Volvo bringing back free maintenance program
It's our pleasure to announce that the economic downturn is responsible for something you might actually want, other than cheap gas: Volvo is offering free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles on all 2009 models. Volvo ran the program most recently until 2006. But with sales in the tank, Volvo dealers have been pleading with Volvo to bring it back in a bid to get more customers. Volvo higher ups finally agreed, and dealers think that this will help a potential customer choose Volvo over another make, especially a domestic, if she knows she won't be on the hook for creaks and leaks. BMW, Land Rover, MINI, and Saab also have free maintenance programs, and VW has started the program for its 2009 models. Now if only Volvo offered the S60 Concept with free maintenance...
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
axium 10:01AM (12/23/2008)
Actually Land Rover discontinued the free maintanence program for MY2009.
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Matt Bateman 9:08AM (12/23/2008)
"...dealers think that this will help a potential customer choose Volvo over another make, especially a domestic, if she knows she won't be on the hook for creaks and leaks."
I would hope the standard manufacturer's warranty would cover the "creaks and leaks part." A free maintenance program would more likely cover oil changes and tire rotations.
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luv_my_car 9:10AM (12/23/2008)
Mercedes Benz... are you listening?
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Mehul 9:10AM (12/23/2008)
When are they launching the XC60?
I'm liking the SUV right now. I may not like it if they release it in 2011.
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Swede 12:13PM (12/23/2008)
Helps if you tell us where you are. I see XC60's everywhere.
Coco 9:49AM (12/23/2008)
So is this gonna be a "real" maintenance plan (like 3-5K service internvals) or a half-assed one like BMW's... aka. oil change every 15K miles aka. kill the life of engine plan...
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LM 9:59AM (12/23/2008)
Modern engines do not need oil changes every 3k. It's a waste of oil. My old Honda needed one every 7500 I think.
ian 9:53AM (12/23/2008)
How much maintenance does a car need in the first 36,000 miles? Six oil changes? Maybe an air filter? That's not a lot of added value there.
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EEL 11:15AM (12/23/2008)
Wait, GM allows Saab to have free maintenance but not Cadillac!?
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ebm14 12:13PM (12/23/2008)
Coco,
I think your talking about VW. BMW cover more than oil changes, such as breaks, rotars, wipers, which all add up. VW on the other hand offers free oil changes.
Volvo is the same.
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JIm 12:30PM (12/23/2008)
This is a very good idea for any mfgr. One would assume repairs/maintenance would be minimum for the initial ownership period so cost to the mfgr is little.
The advantage is the dealer gets the customer in the habit of coming to the dealership for work and hopefully that same customer will return after the warranty/maintenance period runs out.
Meanwhile the mfgr folds the cost into the initial cost (or reduces his bottom line / warranties are not free) so impact is minimum.
Frankly, I don't understand why all mfgr's don't do this. The PR value alone is better than millions spent on advertising.
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