Dear Tom and Ray:

I own a 2008 Honda Civic with 33,000 miles. I have regularly changed the oil and rotated its tires. I also have replaced the air filter on one occasion. Is there any reason for me to succumb to the pressures of the Honda dealer that services my vehicle and have the 30,000-mile service, or am I just better off continuing to change the oil and rotate the tires? Thanks. -- Seth

RAY: I've never heard the word "succumb" used to describe getting your car serviced, but I can see that you're skeptical about the dealer's intentions, Seth.

TOM: You're right that the oil and filter change account for most of the actual mechanical work done on this car during the 30,000-mile service. But Honda does call for a number of inspections. And you'd be wise to have those done.

RAY: Honda says that on a 2008 Civic, at 30,000 miles you should inspect the brakes, brake lines, suspension components, steering components and drive boots.

TOM: And while nothing is likely to be wrong with the major components of the car, you might need brake pads, for instance. And it would be good to know that before you gouge the disc rotors and "succumb" to a complete 600-dollar brake job.

RAY: Similarly, your rubber drive boots (we call them constant velocity, or CV, boots) should be fine. But if you happened to have run over a sharp object and torn one of them open, you'd want to get the boot replaced for 75 bucks before all the grease leaked out and you "succumbed" to a seized CV joint for several hundred dollars.

TOM: But if you have reason not to trust your dealership, you don't have to succumb to it. You can succumb to any mechanic you choose, dealer or independent. Simply take your Honda owner's manual with you, and open it to the section in the back where it lists the items that Honda recommends at each service.

RAY: Then ask your mechanic to do all of the things on the 30,000-mile list, including the inspections. And ask him to stamp and sign the book. That way, if you ever have a warranty claim or want to sell the car, you'll have proof that you kept up with the regular services.

TOM: Just keep in mind that the real value of the regular service to the dealership, and to other shops, is that it gives them the opportunity to sell you other things that you might not need at 30,000 miles, like new transmission fluid, new spark plugs or -- oh yeah -- that air filter someone talked you into.