On the way out

[sean sherry]

In Brisbane last week I was sad to hear from my old Transmission Shop that they are closing the doors after 50 years. Overhauling Automatics over 5 years old costs more than most of the cars are worth. So the work has dried up. Mostly repairs only, and mostly on worn out valve bodies. Caused by the duty cycle solenoids forever cycling the H section valves. New Valve bodies cost between two and three thousand Dollars at mileages from 90000Ks on, driven in every day traffic.
Apparently pre T/ clutch VWs are the worst, though they can be repaired with sleeves. New V/bodies from N. Z. VW Dealers are around $ 400 and three time that locally ????
So maybe the old Classics, now worth bigger money, start to make more sense.

 

[Helmet]

Had he been keeping up with technology? Sorry to hear this Sean. The car repair business sure is changing fast .

 

[sean sherry]

Yes Helmet, he is a true professional who understands the market. The high end Cars mostly go back to the Dealers and Marque Specialists. They still have reasonable retained Values and can cope with a large Bill for an Auto Box. Most of the Bread and Butter market drops like a stone after the Warranty is up. Brisbane traffic is worse than Victoria Rd in peak hours with transmissions shifting up and down like a Fiddlers elbow ! Wears out the valve bodies and eventually the rest if not attended to. Next door two general repairers have also closed their doors.
Times they are a-changing !

 

[Styria]

Three year, five year and even seven year warranties would be causing considerable problems in the Repair business. I really do think that new cars, irrespective of manufacturer, are so well designed and to be almost trouble free in most respects. If they are not, most of the time the cars would be returned to the dealers for rectification.

It's probably fair to say that perhaps a Ford Focus, or maybe even a VW may have the odd issue, but invariably those are returned for rectification to the dealers and not a General Repairer. We have tDaisy (the Honda Jazz) showing about 36k. Kilometers, and there has not been a single issue - other than sloppy and slack servicing last time - hence the last service was carried out by an independent at half the Honda Dealer's price. Regards. Styria

 

[sean sherry]

I do recall long ago that someone said that Manufacturers are in the Business of selling Cars not repairing them. Looks like they have go there.