Rip off Repairs?

johninbrum

Having been brought to the nearest garage (by chance a vauxhall garage) by the AA on Saturday, i have recieved a quote for £2400 to replace the gearbox on a 2006 Vauxhall Astra today. I rang back to query this amount and they have stated for the gearbox alone it is £1900. Does this sound right? Or is it time to scrap the car? Any advice is welcome given my lack of general knowledge on cars.

mattyprice4004

Gearboxes are incredibly complicated and expensive items - to refurb a box on my old Rover 600 was nearly £700.

A recon / new box could easily be the amount quoted - if in doubt ask for another quote elsewhere.

olias

Just had a look at autotrder and the car isn't even worth that ! - I don't know what model yours is, but there are loads of Astras under 7 years old with low mileage, fsh etc for between £2000-£3000

Olias

johninbrum

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking part exchange at the garage might be able to get something for the car towards a new one. Just had new tyres fitted aswell. Got a quote for £650 for a reconditioned gearbox if i can get the car to another garage.

artbaron

I paid £650 for a reconditioned vauxhall F20 gearbox, albeit some years back, and it was fine for the 5+ years I owned it. Don't waste your money on a new one.

bigjl

There are also lots of decent Vauxhall breakers yards.

I would rather have a knownow mileage gearbox stuck in my car with a new clutch and dmf if needed.

Recon boxes can sometimes be a gamble though if you find a place that does a good job can be every bit as long lived as a new one.

Main dealers have little leeway on what they charge for parts, there will be a margin in the box and they will make some on the labour.

But they have huge liabilities.

Vauxhall boxes are fairly robust, certainly not the worst out there.

Don't know where you are located but I have bought loads of bits over the years from this place

http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/

They have lots of newish low mileage cars that they have stripped.

They are in North East London, just inside the M25 if that helps, near Romford.