The Great 'How much should you pay for common car repairs' Hunt

pistolpete123

Sounds like common sense, but I use a few steps with my cars:

1. Work out whether you can do the work yourself (i.e if it's a bulb change or something accessible and quick to do). If you're not sure, do a net search and look at a couple of car forums for a 'how to guide'.

2. If not, ring three trusted garages in the area and get quotes (after you've used them a few times you tend to work out which ones are the ones to trust). I very rarely ring a dealer- in my experience they're always more expensive!
If you're still not happy, get a breakdown of the quotes and check the parts cost v labour between quotes. Parts are sometimes cheaper if you source yourself (euro car parts, GSF etc) but not all garages will warranty the work if you supply your own parts.

3. If it's tyres, check a few online websites (black circles, tyre shopper etc) then ring round a few trusted local fitters (again I tend to use local independent places, not big name chains) and see who gives you a good deal (sounds silly but always go for the best rubber you can afford, don't go for names you've never heard of).

mjpdre

VW garage quoted me £500 plus VAT; local VW/Audi specialist independent garage did it for £220 all in.

OddballJamie

On a similar note.
How much does everyone pay for a length of string?

worried_jim

OddballJamie wrote: »

On a similar note.
How much does everyone pay for a length of string?

£2.39 per meter.

http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/fencing-paving-decking/decking/decking-screws-accessories/ball_tops__caps___ropes/B-and-Q-Natural-Fibre-Rope-Decking-Boundary-L-25m-9276049?skuId=9285749

OddballJamie

mjpdre wrote: »

VW garage quoted me £500 plus VAT; local VW/Audi specialist independent garage did it for £220 all in.

Would that be an Up! or Phaeton or something inbetween and where was the dealer located?

Also was this recently?

OddballJamie

Rover 214 clutch replaced
Mobile mechanic
£90
West Midlands 13 years ago.

Could also get petrol for 75p a litre if that helps.

Strider590

MSE_Rose wrote: »

A study's found quoting a price to car mechanics can stop women getting duped over garage repair costs

It's not so much about quoting of a price, it's about knowing EXACTLY what you want done.

When people (men or women) go into a garage and say "erm.... It feels a bit wobbly and it's chugging a bit", they're just asking to be ripped off.
My mother is 60yrs old and even she doesn't use daft terms like that.

Going onto owners forums and getting a good idea of what's wrong BEFORE going to the garage (if you still need to after finding out what the problem is), is THE best way to avoid being taken for a ride.

Mechanics ain't desk jockeys, talking BS to them won't work, you have to know enough about your car to make them realise your not one to be messed with.

OddballJamie

Strider590 - I've known people say to a garage "just get it through the MOT, I don't care what it costs". Then the next day they're moaning about a big bill.

Battleaxe44

If we take the Silver Ghost to the Dealership, it costs and arm and a leg, take it to local mechanic, badged parts, and it cost 2/3 less than dealership.

Same for tyres, SG needs high end tyres, dealership quote would pay for a holiday, local fellow same tyres about £250.00 less.

We take SG in a month before MOT due, have local fellow look at it and identify what needs doing and get it fixed before MOT. When one of the pumps went, Hobbit pukked too hard on the steering when he went around a bend, local fellow no problems, he got the right pump, fitted it and back on road in under 24 hours. out of curiosity Hobbit inquired at dealership, Mate she'll be off the road for at least a week, until we can get the part in...so guess where we go for running repairs and parts...

best bit is, new wing and wheel needed on the SG owing to corrosion to aint work caused by an over enthuiast car washing mob down the road, getting the work done by the local caoch builder and fellow who does something like stripping adipping the wheel trims far cheaper than using you know who.

Yes SG is out of warranty and bought second hand, but she is lovely car and has cost us very little about $1500.00 in parts and servicing in the three years we have owned her. Previous owner was the on of the local doctors who used her on call outs..

Oh the other deal we have with local fellow, he sells the oil to the Hobbit at cost price, couldn't ask for better service. Before Hobbit and I got married, local fellow serviced late husband's and my cars, never a problem and these were Kia's.

John_Pierpoint

Find a good mobile mechanic - he pays no business rates or other massive overheads.

Similarly eye up the local taxis/hire cars waiting for a fare, and find out how they maximise their profits. There will be a local parts shop offering taxi discounts and a mechanic operating out of a "barn".

Go to a main agent, and you will be paying for the eye candy who answers the phone and someone has to pay for the potted plants in the reception.

That said some people like shopping in Waitrose and would not be seen dead in Aldi. You need to do your own research.