UK Garage Repairs

...that are sold in the UK can do much the same job; check first before you leave your car with the garage. My garage advised me to have my brake fluid changed, is this another rip off as my brakes feel fine? If the brake fluid has been properly tested and found to be containing moisture it is advisable to have it changed. Many garages advise on changing it unnecessarily just to be on the 'safe side' or to make extra money, the best way to avoid any ...
...present. It takes seconds to test with a little pen sized instrument with red, amber and green lights for guidance inserted into the brake master cylinder. Green usually indicates it is all right whilst red indicates that the fluid should be changed immediately. Amber gives you advanced warning of a change, any doubts and I would recommend a second opinion. Is there a good time to have my car serviced? Usually during quiet times is the ideal time ...

ScottishWestie 29.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

With over twenty million cars now on our roads, it is small wonder that we are spending billions of pounds on repairs and servicing. With all that money floating around it stands to reason that there will more than a few unscrupulous service and repair centres around the country. A point to ponder, before you decide on a garage for your repair or servicing work, is that anyone can open up a repair business! You do not need qualifications or formal ...
...just anyone to fix your car? A lot of people stick with the larger, franchised shops, this is fine if you have unlimited funds to throw at your car in it’s hour of need, but it is worth pointing out that the hourly rate these larger repair shops charge has more to do with the overheads of having a state of the art shop, with nice carpeted lounges, coffee machines, a telly showing re-runs of the Dukes of Hazzard and a children’s play ...

jimblob 19.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

Several years ago we had an Austin Metro, not the best of cars, but it got us around. The exhaust was blowing, so to have it repaired we shopped around and Budget came out as being the cheapest. It was a well known name in the tyre and exhaust business, so we felt pretty confident. We booked the car in and had a complete exhaust fitted. We paid for the service and set off for home. Two days later, whilst driving, my husband suspected that something ...
...the car into a local garage, who informed us that the exhaust that had been fitted was swinging freely at the back as no mounting had been fitted to attach it to and because of this it had melted the hydroelastic pipe (part of the braking system). This was caused by the the exhaust not being mounted to our vehicle and was touching the hydroelastic pipe. As the exhaust became hot, the pipe melted and the brake fluid drained away. We had the car repaired ...

tootsie1_uk 18.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I've been driving for almost eight years now, during which time I've spent far more money that I would have liked on car repairs. This also means I've wised up to the number of rip-off merchants out there, preying on the unsuspecting motorist. Take one instance. Brake pads. Not a big deal, are they? I mean, it doesn't matter of you drive a top-specification Mercedes or a 1981 Mini, brake pads are an issue we all have to deal with sooner or later. ...
...opinion of this 'car') to Motosave at Mexbrough, South Yorkshire. The mechanic removed my old pads, and then came running into the reception area, old brake-pad in hand, telling me the unfortunate news that my caliper seals were 'worn out' or other vulgarities to a similar effect. I was invited to inspect the problem myself (not knowing a caliper seal from a crank shaft), and sure enough, I could see brake fluid dripping freely. PANIC! "How much?", ...

lyricalt 30.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I was going to suggest a category for motor repairs, but felt that this one would suffice! I've been a bit stuck for words recently and haven't written any opinions, so excuse me if I go on! This opinion relates to National Tyres and Autocentres. They are in essence another Quik-fit type outfit, although they always seem to be cheaper. Firstly, you don't expect dealer service standards (although I'd doubt them sometimes!) or quality when you go ...
...is just what they are not! Most of them advertise their primary business as tyres and as far as they go, they just about manage it. I've had a few tyres changed there and never had any problems with them. However they don't just advertise tyres....... What else do they do? --------------------- Apparently they also do suspension, exhausts and brakes, as well as general motor repairs and MOTs. So, why go to them? ------------------- Well, after ...

xr2i16v 20.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

When you need your car repaired which always seems to be around the time of the MOT try looking in your local telephone directory or the local paper. We found that going local is better than going to the larger town for any repairs that you cannot do yourself. Local machanics do good because in smaller communities word spreads like wild flower and if you do either a good or bad job it gets around. Local also depend upon your going there so they ...
...a good job then you will go back to them time and time again. Our local mechanic is good. He will do his best to fit you in. He does not overcharge or do a job that does not need to be done. Could a larger town offer this? Local garages usually only have a couple of men on the job and not a big place so not too many overheads. When we take our car in they look at it and before they touch anything they will telephone you to tell you how much it ...

Ciren 17.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

Your car needs a service and MOT and maybe the odd repair and you can't find a garage that you can trust? You've heard so many tales about cowboy garages who tell you that you need a new "whatsit" when in fact you either don't or they say you do just to get more money off you. Incompetent or rogue mechanics are your recurring nightmare as you search the yellow pages. The best way to find a good garage is to ask for recommendations from friends ...
...saying, "Go to Joe's" is not to be trusted. That guy who lives just down the road from you who never tinkers with his car which at 10 years old seems to keep going on and on is the bloke to ask. Even if you don't know the person, knock on his door and ask where he gets his car serviced. You could even make a new friend. If you live in the Blackburn area I can recommend one garage that will not rip you off, will do a satisfactory job and will not ...

