Car Dealer Blues.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Cars are more reliable than ever and except oil changes will go much longer between major services.
It used to be a choice between the dealer and your corner garage or do it yourself. I'd do everything except automatic transmissions and the actual machine work on engine rebuilds. If you didn't want to tackle it, the dealer was the most expensive but had the tools, parts and know how to get it done right. You paid more but demanded more.
If you could find a local mechanic you felt had the knowledge and tools to do a competent job, it might take a little longer but you'd save a few bucks. You might not hold him to the same standard either.
But now cars are so complex and the tools/equipment so specialized, it would take a major investment (for each car) to do any more than basic maintainance. Hell, the last set of service manuals cost me $150, whereas my '65 Mustang manual was something like $20ish. Even the '69 Corvette manuals, which was three volumes and had dimensioned drawings to make the specialized tools you'd need, were only $50/$60.
I've saved a fortune over the years by doing myself, and fortunately my getting lazier/more prosperous and the increasing complexity in the cars have coinsided nicely. But they have to do it right!
Oh, and I pay the dealer $20 for wiper blades instead of $5 at Pep Boys but by God they're worth it.