4 Year Service Dilema

[Markus]

My 3.5 VS will be due it's 4 year service in the spring and it's a big one, as spark plugs etc. need changed. I have religiously had the car serviced at an official dealer up until now as it was under warranty. My current mileage is 4,000 and I'm wondering if a) I ask the dealer to conduct the 1 year service b) skip it and service every two years 3) find a non official dealer. I'm not planning to sell the car anytime soon and understand not having a full service history impacts resales value etc. but would a future private buyer really put put off by not having a service that was for significantly higher mileage car?

 

[nimbusblack]

crikey mine will be 4yrs in April as well but I've just gone over 20k, not sure an official dealer will be allowed to deviate from the official service schedules so you will prob have to go to an independent.

 

[OliverB]

Your statement is

by not having a service that was for significantly higher mileage car?

I think you're just trying to convince yourself since the manufacturer makes no distinction in that regards. You're either losing money now or losing money later on top of making the sale more difficult.

 

[Beachbum]

Find a local specialist. Those that specialise in Lotus, usually do a better job than the dealership anyway. Those that dont, dont last.
If you intend to get an extended warranty, then Jon Seal does one, as does Lotus themselves. Not sure what the deal is with the Lotus provided extended warranty, but I know Jon Seals, insists the car is serviced correctly, but not necessarily by a Dealership.
There is a 3rd provider of extended warranties, but for the life of me cannot remember who

 

[tankski]

If I were a potential buyer I’d turn down a car that skipped its servicing schedule. Services are done on an age or mileage basis, whichever threshold is passed first. As another poster said: You are trading servicing costs now against a chance of greater issues thanks to servicing neglect and/or problems with moving the car on with an incomplete service history.

Flipping this on its head: If it was such a waste to do a major service with so few miles, why not drive it more and enjoy the car?

 

[geoffbland]

A or 3 (not sure why 3 and not c).
Not b, there's things the need checking as they degrade over time and not miles.

 

[geoffbland]

I'm not planning to sell the car anytime soon and understand not having a full service history impacts resales value etc. but would a future private buyer really put put off by not having a service that was for significantly higher mileage car?

I wouldn't be put off buying it by not having a full Lotus service history if serviced by a known good independent. But I would expect a lower price as it would also affect my resale price if I were to sell it myself.