It never ceases to amaze me how much my car will cost every time it gets serviced. Why is it that mechanics earn almost the same hourly rate as doctors? I know, that's a little extreme but it seems that their prices escalate with each visit and with each car.

What seems more absurd though is that to have my car serviced at the dealership where I bought it (in order to maintain the warranty) I'm paying nearly a 1/3 more than if I had it maintained down the road at a reputable service centre. Is a warranty worth that much?

Take a look at this report and you'll understand what I mean. Car maintenance is not cheap!