As we enjoy the festive season with its celebrations and open house invites, one thing we might forget about is the importance of keeping our vehicles in top shape, especially if we’re hitting the road for long trips.
But lately, some incidents have shown us just how tricky things can get between luxury car owners and the folks who service their vehicles.
Man says RM430 service fee for Vellfire is pricey
Recently, a Facebook post sparked a conversation surrounding the expectations and realities of luxury car servicing.
The post detailed an exchange between a luxury car owner, specifically of a Toyota Vellfire, and a mechanic regarding the cost of servicing at the workshop.
‘I don’t want to get my car serviced at your shop anymore, yours is expensive’
At first, the Vellfire owner just wanted to know the total cost, asking, “Bro, please total it.” The mechanic then broke down the costs for engine oil, oil filter, and labour, totalling RM440.
But things didn’t stay simple for long—the car owner wasn’t happy with the price.
“It’s not that I’m not satisfied, but I don’t want to get my car serviced at your shop anymore. I’m from Shah Alam, and the oil price is still the same. It’s just that yours is expensive,” they wrote.
‘I’m really sorry for the high cost‘
When the Vellfire owner wasn’t satisfied, the mechanic went over the costs again and stressed that they had been told the prices during their workshop visit.
The workshop owner explained:
“It’s four litres for RM280 plus one litre for RM80, totaling RM360. Then there’s the oil filter for RM60 and labour for RM20, making it RM440 in total.”
Then, they added:
“I did mention earlier in the shop that the engine oil would be RM350. So, if it’s RM350 for the oil, filter, and labour, it’s RM430 in total. I’m really sorry for the high cost.”
‘Is this the mindset of Vellfire/Alphard owners? ‘
It seems like there’s a gap between how much they think the car is worth and how much it costs to keep it running. People in the comments section of the Facebook post also seem surprised by the Vellfire owner’s reaction.
Someone commented: “Dealing with owners of ‘big’ cars can be tougher than dealing with those who drive smaller cars like Kancil or Kelisa.”
Another person said: “Are they saying RM440 is expensive for a Vellfire? Just get an Axia… it’s cheaper.”
And someone else added: “Is this the mindset of Vellfire/Alphard owners? I once met someone who thought changing brake pads for RM50 was expensive.”
All in all, this back-and-forth shows a problem that many workshop owners deal with when servicing luxury cars. There’s often a gap between what customers expect and what workshops can actually do, which can cause tension and often leads to dissatisfaction on both sides.
