Cheapest way to get towbar fitted

NE-Where

Hi

I've got a SEAT ALTEA XL - excellent car. VW quality without the VW prices. Huge boot - loads of room for the kids.

We'd like to fit a towbar but have been quoted £650 :rotfl:from the dealers. I've heard that it's best to fit a SEAT specific towbar and that it's best if a SEAT trained technician does it because of the electrics.

Is this complete c**p? Has anyone had a towbar fitted forless than £650?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks,
N

KeithP

NE-Where wrote: »

Huge boot - loads of room for the kids.

:eek:..............

Still... I suppose its good that you are not putting them in the trailor.

SailorSam

That sounds awful expensive, when i bought my Fiesta nearly 2 years ago now, the Ford agent garage quoted me £250.
I said i'll have the car if you throw that in and they agreed.

SailorSam

I've just had a quick google, you really need to do it yourself to find someone in your part of the country, but just as an example look at these, depending upon which one you want the towbar is about £100, and it says they take about 90minutes to fit.
So are the agents saying they charge labour of £550 for 90 minutes.
altea-xl-flange-tow-bar

Edit
Just noticed there is a link on the site for whereabout in the country you are, they have a fitting service

Hintza

I use these guys here and although you are probably nowhere near them whay not give them a call and have a chat.

http://ayrshiretowbarcentre.co.uk/

One thing that might make it expensove is if they have to remove the bumper to fit it.

I think our swas about £250 (all in) on a Grand Cherokee and I'm sure the deale was well over £500.

anewman

NE-Where wrote: »

I've got a SEAT ALTEA XL - excellent car. VW quality without the VW prices. Huge boot - loads of room for the kids.

Skoda are cheaper still and better built as they're assembled in Czechoslovakia.

And who ever said VW had any relationship with the word quality?!

ScottishSapper

We'd like to fit a towbar

Do you mean 'we' as in diy or have it fitted?
Just had a look at the fitting istructions (see link below) and self fit should take you about an hour. No drilling required.
The link takes you to TowSure, I have got towbars from them for over 15 years and the towbar for your car is £103.50. So even if you have to get a fitter to do it should still be well under £650 (just fainted typing that:eek:)

http://www.towsure.com/product/10540

NE-Where

anewman wrote: »

Skoda are cheaper still and better built as they're assembled in Czechoslovakia.

And who ever said VW had any relationship with the word quality?!

Clever marketing perhaps - but VW group quality far surpasses that of my two previous cars ..... ok well one of them was a citroën!!:)

Thanks for all the helpful comments .... I may be on to something with PF JONES

N

molerat

The dealer will use the correct electric kit for the car, not a universal. Look at the Witter link above and see the price of the plug in electrics, £127 :eek:

goldspanners

molerat wrote: »

The dealer will use the correct electric kit for the car, not a universal. Look at the Witter link above and see the price of the plug in electrics, £127 :eek:

yip, with more and more vehicles using can bus electrical systems its becoming harder to fit additional elctrical auxilliaries like this without the correct equipment.

im sure butchering the wiring to fit a towbar on a new car would almost definatly void any warranty claims.

Rolandtheroadie

Normally I'm about £30-£35 but as said, it's different nowadays.
Most ebay places that sell towbars will do the electrics too (specific to your car and virtually plug an play). Probably around £200 all in.
My 1999 Vectra and 1999 Omega both had dimples where the holes had to be drilled and my rover sd1 I cant remember but it was fine.
Wiring was via blue scotch lock connectors.