Reasonable repair time for my car? Ideas?

mrmagoo38

Hi guys and gals,

Im new here. I think im in the right section and didnt want to ring a random car garage and ask this because that might be inconvenient for them and make then annoyed. Basically we dropped our car off at the garage yesterday and its being repaired from today. Its a Renault Megane 1.5 DCI (2005) with 150,000 miles (high i know). Anyway, it ticks over nicely but is having a new Water Pump and Timing Belt installed because the car was/is leaking coolant. The garage have said the task is a full days work and i know its gonna cost anything from £400-800. However, we live in a rural area, we are new here and there arent many garages near us. We dont wanna stress out the garage by being inpatient because word probably travels lol. My question is, if this were your car, how long would you be comfortable leaving it with the garage? 3 days? 1 week? 2 weeks?
Basically, when should we start whingeing?

Cheers,

Wonka_2

mrmagoo38 said:

The garage have said the task is a full days work and i know its gonna cost anything from £400-800. However, we live in a rural area, we are new here and there arent many garages near us. We dont wanna stress out the garage by being inpatient because word probably travels lol. My question is, if this were your car, how long would you be comfortable leaving it with the garage? 3 days? 1 week? 2 weeks?
Basically, when should we start whingeing?

Cheers,

In rural areas word of mouth/good service is everything and starting on the right foot is important

Is it your only car ? If so is there a local place that has a runaround they can lend you whilst the work's being carried out ?

But for a 1 day job then if you're paying the going rate 1 day, if you (and other locals) trust them and they'll fit it in around other things then 3 days - certainly no need for longer

mrmagoo38

That's what i was thinking, surely 3 days is enough.

Nearlyold

Agree 3 days should be enough, however what impression did you give the garage of when you needed it back?  You may find the garage thinks time is not of the essence for your job and keeps leaving it to assist customers who've broken down and need their car to get to work at the hospital/school/fluffy kitten refuge etc.

mrmagoo38

Nearlyold said:

Agree 3 days should be enough, however what impression did you give the garage of when you needed it back?

Perhaps naively, i didnt stress anything like that.
I didnt wanna come across as too pushy or demanding, even though i wish i had on reflection.
If this were in the city (where we used to live) then i definitely would of asked. I know its wrong but, should things go awry in the city then you just choose another garage. No option of that here. So, perhaps this is all part of breathing more deeply, relaxing and going with the flow. That is why we moved here, but also, we dont want to be taken for fools just because we're outsiders.

mrmagoo38

Nearlyold said:

Agree 3 days should be enough, however what impression did you give the garage of when you needed it back?  You may find the garage thinks time is not of the essence for your job and keeps leaving it to assist customers who've broken down and need their car to get to work at the hospital/school/fluffy kitten refuge etc.

Yeah, to be fair, we dont mind other customers being prioritized over us (depending on their circumstances). But we have waited quite  while for the car to even go in for work, so id hope that the car might be of some priority. Anyway, im not gonna stress over it, life is more important than a poxy car.

diystarter7

Hi

Several years ago we had a pegouet gt rcz auto - timinng chain often a problem on the mini/bm (same engine), timing chain and pump cost 900 and car was in 10am, and we picked up at 3pm-ish

There is no reason you should not get it back the same day - next day at the latest if there is something they did not note.

Thanks

mrmagoo38

diystarter7 said:

Hi

Several years ago we had a pegouet gt rcz auto - timinng chain often a problem on the mini/bm (same engine), timing chain and pump cost 900 and car was in 10am, and we picked up at 3pm-ish

There is no reason you should not get it back the same day - next day at the latest if there is something they did not note.

Thanks

Hi, thats true to a degree but ive heard that some cars are more difficult than others when it comes to water pumps and timing chains. I think the 3 day rule is strong because i dont want people here seeing me as 'the inpatient city slicker'.

boobyd

Why didn't you say something like " okay a full day work,if I bring it in Tuesday do you think it would be ready by Thur pm/Fri?
You would then have an idea and would have no need to whinge?

mrmagoo38

boobyd said:

Why didn't you say something like " okay a full day work,if I bring it in Tuesday do you think it would be ready by Thur pm/Fri?
You would then have an idea and would have no need to whinge?

Yeah, thats my own fault really. I was unprepared when i took the car in. Im scared to ring them now haha

diystarter7

mrmagoo38 said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi

Several years ago we had a pegouet gt rcz auto - timinng chain often a problem on the mini/bm (same engine), timing chain and pump cost 900 and car was in 10am, and we picked up at 3pm-ish

There is no reason you should not get it back the same day - next day at the latest if there is something they did not note.

Thanks

Hi, thats true to a degree but ive heard that some cars are more difficult than others when it comes to water pumps and timing chains. I think the 3 day rule is strong because i dont want people here seeing me as 'the inpatient city slicker'.

Fair enough
Next time, for any other car repir service, ask them when they can fix and when they can have it back before you book. Often you will fid they will do same day for most repairs as they get parts in etc
good luck