Our RAV4 went in for regularly scheduled maintenance this morning at Toyota of Santa Monica. The visit included the basics: tire rotation, engine oil and filter replacement, a new air filter, visual (and audible) inspections and a safety road test.
Our bill came to $189.29. Oddly enough the cost of labor was $136.98, nearly the same as our last Honda Fit service...
Apparently that's the going rate in Santa Monica nowadays. It could be that I'm used to working on my own cars, but that price seems steep.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Assistant - 15,742 miles
gnujoe says:
12:16 AM, 05/18/07
My 5000 mi interval service usually runs for around $70. When 15k came around, the Toy place wanted a total of more than $120. Seeing that it was the same service as the usual others except for engine air filter, I told them to take the air filter service off.
Instead, I went to TarMart and grabbed a $12 filter. Although realizing I needed a socket set (why couldn't Toyota just use phillips screws or latches for user-serviceable bays?) I picked one up at the Sears for $30.
Money wise, I ended up about the same this time around. But I got useful tools out of it all =)
banhugh says:
05:13 AM, 05/18/07
"But I got useful tools out of it all =)" + the joy of doing it yourself + you will save money next time you do it! Good job
vvk says:
06:31 AM, 05/18/07
gnujoe, why not buy a genuine Toyota air filter? a) does not cost much; b) much better than aftermarket filter; c) if anything goes wrong, dealer cannot blame the aftermarket part.
And you were already at the dealership... no extra trip to another store.
rick8365 says:
09:41 AM, 05/18/07
I have stood in line at the service desk of a local Toyota dealer on more than one occasion as the Service Salesman.....uh….I mean Advisor, bamboozled someone into spending big bucks (hundreds) on things that typically fall under the heading of "tune up". This is especially offensive because I think of how when the person was buying the car the year before, they were undoubtedly told by that salesman all about how the car “doesn’t need a thing” until its 100K mile tune up!!
johnnyturbo says:
10:36 AM, 05/18/07
That price doesn't seem steep, it is! $189 for an oil change, tire rotation and new air filter is just ridiculous!
The 10k-mile service for our RAV4 was the exact same as this 15k service minus the air filter and it cost $74.
Are RAV4 air filters going for $115?
Seems like they charged us about $100 too much...I'd be tempted to bring the 10,000-mile and 15,000-mile receipts back there to the service "manager" and see what he has to say...
SubyTrojan says:
10:52 AM, 05/18/07
I think we should do it, JDP!
heidis says:
03:05 PM, 05/18/07
Did you at least get them to take a look at that possessed radio?
desmolicious says:
03:59 PM, 05/18/07
$140 labour? So they're claiming it took 2 hours to change the oil, swap out an air filter and rotate the tyres? That should have taken 45 minutes absolute tops. You guys got ripped.
steve_ says:
04:01 PM, 05/18/07
The Edmunds Maintenance Guide says that the 15,000 mile service for the 2006 RAV4 V6 in your zip code is $177.46. So while you paid a lot, you paid about the going rate.
For my zip here in Boise, that service cost is estimated to be $143.44. And that's why I usually change my own oil and filters.
thebigal says:
07:15 PM, 05/19/07
sheesh.. that is a lot. If you wanted to, you could get that same service done at a good quick lube place for probably 1/3 of the price. That is if you can find a quick lube place that you would trust...