Skoda problems- am I being ripped off?

[cookie221275]

My dh car (p reg skoda)failed it's mot 3 weeks ago and the garage said the steering column had rusted. This resulted in them having to get a part from Skoda factory in Yugoslavia or somewhere which took a week to come, then it turned out to be wrong part and they had to reorder which took another week and a half. We were supposed to be finally getting it back today but now they are saying it needs an additional part (a rack?) which will also have to be ordered seperately. The total cost will now probably exceed £800 which is the value of the car.
It has been inconvenient to me as dh must use my car for work leaving me with no car during the day.
First of all does this all sound normal and price fair, a few people have said they think the garage is ripping us off but I do not know a lot about cars myself. Secondly if it is all above board should we still keep the car and have the work done at this price, or would it be better to look for a new one.
Thanks for all your help.

[jjames]

Sounds like a complete rip-off to me.

A P-reg Skoda will be a Felicia, right?

Parts for Felicias are easily obtainable (the cars are relatively common). I'd be surprised if any motor factors wouldn't be able to get either part within a couple of days.

In any case a new steering rack should only cost around £300 maximum for a run-of-the mill car like a Skoda.

As for whether you should replace the car, tough call really. I wouldn't spend £800 fixing an £800 car unless the car was spotless throughout and had been totally reliable otherwise.

For around £1000-1500 you could get a much newer Skoda; I've seen W/X-reg run-out Felicias sell in the local paper for about £1200. A similar-aged Hyundai Accent will go for a similar amount. Both would have more remaining life left in them.

[trigger_mike]

This Does Sound A Bit On The Steep Side, The Car Shares Many Of The Same Parts As The Car It Is Based On, The Volkswagon Polo, So Parts Should Be On The Shelf, You Don't Say Weather The You Have Manual Or Power Steering And A Recon Rack Should Be About £80 For A Manual Rack Or £140 For A Power Rack.
I Used To Work For A Motor Factors And Remember A Rack For A Mk3 Fiesta Was £17+vat. Ring Around And Get Some Quotes On The Job See What Other Garages Qoute.

[tomstickland]

Ask the garage what parts they are replacing.
Phone up any local motor factors via Yellow Pages and get prices.
Also talk to www.powersteeringservices.co.uk
There's loads of scrap parts available.

As to keeping it, it all depends on what the car is worth to you and whether it's cheaper to keep a car that you know about or replace.

[cookie221275]

Thanks for your replies. I got a quote from another garage and they suggested it is unusual for a car to fail it's mot for this reason, so might be worth getting a second opinion. I said I will take it to them to have a new mot done.
How much do you think I should pay the first garage, as they have obviously done some work: a service, mot some other work plus all they have done on the steering column. I am guessing they will charge about £500
Both I and the second garage owner rang Skoda for a quote on parts and have heard no more since, so I believe they are being unhelpful. My first garage said they could not get the part till the new year and this will probably be true.
I am a bit stuck on what to do if the car does fail the second mot. We have about a total budget of £1000 including what we pay our first garage before we start getting further in debt. Could we ask the garage to use scrap parts?

[tomstickland]

You can phone up organised scrap yards and they will provide parts which you can give to the garage to fit. For example, in Gloucester, Cleeve salvage will deliver for free within 25 mile radius.
Scrap yards vary - some are organised recyclers, others are just a field full of cars.

[Poppycat]

I could check car parts here

http://www.jhmbuttco.com/

Might be useful to compare proces. My mate who did my car bought local for car parts dealer and prices were on par with the company above, only postages bumped things up a little.

[cookie221275]

Thanks for your advice.
Well I'm happy to say the car passed it's 2nd mot. The tester took a good look at the steering column and said it is fine no rust at all. He said the only thing he could see was if you looked through the inspection hatch in the floor there was a brown plastic bush on the base of the column which appeared to resemble rust at first glance.
So I have my car back and it is working fine hooray!

[MooseRich]

The price you have been qouted is the actual price of a steering rack on a Felicia. They are very expensive. If you need parts, try www.skospares.com. You could do worse than register on www.briskoda.net, a Skoda fan site and they would be more than willing to help. Just say a Moose sent you ;)