My HCH just hit 20k miles and I've been going to my dealer in Maryland for the 10k service interval. The first service cost me around $80 since the dealer offered the first oil change for free. The 20k service just cost me $180! This seems like a lot for each 10k service interval. I'm thinking about buying the oil and taking it to my local service shop to get the tires rotated and the rest of the items inspected.
Thoughts??

I think that's an acceptable strategy, and will keep your warranty in force. Honda states that you can even service your car yourself, as long as you keep receipts.

I don't know if you're leaving the oil in for 10K - if you are, you might consider doing an analysis on it at about 5000-7500 miles, to make sure the additive pack is still doing it's job. The tires will last a little longer if you rotate them at shorter intervals - 6000 is about optimal; I was using 7500mi with the last two cars of mine (the '01's tires had 80K mi on them, and still had usable tread when I traded it in).

Mark

Sometimes we could all use a little less

My hybrid automobiles:

Current:
2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (CVT, w/o Nav)
Magnetic Pearl / Blue - 008661, born 12/28/05
Mods: Neck pillows, Garmin C330 Nav, Draw-tite 1.25" hitch (for bikes, not towing!), Pioneer Inno XM receiver via Aux jack, OEM mud flaps, more to come!

Hypermiler status on 3/12/06 @ 3077mi.

Previous:
2005 Honda Accord Hybrid (5AT/Navi)
Desert Mist / Ivory - 001254
Retired 1/21/06 - LMPG 34.1

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You've described my exact maintenance strategy. I follow the "normal" schedule in the owner's manual to the letter (I don't follow the unnecessary dealer recommended services) and get any extra services over the oil/filter change a la carte (tranny fluid/coolant). I used the same strategy on my previous Honda Accord for 4 years and 70,000 miles of trouble free driving, not to mention hundreds of dollars saved over what my dealer recommended.

Ok great - that's what I'll do. My local shop charges $45/hr vs. the dealers $85/hr and does stellar work...I guess I'll have to start washing my car myself :-)

Another thought....


Request that your dealer actually follow the recommended maintenance in your manual. They tend to do much more than recommended in your manual and charge much more for it. For my HCH's first service they tried to charge me $140 for their "standard honda" 7,500 mile service. The maintenance indicator said that it only needed an oil change and tire rotation. I argued with them and finally got them to give me the $50 oil change and tire rotation.

I've had similar experiences with past Hondas and Honda dealers.

I do all my own maintenance - all I pay for are parts:
Oil & filter changes @ 5,000 miles = $30.
Tire rotations @ 10,000 miles = $0
Getting ready to change plugs @100,000 miles = $20
Cabin and engine air filter changes @ 30,000 = $40