Convince me not to use kwik fit/ ATS etc

amberhen49

Years ago I used Kwikfit for some new tyres. It's their bread and butter, surely they couldn't mess that up? They didn't do the the wheel balancing properly. 30 seconds to drive down the road and realise something wasn't right. Turned around and went straight back. They fixed it and I've never used them since.

DUTR

Scrimps wrote: »

...you dont have to of course!

Im sure I regularly pick up the message that these places are rip offs but Im considering using them for the annual service.

I recently returned to my regular garage for an MOT to get my usual iffy service from them. They have a good rep but I have found them to be a garage who tend not do a complete job - e.g. full services get booked but repeatedly havent changed the fuel filter ("probably because itll cost you £60" is what im told as if theyre doing me a favour, even when the write in the book "change fuel filter next service" it still isnt done and yes I have mentioned it and get the above response) its one example but there are honestly lots that are just too boring to go into.

I just want to take my car for a service, for it to cost what its supposed to cost and for a complete job to have been done. I want to maintain my cars, I have nothing flash but want to look after them, I dont have time or money to muck about with this nonsence. Im thinking ATS/kwik fit might be the way forward? am i wrong?

You are probably not right, some outfits operate on upselling, so the entice price to get you in, isn't the price you pay when you drive out.
Fuel filter isn't part of the regular service schedule as either is brake fluid change,those ca be completed at extra cost to you to cover the parts and labour, it's not about having a flash car.
KF several branches quote £60 to complete an oil and filter change (a price that I couldn't do it myself for for parts only) when challenged what oil do the use they said 5w-40 where as my particular vehicle is to use 5w-30 c3, even then some of the dealerships do not use the correct oil (it's not just about the viscosity but the ash rating too(think egr and sooting on the exhaust)).

Retrogamer

I used to use my local Kwik Fit for both tyres and tracking but this is a bit of a long winded explanation to why i don't use them now

One of my dad's front tyres was wearing more on the inside.
After me and him inspecting it we found a worn track rod end ball joint
We replaced it and i recommend it take it to Kwik Fit to get the alignment done.
First time in they put it up then advise the spring on that side was also broken and had a small bit missing.

We ordered new springs and at the same time as fitting them we replaced the track rod end ball joint on the other side.
We let the new springs settle for a week but the alignment was terrible due to how much higher it was sitting with new springs.

My dad calls Kwik Fit and asks to book it in. They tell him to come in now as they're not busy. He does, they said they will call him when it's read. So he went a small walk around the town that Kwik Fit is in (town beside his) as didn't expect it to take too long.
After 2 hours he got annoyed and went back to be told the machine that does alignment isn't working but they just got it working now
They put his car on the ramps, removed the wheels then claimed the wheel alignment was too far out for them to do it.
So he'd had a few hours of his time wasted for no reasons as the people who specialise in wheel alignment "couldn't do it"

Dad called his old friend who's a retired mechanic. He used some string and measuring tape to adjust the alignment and got it about 90% then my dad took it to another local garage who made some small adjustments to get it perfect.

I then left Kwik Fit a poor review. Kwik fit customer service representative seen the review then requested me to fill in a complaints form so complaints department could help me.

Done this, but then the complaints department refused to deal with me as i wasn't the person directly affected.
Normally that's fair enough but seems a bit silly for customer service to ask me to do something that is pointless.

Scrimps

Right thank you. I wont be using KF which is quite close. Thank you for setting me straight. ATS is a walk back across town which doesnt really make it worth the bother, I did have to use the one in barnstaple once as I had an issue on a road trip an they were very helpful and sorted it all quickly.

The garage I have been using is a small independent which is half way down my road, they come recommended but I seem to drive away with an issue most times. Theyre very busy and usually its something they opted not to fix and tell me it like theyve done me a favour. I have thought I was over charged on labour but Im not a mechanic so I dont know how long these things take.

Perhaps my expectations are a little high. I'll make my expectations a little clearer/certain in future also.

Every time I pick up the car from a service I think I should learn to do it myself to save money and also a self reliance thing. Im too busy with 2 kids under 2, and errors can be expensive to fix.

Thanks all.

DUTR

Scrimps wrote: »

Right thank you. I wont be using KF which is quite close. Thank you for setting me straight. ATS is a walk back across town which doesnt really make it worth the bother, I did have to use the one in barnstaple once as I had an issue on a road trip an they were very helpful and sorted it all quickly.

The garage I have been using is a small independent which is half way down my road, they come recommended but I seem to drive away with an issue most times. Theyre very busy and usually its something they opted not to fix and tell me it like theyve done me a favour. I have thought I was over charged on labour but Im not a mechanic so I dont know how long these things take.

Perhaps my expectations are a little high. I'll make my expectations a little clearer/certain in future also.

Every time I pick up the car from a service I think I should learn to do it myself to save money and also a self reliance thing. Im too busy with 2 kids under 2, and errors can be expensive to fix.

Thanks all.

Earlier in the thread there was a mention of Haynes manuals, I remember there was 3 sets of tools, level 1 or 2 tools I would have, level 3 were more specialised , If a task required level 3 tools I would take it in.
If you do not already have the tools then yes take it in to a garage, perhaps not KF or an outfit that operates on that business model.

fred246

My dad used to say "you can't have too many tools". Even though I like money saving I invest freely in tools. Sometimes on the first job you won't save any money but you know the jobs been done properly and you have the satisfaction of doing it yourself. The next time you do the job you have the tools so you save money then. I don't normally go to Halfords but I have a large set of their professional tools and their professional torque wrenches are lovely. A real joy to use. Somebody makes them for Halfords I think it's Norbar. If you can wait for the sales or get a trade card they are cheaper.

Martyn_H

I got this link from The Telegraph's Honest John:

https://www.goodgaragescheme.com/

jimbo6977

Just had my car MoT'd and an oil/filter change at the Castle St, Chorley branch of National Tyres & Autocare.

No problems whatsoever.

Will be taking another car there for tracking as soon as I can find time.

The KF over the road from them looked busy too, but I've never been in and don't intend to start now.

Scrimps

Interestingly my garage isnt on that link, there is one fairly close so Ill take a look there.

I do truely love the satisfaction of doing a job myself:D. These cars are the first ones I havent bothered buying a haynes manual for. I bought them for every other car with the intention of completing my own maintenance but rarely used them and now I have even less time so I think that is a non starter at the moment.

hareng

Cant trust any of them even local garages to full dealerships.
The only way you know is when you specifically ask them to do a particular job.
Four biggies nationally this happened going in for tyres, sir do you know your brake discs are worn. I greeted each time with no they are not i have just put them on 15 mins ago and the pads have not bedded in over 5 mile.
One garage took car in for half shaft bearings (outer back axle), !!!!!! of a job. To open bonnet and see 5 of the 8 engine bolts missing, the 3 that was in were loose. Why did they take the engine out.
Trust no one do it yourself.