Placebo for cars?

[V Mad]

I picked up my Eurobox after a service yesterday, and as I drove off it seemed much more perky than usual. I wondered if it was real or just my imagination, like a placebo effect. I mean can a service really make a difference?

Does your Stag seem to run better for no apparent reason after a service?

[Tdm]

I always think mine runs better after it's had a wash - but perhaps it's because I put my foot down more when it's shiny and clean, whereas when it's dirty I drive more slowly so it is less notioceable.! The only servicing it gets is what I do myself and I do like to give it a nice run afterwards to make sure I have not buggered anything up.

[staginhiding]

I'm with you,after a wash the car seems to drive better..

Sam

[mjb67]

Could be real rather than a placebo: I think oiling the linkages makes a nice difference to the feel of the drive.

[Kingswood90]

I take mine to the local hand car wash, looks good afterwards but doesn't go faster. Servicing, only difference I note is two oily hand prints , a large computer print out and a drastically small bank valence. The service manager smiles at you, and you go off mumbling about the state of the world!
Is it worth it?
Yep cause I like my cars.

[Kingswood90]

I take mine to the local hand car wash, looks good afterwards but doesn't go faster. Servicing, only difference I note is two oily hand prints , a large computer print out and a drastically small bank balance. The service manager smiles at you, and you go off mumbling about the state of the world!
Is it worth it?
Yep cause I like my cars.

[Kingswood90]

Sorry don't know why it did it three times.

(It's ok, as I have now deleted the other two repeats for you - Piscean57)

[V Mad]

Sorry don't know why it did it three times.

We get the message; you like your cars!

In the last year or two I have been playing catch up with all things on the big waiting list, like finish the 'Teal Blue' stag project, keep the business going, work on some new design ideas to keep brain functioning, and do some long overdue DIY on the house. But last week I felt like I had at last caught up so I washed the stag, and T-cutted the Tiger to get old rain spots off (hard work on two pack). I must admit I had forgotten how much more I appreciate my classics when they have had a wash and polish. Now which one shall I take out next?

[Stag therapy]

I picked up my Eurobox after a service yesterday, and as I drove off it seemed much more perky than usual. I wondered if it was real or just my imagination, like a placebo effect. I mean can a service really make a difference?

Does your Stag seem to run better for no apparent reason after a service?

Funnily enough I had been wondering the same thing last weekend.

I thought my daughter's Polo ran way better after I had serviced it and I expected a phone call from her to say as much when she next drove it. The call never came

Havng said that, she ignored a low coolant warning light for at least a couple of weeks until mentioning it in passing one time, so unless I fitted something which either doubled the car's horsepower or bit her on her bum as she drove, expecting her to notice an improvement was probably a lost cause.

[billywhizz]

Its probably to do with the cleaners they put in the sump and petrol/diesel these days when they service cars. My diesel seems to go better after changing all the filters and oil. Can't be bothered to wash it though.....

[V Mad]

When I get the invoice, one thing I will look into is the transmission. If they changed the tranny oil then that could have pepped it up as its a Multitronic, which works on continuous hydraulic control of the drive ratio.

[Escape]

Could be something simple, like a new airfilter allowing the engine to breathe better. On a modern eurobox I wouldn't expect much else to make a difference. On the other hand, with the long servic intervals these days, something could easily be on it's way out for a long time before it's noticed during a service, and thus make quite a big difference.
I know my Range Rover seems to drive better after an oil change, but I do all work myself. That usually means checking/fixing various little things when it's up on the lift for the service. Not noticed it on our Stag yet, but not driven it much. (will take some pictures and post an introduction this weekend, been lurking here long enough ;-) ).

Filip