Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

State Divisions => Victoria => Topic started by: Alfalfa on September 15, 2010, 07:55:03 PM

Title: Servicing costs
Post by: Alfalfa on September 15, 2010, 07:55:03 PM
Hi All,

just wondering what the average labour charge is amongst our beloved mechanics out there.

Mine (a specialist and I won't name names) just increased his to $99 p/hour and it seems a bit ridiculous.

Any ideas on what lance dixon themselves charge?

Cheers
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: branko.gt on September 16, 2010, 09:22:43 AM
is that with or without GST ?

99$ an hour when hours are scientifically measured with a "wet finger in the sky" is a little bit much.

I believe that the "wet finger in the sky" method is a well accepted in the mechanical brotherhood.


if the price is inc GST, i woudl not think that others are far behind.
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Alfalfa on September 16, 2010, 09:35:05 AM
Nah I'm quite sure gst is added on top of that..
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: franck on September 16, 2010, 09:42:08 AM
that sounds about right for the specialist area, took my wife falcon to get a service and he charges 45@hour nearly half the rate of the specialised mechanic, crazy!
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Alfalfa on September 16, 2010, 10:25:25 AM
Quote from: franck on September 16, 2010, 09:42:08 AM
that sounds about right for the specialist area, took my wife falcon to get a service and he charges 45@hour nearly half the rate of the specialised mechanic, crazy!

yeah my old mechanic was $40 an hour. buy an alfa and now I'm paying effectively $108 an hour.
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Rocco166 on September 16, 2010, 01:17:37 PM
the going rate for Alfa specialists in Perth is between $90 p/h and $110 p/h inclusive of GST but over here it's kind of a captive market and the stand out mechanics that do a great job charge $110 p/h
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Anthony Miller on September 16, 2010, 01:59:48 PM
Essentially you are not paying for the hours worked but for the years of experience that lessen the hours worked. I don't have to tell you that if you take it to the $45/hr place, they will take twice as long because they don't know what they are doing and they will probably fuck it up and you'll have to take it to the specialist anyway. I know your specialist Christian as he used to be my specialist too but now I take my car somewhere else and it has never been better and they look after club members as they are club members themselves.
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Alfalfa on September 16, 2010, 02:42:20 PM
Quote from: Anthony Miller on September 16, 2010, 01:59:48 PM
Essentially you are not paying for the hours worked but for the years of experience that lessen the hours worked. I don't have to tell you that if you take it to the $45/hr place, they will take twice as long because they don't know what they are doing and they will probably fuck it up and you'll have to take it to the specialist anyway. I know your specialist Christian as he used to be my specialist too but now I take my car somewhere else and it has never been better and they look after club members as they are club members themselves.

of course, which is why I've been going to him for 3 years but yeah, I know you know what I'm talking about Anthony.

so you're saying where you go now does a better job?
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Anthony Miller on September 16, 2010, 03:17:31 PM
Yes mate, that is exactly what I'm saying . My 75 was not right for a long time, I was told that was as good as it was going to get and the problem turned out to be quite obvious(flogged center bearing mount). As i said before my car has never been better, so much better I'm taking it sprinting this weekend at Sandown
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on September 17, 2010, 12:17:59 AM
I think therapists are around $100 an hour also.  Which one is the better value?
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: Steve S on September 17, 2010, 10:25:47 PM
The non specialists mechanic down the road from mein Port Melbourne charges $90/hr which is insane but he has enough work to do at that price so why not?
Title: Re: Servicing costs
Post by: John Hanslow on September 24, 2010, 02:35:09 PM
Also depends what you want done.  But do they have the Alfa factory analyser and if so do you want to pay for it ...

In reference to a few club sponsors who have specialist workshops, they all have a bit of a different angle of speciality service.   So ring around and make a few enquiries if you think it is worth it. 

Also, some also give discounts to club members.