Use dealer for 48,000 maintenance?

[Protege]

I am a happy owner of a 1999 Mazda Protege. I have always taken it to
the dealer for the maintenance checks, but the upcoming 48,000 km.
maintenance is estimated to cost between C$314-400. Will going to a
cheaper non-Mazda shop be just as good or should I pay up at the
dealer to use genuine Mazda parts?

Can anybody recommend a good mechanic that works on Mazdas in the
Oakville or Greater Toronto Area? Please reply by posting (or
removing NOSPAM from pro...@nospamebuddy.ca

[chuckk]

If you want to use "genuine" Mazda parts, I suggest that you get a list
together , and call Trussville Mazda.
They supply parts at at a decent discount. Use the merchant section of
miata.net to find several vendors as well.

Next, if you can find a reputable shop in your area, use it instead of the
dealer.
The shop should be in compliance with your state laws, and not have any
complaints listed in the state web site about automobiles, warrenties,
repairs, etc.

"Protege" <prot...@spamebuddy.ca> wrote in message
news:3F13121A...@spamebuddy.ca...

[jj]

Hey, 314-400 is the start. That's what they tell you before you roll in.
Get ready for brake replacement, most likely rotor machining (who knows if
you really need it), etc, etc etc. By the time they were done with me I was
up to over 900 plus taxes.

In my case, I thought the regular 48K maintence is a bunch of overpriced
bull, so I told them to do the 24K, (not much different), and I bought and
replaced the parts myself (air filter, spark plugs, brakes etc). I think
they check the cooling system eitherway, but with the 48K they pressure test
it (as if I believe in them actually doing it that anyway). It's pretty
easy to tell if there are any leaks in the cooling system. As for the
machining of the rotors - good money maker. One of my rotors showed
slightly excessive wear, by no means significant enough to be machined, at
least in my opinion but I guess it doesn't hurt to recommend getting the job
done anyways.

I stuck to genuine Mazda parts, my experience is, you get what you pay for,
plus, I figure if I buy the parts myself from Mazda, they can't later tell
me that I didn't do this or that.

Let us know how it goes.

Good Luck

"Protege" <prot...@spamebuddy.ca> wrote in message
news:3F13121A...@spamebuddy.ca...