There can be no compromise on your car's safety

It's important to have your car (or light commercial) serviced, including a full safety check, as winter approaches. That's the advice Neal Sweeney, the service manager at Erne Motors Works in Cavan town, offers to motorists, particularly at this time of the year when the weather is becoming harsher and the long, dark evenings are almost here. Neal has worked at the Toyota dealership for 11 years, the last three as service manager, and he's seen what can happen when motorists neglect their vehicles. There is a safety concern of course, but often it's just a matter of money: a poorly maintained car can cost the customer more in the long run, says Neal. "It's a cheaper option," he says of regular, professional servicing. "When components fail it cost hundreds of euro, and it's a major inconvenience." He says the basic requirements at this time of year are the safety checks, "especially the tyres". What has he seen people neglecting? "The simple things - wipers, lights, coolant, oil and other levels. From August on it's time to think about the winter service," he advises. "The car always seems to come second, but don't compromise on safety." Regular servicing with your main Toyota dealer, using genuine parts, will be more cost effective: it's a simple message but one that still has to get through to many drivers. Based on his experience Neal estimates that the typical Cavan driver covers 15-20,000km a year, which, conveniently, is about the service interval on most modern cars. Like other main dealers, Erne Motor Works offers a comprehensive service for looking after your car, and it doesn't have to be a Toyota. Neal is at work every day before 8.30am so customers can take their cars to the garage for servicing or repairs, and he can drop them to work for 9am, or offer them alternative transport. It's a matter of convenience, and it also applies if your NCT is due - you drop your car at Erne Motor Works and Neal and his team look after everything else, including taking it to the test centre. Their workshop is equipped with the best of modern equipment (they can do an NCT standard examination there) and staffed by trained and qualified personnel. Toyota sends inspectors out to all its dealers every year, and the Cavan one scores consistently high marks. Neal is proud of that, and of the fact that they have kept all their staff, most of whom are long-serving, despite the difficult times the motor industry has experienced in the last few years. None of that means it is an expensive option: "People have the perception that main dealers are expensive," says Neal, "but look again. Look at our prices - we always have room for more new customers!" Regular servicing means peace of mind for the motorist and a saving in the long term, but increasingly in Ireland it can add value to your car when you go to trade it in. A full service history (FSH, in the classified ads) is something car buyers are looking for more and more, so if you're concerned about the residual value of your vehicle, take it to a garage with a reputation. Regular servicing pays, is the message from Erne Motor Works, and the advantage of having it done by a main dealer is that it's backed by the SIMI (the Society of the Irish Motor Industry) and it has a reputation to protect. • A 15,000km/year one service is available at Erne Motor Works from €130, which is a competitive price, especially considering how comprehensive it is. Call in to the showroom on the Dublin Road and ask Neal or one of the team for more information, or ask for a copy of the fixed price service menu. While there, fill in a form for the competition to win tickets and accommodation for the Munster v Toulon game at Thomond Park on October 16 - you might get lucky!