MOT failure - options and advice

jeannieblue

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

working on the assumption that the other one is probably near the end of its life:

Example figures (these are example figures, not actual costs)

1.Take time to get the car to a garage
2.Garage charge you 50 to do one side (time to get it on ramps, do work, paper work, road test etc etc
3 Take time to collect the car

Now if the other side goes, you have to do all the above again, where as if you had both done the labour wouldn't be that much more, and you have the peace of mind that the car is more likely to handle better than having one new shocker and one shocker where the performance is going to be different

With most things money saving i find it better to take a longer term approach (not just financially in this case, but safety)

Garages quote for the job. For instance, price of part plus labour. If it is an hour to replace one shock, it will be two hours for two shocks. It isn't rocket science.

I'm trying to look at it from the OP's point of view - they do not have alot of money - and now we learn that neither of the shocks are very old, but no doubt you will still insist that the pair should be replaced! Which I agree is a good idea in most instances - but if you don't have alot of money and you have to put food on the table, you have to make choices which will not please the experts on the motoring forum, but the children will get dinner for a couple of weeks!

This forum is MSE not pistonheads....... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

hewhoisnotintheknow

jeannieblue wrote: »

Garages quote for the job. For instance, price of part plus labour. If it is an hour to replace one shock, it will be two hours for two shocks. It isn't rocket science.

I'm trying to look at it from the OP's point of view - they do not have alot of money - and now we learn that neither of the shocks are very old, but no doubt you will still insist that the pair should be replaced! Which I agree is a good idea in most instances - but if you don't have alot of money and you have to put food on the table, you have to make choices which will not please the experts on the motoring forum, but the children will get dinner for a couple of weeks!

This forum is MSE not pistonheads....... :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

My garage cetrainly doesnt charge me double for doing two shocks rather than 1, i find this shocking, probably about 25% more for the labour

anewman

jeannieblue wrote: »

If it is an hour to replace one shock, it will be two hours for two shocks. It isn't rocket science.

Although if one shock is already being done, it's already on the ramp so some time is saved Unfortunately mechanics don't charge by the minute though, :rotfl:

hewhoisnotintheknow

anewman wrote: »

Although if one shock is already being done, it's already on the ramp so some time is saved Unfortunately mechanics don't charge by the minute though, :rotfl:

exactly, i suppose they go out and do a road test testing the left shock only, then come back and do another test on the right shock

lots of time is saved doing two bits rather than 1

jeannieblue

anewman wrote: »

Although if one shock is already being done, it's already on the ramp so some time is saved Unfortunately mechanics don't charge by the minute though, :rotfl:

Don't know what garages you and whatsisname use, but we charge for the actual job, which does not include driving the car in and putting it on the ramp - how sad is that!!!

Another example of how mechanics should work for love........ they are not allowed to earn the minimum wage according to you lot on here.. !! :rotfl::rotfl:

We have rates for jobs - they often take longer, but the rate doesn't change. But that is not what you want to hear is it?

Think that alot of you are very narrow minded. You have your way and that way must be right!! We look after our customers. And in these times, we spread the cost of work/services over a few months if it helps them. Probably why we are so horrendously busy at the moment and I am getting home later and later each night... and no, I don't get over time. :eek:

hewhoisnotintheknow

jeannieblue wrote: »

Don't know what garages you and whatsisname use, but we charge for the actual job, which does not include driving the car in and putting it on the ramp - how sad is that!!!

Another example of how mechanics should work for love........ they are not allowed to earn the minimum wage according to you lot on here.. !! :rotfl::rotfl:

We have rates for jobs - they often take longer, but the rate doesn't change. But that is not what you want to hear is it?

Think that alot of you are very narrow minded. You have your way and that way must be right!! We look after our customers. And in these times, we spread the cost of work/services over a few months if it helps them. Probably why we are so horrendously busy at the moment and I am getting home later and later each night... and no, I don't get over time. :eek:

Having a different opinion or experience doesn't make me or anyone else an 'idiot' or 'narrow minded'

I'm just stating that my garage would not charge me double the cost of one changing shocker for changing two.

jeannieblue

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

Having a different opinion or experience doesn't make me or anyone else an 'idiot' or 'narrow minded'

I'm just stating that my garage would not charge me double the cost of one changing shocker for changing two.

That suggests that they can do the job alot quicker than they really do! How would it be qucker to change the second shock than the first shock? That definitely suggests to me that they really are charging you to drive the car in, put it on the ramp, raise the ramp etc - which in my mind is absolutely atrocious! It is not like it is another part on the same side of the vehicle in the same area that they are changing. Or if they are doing a cam belt change and the water pump is faulty -yes, they are in that area so the labour would encompass the replacing of the water pump. But with the shock - it would be another side or rear of the car, different wheel etc....

How a garage can charge labour for 'putting vehicle on ramp' is totally beyond me!

a11waysindebt

Is this still going on

hewhoisnotintheknow

jeannieblue wrote: »

That suggests that they can do the job alot quicker than they really do! How would it be qucker to change the second shock than the first shock? That definitely suggests to me that they really are charging you to drive the car in, put it on the ramp, raise the ramp etc - which in my mind is absolutely atrocious! It is not like it is another part on the same side of the vehicle in the same area that they are changing. Or if they are doing a cam belt change and the water pump is faulty -yes, they are in that area so the labour would encompass the replacing of the water pump. But with the shock - it would be another side or rear of the car, different wheel etc....

How a garage can charge labour for 'putting vehicle on ramp' is totally beyond me!

Time to get the tools out, get the lamp in place, learn from the first one

whilst working on the 1st one the penetrating oil is working on the second shock etc etc

They dont actually charge for putting the car on the ramp, that's just stupid, but it all takes time, moving other cars out the way, parking them safely etc

Imagine this:

If i bring a car in and ask you to change all four brake pads on it, that will involve taking all four wheels off.

A day later i bring four cars in and ask you to one brake pad on each car, which is going to be quicker to do, the first job (1 car) or the second job (4 cars)

Both jobs involve changing four pads, so accoring to your logic it will cost the same to do job 1 and 2

*(I know you don't change just one pad, its just a daft example for you in terms of time)

Alias_Omega

I would never take the car to the garage to have brake pads replaced.

Some tasks you can do at home, that is one of them.