Rip off garage prices..........

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:30

My Peugeot 206 failed it's MOT last week. Front part of the exhaust had a hole in it as did the back box, 1 tyre had a crack on the outside wall, a brake sensor seized and a front gaiter insecurely mounted.

They quoted me £280 + vat for the exhaust, £75 + vat for the gaiter, £15 + vat to free the brake sensor and £48 + vat for a tyre. So with the vat the total cost would have been £500

I phoned my cousin who is a mechanic to do the work on it. He replaced the exhaust front part and back box, replaced the tyre with the spare, he said the gaiter only needed a new clip which are a couple of quid. He also said the brake sensor was not seized just a bit stiff and he sprayed it with wd-40 to loosen it off. It took him under an hour to do the work and he charged me £160 to do the lot.

It just goes to show how much these garages rip people off especially when they quote work that doesn't need doing. I know they have to make their money but the prices they charge are outrageous.

Anyone else had a similar experience with garages?

MikeHunt79 · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:34

No I have not, believe it or not my 205 is still on it's original exhaust!

Some garages are better than others though, luckily I know of a decent One who are reasonable So it helps to know which ones you can trust...

Kenai · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:35

Start getting your answer prepared as to why you find it acceptable to be driving around on mismatched tyres, as someone will ask you sooner or later

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:38

Kenai said:
Start getting your answer prepared as to why you find it acceptable to be driving around on mismatched tyres, as someone will ask you sooner or later

The spare tyre he put on the back o/s is identical to the other one.

I took my car back to the same garage for a re-test and it passed.

Janesy B · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:38

FIFTY POUNDS FOR A TYRE!!!???? OH EM GEE!

I don't even get your point about them making work up, maybe they assumed you wanted to keep a legal spare?

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:42

Janesy B said:
FIFTY POUNDS FOR A TYRE!!!???? OH EM GEE!

That is exactly what i thought. And £280 + vat for a back box and front piece???

Janesy B · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:45

Chuggerboom said:
That is exactly what i thought. And £280 + vat for a back box and front piece???

Whoosh.

Front piece being what, a downpipe or behind the cat? Sounds like they might have wanted to fit a whole replacement exhaust, in that case the price isn't that ridiculous.

Kenai · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:45

Chuggerboom said:
The spare tyre he put on the back o/s is identical to the other one. I took my car back to the same garage for a re-test and it passed.

You'll still be mismatched new vs old unless you had new tyres recently

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:47

Kenai said:
You'll still be mismatched new vs old unless you had new tyres recently

If it was that bad it wouldn't have passed the MOT.

Puppetmaster · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:48

One thing i dont understand, if your cousin is a mechanic, why even bother taking it to the garage in the first place? just seems like a waste of time.

Joe T · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:49

So your spare now has a crack in it? How is this a good thing?

Kenai · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:50

Chuggerboom said:
If it was that bad it wouldn't have passed the MOT.

MOT doesn't test whether you're running one tyre with 3mm tread and another with 8mm on the opposite end of the axle but that doesn't make it a good idea

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:50

Puppetmaster said:
One thing i dont understand, if your cousin is a mechanic, why even bother taking it to the garage in the first place? just seems like a waste of time.

My cousin worked as a mechanic for 15 years in a local garage, but last year he got a job at Vauxhalls. Although he does all the work on my car i have to take it to a garage for MOT's.

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:55

Joe T said:
So your spare now has a crack in it? How is this a good thing?

I can always buy a cheap tyre as a spare.

Joe T · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:58

Chuggerboom said:
I can always buy a cheap tyre as a spare.

For, say, about £48 + VAT?

Chuggerboom · 13 Feb 2011 at 17:59

Joe T said:
For, say, about £48 + VAT?

No, i could get a part worn for a whole lot less

Janesy B · 13 Feb 2011 at 18:02

Chuggerboom said:
No, i could get a part worn for a whole lot less

Why bother, you don't even need a spare. Spend as little as possible mayte.

Clarkey · 13 Feb 2011 at 18:35

Janesy B said:
Whoosh.

Front piece being what, a downpipe or behind the cat? Sounds like they might have wanted to fit a whole replacement exhaust, in that case the price isn't that ridiculous.

When you can buy a complete system for under £170 including the cat and everything, yes £280+vat is a ripoff for 2 parts.

InvaderGIR · 13 Feb 2011 at 18:38

Chuggerboom said:
That is exactly what i thought. And £280 + vat for a back box and front piece???

I spend roughly £100 a tyre, £50 is nothing...although knowing most garages that'll be £50 for some cheap piece of tat, marked up to a silly cost for no reason.

What do you actually mean by 'front piece' ? Manifold, cat, midsection?

Janesy B · 13 Feb 2011 at 18:39

Clarkey said:
When you can buy a complete system for under £170 including the cat and everything, yes £280+vat is a ripoff for 2 parts.

Garage is gonna fit it for free then yeah? OP hasn't stated what they were actually planning to change.