048.htm

I ended up not being able to convince myself to spend an extra $8k for the newer 2003 body. This one seemed pretty much untouched. Only thing that worried me is that the car's been there for over a year and a half it seems, but that could be because the original price was ridiculous at $15k. We'll see what the inspection report says though.

[BlkPnthr]

Sorry can't offer any input on Phoenix Tyres, seems strange that a place that i assume is a tyre shop is doing it? May be fine though, although i don't know anyone that's managed to have one done for $100 before, i'm sure they're usually much more than that.

Car looks in good condition from the pics, nice and tidy inside etc. Hope it all works out well!

[Guest]

 BlkPnthr said:

Sorry can't offer any input on Phoenix Tyres, seems strange that a place that i assume is a tyre shop is doing it? May be fine though, although i don't know anyone that's managed to have one done for $100 before, i'm sure they're usually much more than that.

Car looks in good condition from the pics, nice and tidy inside etc. Hope it all works out well!

I might've written my message in a confusing manner. I meant that the dealer told me that everything else not including the cambelt would only cost about $100 to change. I thought plugs on their own cost around that much, so I thought that probably wasn't right. I don't know if the guy knew much about cars though, or if he just thought there were less that needed to be done at 100,000km than what it really is.

The car does look really really good in person though, I'm just a bit worried about the 100,000km service.

[BlkPnthr]

Oh right sorry, i read wrong. I'm not clever enough to remember what needs doing at 100,000km but also would have thought it'd be more than $100. Especially if you include labour. Don't you need to replace tensioners, pumps etc..

Someone will know

[Guest]

hi, good to see you made it here and that you werent scared off buying a subie! as well as the cambelt being changed, its best to get the 2 idlers, tensioner, thermostat and waterpump done at the same time. when i had my cambelt replaced these were the things that my mechanic recommended doing, and he is one of those good ones, who doesnt try to pull the wool over your eyes and gives you good advice. the price list for mine is as below, and doesnt include labour:

Cambelt $99.20

Idler 1 $36.10

Idler 2 $42.50

Auto Tensioner $87.60

Thermostat $38.20

Water Pump $92.40

so there you go, i got some iridium plugs put in too, but bought them myself from repco, so cant remember how much they were.

hope that helps, good luck. and the best thing to do with that tyre place is just go and have a look, and see what they do there, ask a couple of questions etc. you can usually get a feel for a place knowing what they are doing.

[Guest]

Or, just ring them up and ask what is included in their 100,000km service/cambelt change package for your car, make sure the dealer isnt trying to cut corners.

[Guest]

Get a quote from Highbrook Automotive. They did a great deal for my cambelt & extra goodies change.

I did the plugs and fuel filter myself and had done the diff and gearbox oils at an earlier service.

NGK platinum plugs were $25 each (and took me an hour and a half to change) and I vaguely remember the fuel filter costing about $50 and an hour of my time.

I remember seeing that car on the lot in November. I don't remember how much he was asking for it but it would have been 10-12k... definitely not 15! He had a nicer and lower mileage (55,000km) one at that point for 13k from memory.

[Shale]

+1 talk to Highbrook, there's really nowhere else I'd actually trust with my cars these days.

IMO go to SUBARU specialists, as most mechanics find them too different to do a proper job of it. Hell, I was asked if my car was 'single cam' by a mech once...I double-checked that he meant one lone cam, and he said yup, schooled me on how some cars have two. I was highly unamused...sorry mate, Subarus have either two or four. EPIC FAIL.