jimbuck 19.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

Local garages are best. They may not have a huge waiting area with a great TV, shiny floor and coffee machine but what does that matter. I find in larger garages and especially dealerships that the customer is moved to a corner of a showroom and given a cup of almost anything you desire or is given another car and drive off. In a local garage I find that you can talk to the mechanic with ease and see what they are doing with your car. They may be ...
...hire a cleaner or they prefer repairing your car to a good standard rather than sweeping the floor every ten minutes. Another great thing about going local is that they are often cheaper which is great for anyone who drives a car these days especially with the way fuel prices are going. Going local for car repairs also means that they will be wanting to impress you because what they need is advertisement. People will automatically go to where they ...

iancozens12 24.11.2006 (07.11.2007) · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I own a 3 year old Peugeot and as part of the 12 month warranty I have on it (I bought it second hand a year ago) I have to get it serviced at the local Peugeot dealer. I phoned up and asked about the cost of servicing and almost fell of my chair when I was told £470, then I was asked how old it was, or more precisely weather it was more than 4 years old. So I lied……. Terrible….. but the cost of the service went down to £140!!!!! ...
...“Peugeot are worried about the amount of people who stop using Peugeot service centers as soon as the warranty has expired”. He went on to tell me that there is no difference in the service other than the price. So if your Peugeot is due for a service, lie about its age and you’ll save yourself over £200! Onto the warranty, you’d think it would be fairly straightforward wouldn’t you……NO. A couple of things ...

andrewj100 29.10.2001 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I have given up using the big garages, especially the main dealers for my car servicing and repair needs. I have generally found them to be very expensive, unreliable, discourteous, and sometimes downright dishonest. They generally allocate a set time to their mechanics to do a specific job, and as a result it gets rushed, and frequently botched! I prefer a small garage or repair shop, preferably a family business, and one which has been recommended ...
...find the service is honest, reliable, and trustworthy. Prices tend to be much lower, and you and the car are treated as something special...not just another number plate on four wheels. Sure, there are some good large garages, and some small cowboy operations. However, a search for a good little un will probably pay handsome dividends! ...

wiseoldowl 22.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I had an experience with a BMW garage recently. I put my 7 year old 318i in for an inspection 2 service which is the full monty of servicing. At the time they had a deal on and it was 249 pounds because the car was over 4 years old. Two hours after taking the car in they called me up and informed me that all the brakes were badly lipped and scored and that it was DANGEROUS to drive. They even put this on the service sheet afterwards. I asked how ...
...the lot. Well, as I was going on holiday two days later I could not afford it. Luckily for me i'm in the motor trade and took the car to a friend to check the brakes, he said there was nothing wrong with them at all, at least another 6 months of wear left on them. You think you can trust a so called prestige car company like this but unfortunately I won't be going back to that garage anymore. You see these adverts, for instance the Kwik fit one ...

biglee 13.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

If you live in or around Walsall in the West Midlands then Midland Garage, Stafford Street Walsall has to be the place for car repairs. Until recently we owned a D reg Nissan Bluebird Turbo and so needed work doing from time to time. We were refered to this garage by the people who did our MOT and we were so impressed we never went anywhere else! They are always honest and fair in all their dealings - and you can't say that about too many small ...
...before they start the work if it's going to be higher. In fact on occasions we collected our car to find that the bill was actually lower than expected. If they think that the repair you've requested isn't viable they'll tell you so and suggest alternatives. Our new car is still under warranty at the moment but we'll eventually return to Midland Garage without a doubt. ...

SusanLesley 05.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

WS Motors, Winthrop Avenue (Off Queen's Road) in Manchester is owned and run by a total gent called Winston. I have taken my cars there for the last 4 years. Winston is always cheerful and happy to help. His service, in my opinion, is second to none. He will take a look at the car and tell you what needs doing. He will give you a rough, on the spot and more than reasonable quote for anything that needs to be done. And he gets the jobs done quickly ...

djlordk 24.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

I found this place 15 years ago, when I had a clapped-ourt little Renault 5, and it speaks volumes (given my volatile attitude towards poor service) that I still take my car, my wife's car and my work-colleagues' cars there. This small independent garage has always shown courteous behaviour towards me and my wife, given us fair estimates and good service. Booking in is at our convenience, with the facility to leave the car at the garage for work ...
...the problem of being without the car ahilst needing it, or finding somewhere to safely store it. We feel comfortable leaving the car with the garage, for e.g. an MOT, or routine service, with instructions to 'do the necessary', and arrive back to find the job done, and the bill reasonable. The owner (Mark) will warn us if something is likely to need doing "in the next 5000 miles" without feeling the need to rip us off by replacing stuff that still ...

nickhurst 16.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs

We took our 1998 Corolla automatic to Andrew Rowley Toyota in Watford when the ABS lamp came on. (The car has been well looked after and regularly serviced; no other problems were apparent.) We asked them to check the car over and report on any additional work that might need doing. They came up with £2940 of proposed repairs! We agreed to £720 of work, including the replacement of the automatic transmission fluid. Somehow, Andrew Rowley Toyota's ...
...automatic transmission, rather than the much thinner automatic transmission fluid. They discovered their mistake the following day, after the car had been driven 100 miles. The car had to be returned, the incorrect oil drained out, and replaced with the correct fluid. Now, as any competent mechanic will tell you, the difference between manual gearbox oil and automatic transmission fluid is obvious: manual gearbox oil is viscous and so flows slowly; ...

michaelSlater 01.11.2007 · Read full review
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Review of UK Garage Repairs