Still avoid Halfords for servicing?

stoofa

stoofa

stoofa

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Car is informing me it is time for a service (2011 Skoda Octavia vRS, Petrol. 88k miles, variable servicing).
Skoda/VW seem to treat all cars on variable servicing as "always require a major service" so their quote is around £269. I only service about every two years so I'm not adverse to paying this if I have to.
However, I'm outside of warranty, outside of goodwill so I don't need to take this back to manufacturer.

I'm assuming Halfords are still to be avoided? Their current cost for full service with fully synthetic oil would come in at £175.
I'm based in the Huntingdon/St.Ives/Cambs area. Any recommendations for reliable indi garages or chains?

Ta
 
Halfords Auto centres I believe are all franchised so look for local reviews rather than dismissing them all as some are very good. I work right outside one which had good reviews so let them service my car, no complaints!

The manager knew I worked next door so called me to "come and look at something" I was expecting him to attempt the pantie pull but to my surprise he just wanted to show me my car while it was up in the air, mid service, talked me through what was what and said how good a condition my car was in.
 
It depends on the branch, my local one seems very good so far *touch wood* i've used them several times for MOT's and services and they seem to do a decent job and don't fabricate jobs out of thin air just for profit.
 
They are franchised so each one will be different.

You could get the oil and service parts yourself then pay to have them fitted, should save you some money.
 
stoofa said:
I'm assuming Halfords are still to be avoided? Their current cost for full service with fully synthetic oil would come in at £175.
I'm based in the Huntingdon/St.Ives/Cambs area. Any recommendations for reliable indi garages or chains?

Ta
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You could bring that way down by getting your own oil.
 
Finglonga said:
You could bring that way down by getting your own oil.
Click to expand...

At the moment Halfords are doing the "synthetic oil upgrade" for free. So the full service was £195, currently £175 and the additional £22 usually required for the synthetic is waived.
I could go and buy the oil myself - but not convinced it would make much saving to that price.

Got a quote in from my local Audi/VW indi - They are revo dealers and only work on VAG vehicles. They have quoted me £229 maximum charge of service.
As I don't need plugs I'd expect my final cost to be slightly lower.
Ah, the fun and games :)
 
I have one experience of a Halfords Autocentre. 4 tyres for my MX5, £15 a corner cheaper than anyone else for the tyres that I was after. What could go wrong? Well...

1) They couldn't balance them so had to take the wheels with new tyres fitted to another branch. This equated to 2 1/2 hours to get 4 tyres fitted.
2) Despite the fuss balancing them the rears are very slightly out.
3) They used clip on weights on my alloys.
4) They forced one of my centre caps in at an angle and it has permanently distorted.
5) They inflated the tyres to 35 PSI, rather than the correct 26 PSI.

All the time making quite disparaging comments about other customers who weren't present at the time and making comments about how they were sure certain technicians couldn't read. Unsurprisingly I won't be going back.

In your situation less than £100 difference makes the dealer option seem like the good value one.
 
Stev said:
cant fail its emissions test if it doesnt run!
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1pnssr



:D
 
i've had 2 issues with arnold clark from 2 different garages. the second one was even worse.

i now will no longer buy a car from them or any car that has been "serviced" by them.
 
I'd personally trust Halfords over main dealers, so far i've had main dealers:
Fit the wrong spark plugs, then fail to diagnose the issues caused by them twice
Not service the car at all
Lose the service history
not notice the rear pads were down to the metal on the service before we picked up a new car and take 2 trips to identify the noise from the rear of the car.
 
sovietspybob said:
I'd personally trust Halfords over main dealers, so far i've had main dealers:
Fit the wrong spark plugs, then fail to diagnose the issues caused by them twice
Not service the car at all
Lose the service history
not notice the rear pads were down to the metal on the service before we picked up a new car and take 2 trips to identify the noise from the rear of the car.
Click to expand...

what dealer was this? as in the manufacturer or the private group that owns the dealer.

we have 2 bmw dealers nearby for instance. one is owned by arnold clark so i avoid that one completely.
 
Stev said:
cant fail its emissions test if it doesnt run!
Click to expand...

lol yea there's this weird loophole with MOT that some things are just "passed" if they aren't there at all. Unless there is a specific rule saying it must be there (like with the DPF on diesels).
 
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Nothing wrong with halfords.
I used them before. Gave them the oil I wanted them to use and they were happy to remove the cost of oil from the service.
Worth the money for purely having the service stamp and invoice.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
what dealer was this? as in the manufacturer or the private group that owns the dealer.

we have 2 bmw dealers nearby for instance. one is owned by arnold clark so i avoid that one completely.
Click to expand...

One was Toyota, one was Mazda and the last was Suzuki. The Toyota one is just a Toyota dealership but Mazda & Suzuki are all on one site with a few other marques.
 
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