What about an article on annual services and repairs for cars?

talltom79

We've just been landed with a bill of £650 for annual service plus repairs to brakes and suspension on our car.

I'm pretty sure the garage is not having us on. Although I don't know a huge amount about cars, it's pretty difficult to argue with people who say your brake pads are dangerously thin and your suspension will break if you don't repair it. The garage is the one we bought the car from second-hand (an independent garage specialising in VW's and Audi's). What I don't know is whether they are going to charge loads more (or less) than anywhere else.

This is surely an area for money saving savvy and I can't find any articles about it on the website. It would be good to know any tips on how you spot a good garage, what is good value for money on a service, how much different jobs should cost etc. I'm sure that sort of information is out there somewhere but I have no idea how to find it.

So Martin please write an article, and meanwhile does anyone have any thoughts, tips or commiserations on what you do when the garage says you need to spend £650 on your car?