Ok so my partner and I had to buy a new car. Her old car was on its last legs and there was no point fixing it. We traded it for a new, basic small car.
It has a five year warranty and capped price servicing.
I hate dealerships. I think they’re thieves and half the time don’t actually do the service work they tell you they’ve done. As such, I have gone to specialist independent mechanics for my vehicles for over twelve years. As I’m very much brand loyal, one particular mechanic specialises in my make of vehicles and as such I have an excellent relationship with them.
Further, though not a mechanic, I know my way around a vehicle so I typically can tell when I’m being fed bullshit. I have never experienced that with my mechanic. They’re honest and up front and do the work they say they’ve done- I’ve checked.
As an aside, EVERY SINGLE DEALERSHIP I’ve ever taken ANY vehicle to (motorbike, car) has cocked up a job one way or another and tried hiding it, or flat out lied to me. Except I call them out on their BS then they play dumb. Why am I paying a premium to have some apprentice work on my car?
Anyway, my partner is worried that me insisting we go to my independent mechanic will void the new car warranty. She wants to service it at the dealership. She wants to call the dealership and ask about it. I tell her that’s unnecessary and Australian consumer law states the warranty is valid whether you take it to a dealership or licenced mechanic.
Thing is, I bought the car. She couldn’t get finance. I literally paid for it with money I saved over the years before we were together, and as such I want it to be cared for because eventually it will be my car and she’ll get an EV vehicle down the track.
AITA for expecting and saying to her to get it serviced at my mechanic, who specialises in these vehicles, as opposed to the dodgy dealership who I simply don’t trust?
Capped price servicing is a scam anyway. I’d rather pay an independent a little more (potentially- it might be cheaper!) to actually do the work than a dealership to stamp a service book and not do a thing.
Grrr. Am I the asshole?
TLDR- partner wants to service her new car (that I paid for) at the dealership (whom I do not trust at all) whilst I (who knows quite a bit about cars and servicing) wants to use my specialist mechanic. So we’re butting heads. Am I the asshole?
NTA
Does dealership servicing have other perks like free roadside assistance if you service with them?
Did you gift the car to your partner?