[FunkyMelon]

Personally I'm with the OP here. The fact you can service a bloody Ferrari for pretty much the same cost as a Volvo shows how mental Volvo has become as a brand.


I've had Volvo's most of my life and have a master tech within my family at a main Volvo dealer, he's worked 30+ years between my 2 local dealerships - Some of the stories I get from him.....

Unless you're on PCP/finance and you're forced to get it maintained at a main dealer as apart of the finance agreement, just don't bother.

I take my car there because I get 'family' rates which brings the price of parts to cost price to Volvo + 5% and labour rates in line with an indi garage and even then, I'll only book it in if he is personally working on it, or overseeing the work they do.

A lot of their 'techs' are actually ex quick fit and make no end of mistakes, yet they still charge £152 per hour in labour and have a huge turn around of 'techs'. If you think you're getting value for money because of 'experienced people' working on your car, think again.

Regarding paying for quality parts etc - On the pre 90's Volvo's yes, fair point but most pre 'Geely ownership' Volvos are essentially a Ford Focus in a frock with most of their parts stamped FordMoCo, so you're not getting 'quality' there, just a heavily inflated 'Volvo price, for a Ford part.

Find a good local Volvo specialist and use them, they're usually setup by ex master techs and generally do know the cars well.

Only use the main dealer for software or if you need a VIDA/DICE system to find out what's wrong.