Car maintenance?

Question

A friend of mine seems to be having a lot of maintenance on his car, I'd like to know if anyone thinks this is excessive, over 6 years he spent $4800 in maintenance taking the car to the
dealer. Is this excessive or normal?

I am purposely not stating the type of car, as I want a general answer. What are your first-hand experiences or what do you think in general?

The car was bought brand new in 2001 for $20,000.

Answer 1

Without more information, it`s rather difficult to answer. You should have put in his annual mileage, since the vehicle will be serviced according to mileage, and the further he goes, the more it costs..........

Answer 2

It's according on how the driver drives in a way. If he drives like a maniac then yeah maintenance is pretty critical. Some cars are different than others. If he drives a lot, like work is a long distance every day then yeah. You rack up the miles and the car is used more meaning parts are wearing. Example say he lives somewhere where the roads are horrible. Always nailing pot holes and hitting bumps. Then Suspension parts are going to wear very quickly. Possibly your friend don't change out the oil every 3 - 4 thousand miles. Then parts begin to wear faster. Maybe he's in Stop and go traffic a lot. Transmission/Clutch parts are going to wear. In a period of 6 years yeah I'd assume that much maintenance is going to be required.

Answer 3

It would have helped all of us if you had the items listed so we could take a look at them.
Was this car new when he bought it? How many miles does it have? What kind of car is it? Did the parent company of the car do the work?
I'll "shoot from the hip" and offer this: I'm betting the car company is owned off-shore. The initial auto cost may have been less than an American built car but their parts and service work is nothing short of outrageous in cost. What you save in fuel economy foreign owned companies are in your pockets for a lot of Casper the Ghost service work.
When in doubt, follow the maintenance schedule in your handbook. Be religious about crankcase oil and filter changes. Keep all filters changed, air, cabin air and fuel. Drop the transmission fluid when the handbook says to.

Answer 4

I do alot of maintence on my car.you do the maintence
if you want a car too last for a long time

Answer 5

Seems very excessive to me. One would think there would be a warranty of some sort.

Answer 6

Kia -

Sounds like the head gasket and transmission were fixed to me