How Do I Know if I'm Paying a Fair Price for Car Repairs?

[f1982]

Hi. I've not been driving long and this will be the first time i'm sending my car into a garage for repair.
I know (roughly) the problem with the car-
The exhaust has come loose at the front of the car where it joins that silver bit that looks like its made of mesh, yeah, technically put I know! It now sounds like there is a giant fan under the car whenever I touch the gas!

To me it should be a fairly simple repair in terms of just putting the end of the exhaust back in place and sealing it, and not requiring any new parts or extensive labour.

But how do I know what a fair price would be for the repair? Is there anywhere (or anyone) that can give guidance on this sort of thing.

The only other thing I have to hope is that the garage is honest and reputable enough to not sell me parts or do work that is not needed.

Many thanks, Steve.

[Andy L]

get quotes from several garages

[steveo3002]

come loose as in the bolts worked loose ? or its rusted and snapped off?

avoid places like quickfit , ask local friends and family if they know any small garages that are trusty

[f1982]

After closer inspection I can see its snapped at the point where the exhaust goes into that mesh bit near the front of the car. Nothing has worked loose. I would imagine it would just require welding back into place?

I do have to pass alot of speed bumps during my daily drives so I wonder whether its possibly something to do with going over them repeatedly that has turned a stress into a snap on the exhaust.

[jackieblack]

get quotes from several garages

Or a personal reccomendation from a friend/relative/colleague.

[sturll]

The litmus test for finding out if you're being robbed is thus:

If the price comes out of a mechanics mouth you are being robbed. Bend over and take it like the rest of us have to.

[LinasPilibaitisisbatman]

take it to a few different fast fit places and see what they say and prices

If there all quoting the same problem and solution then its probably right and price wise they tend to be cheaper than local garages just due to the cheaper prices through economies of scale with exhausts etc

Never had any problems with kwik fit myself and always cheaper than the local garage for exhausts/brake repairs in my experience

[steveo3002]

not many places will entertain welding it...theres more profit in fitting a new piece

again..smaller places might come up trumps

[onejontwo]

In my opinion as a mechanic of 30 years experience, the reason the exhaust breaks away is through corrosion and age, and therefore it is difficult to weld the broken pieces together as the metal is usually paper thin around the break.
Depending on the age of the exhaust it's usually more economical to get quotes for a full system as you get a 1 or 2 year warranty, and also you can get several quotes from the comfort of your armchair and also play one quote off against another to get the best price!
(If you wanted it welding they would insist on seeing the vehicle and in most cases to save time and effort you would accept the first qoute as it would be up on the ramp in their premises ) Good luck.

[sturll]

Has anyone actually ever got a quote from a mechanic? I usually get "well, its hard to say"

[jackieblack]

Has anyone actually ever got a quote from a mechanic? I usually get "well, its hard to say"

Usually followed by a long sucking in of air between pursed lips while they try to think of a number (price), double it, add the number they first thought of........