New brakes all round - that's £600 please

MiddleWill

This is my first thread posting so I apologise if it's a little ranty.

I decided to buy a VW Golf back in October and as I do a lot of miles, I've racked up 10k in that time. With the car I received 2 free services and an MOT, therefore I cashed in on my free Service today. I take it in, I head to Costa and waste time, come Midday I headed back over and they tell me: My brakes are 85% worn all over, 'that's £550 please?'

I'm shocked out of my mind. Go back to the Salesman to say 'what the heck?' and he says he'll speak to his superiors and get back to me. So instead I head to National Tyres and they tell me the following:

Your discs are fine, they'll easily last another set of pads. The back pads are at about 60% and will last as they get less wear whereas your front definitely need changing, they're at 90%. That's £95 and with 20% voucher it's £76.

Utterly ridiculous. When I next speak to VW I will not be pleased. I foolishly thought VW were a good brand to go with but it appears they chat the usual !!!!!!!! that classicly stereotypes a used car salesman. Not a happy motorist right now.

worried_jim

Main dealer prices. Glad you shopped around- remember they are giving you a free service for a reason and that reason is that nothing is ever free.

Trebor16

Very different to the prices quoted here for new discs and pads:-

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing

£239 for new front discs and pads

£229 for new rear discs and pads

A total of £468. Still higher than at an independent of course.

How many miles had the car done when you bought it?

mikey72

So VW were quoting for brakes and pads that even National Tyres didn't think you needed?

Sounds more like Kwik Fit, maybe VW are getting short of work.

MiddleWill

Trebor16 wrote: »

Very different to the prices quoted here for new discs and pads:-


£239 for new front discs and pads

£229 for new rear discs and pads

A total of £468. Still higher than at an independent of course.

How many miles had the car done when you bought it?

Just over 40k! That's shocking in itself actually. I feel genuinely ripped off and I've not even given them any more... except for the car!

s_b

welcome to rip off britain MiddleWill at least you had the gumption to run

Trebor16

MiddleWill wrote: »

Just over 40k! That's shocking in itself actually. I feel genuinely ripped off and I've not even given them any more... except for the car!

So the car has done 50k now? If it is on the original pads then it has done well. But at least you had the car checked elsewhere.

pendulum

Hence why I do all the repair work I can do, myself.
Trust noone

Trebor16

pendulum wrote: »

Hence why I do all the repair work I can do, myself.
Trust noone

I check all that sort of stuff too.

But to be fair to my local VW garage, when they serviced my Golf in October they advised me correctly of the amount of pad material left on the brakes and the mechanic was more than happy to have a chat about what he had done. It's not all garages that will rip you off but you just have to find the ones who are honest.

MiddleWill

pendulum wrote: »

Hence why I do all the repair work I can do, myself.
Trust noone

It's my mission to finally learn something about cars as I know absolutely nothing. I'm hiding under a pathetic excuse though at the minute - 'I don't have a house, never mind a garage to learn in'!

But got to start somewhere. How did you learn?

Trebor16

I learnt by getting a manual, and some tools and having a go. I had been fiddling with pedal cycles for some years, so I wasn't afraid to have a go. But you will make mistakes, so be prepared for that. Just take your time, do simple jobs to start off with. And make use of the forums for good advice, especially the ones relating to specific makes of vehicles.