Main Dealer, Independent specialist or local Garage?
Discussion
Not wishing to go against the rules of the PistonHeads I won't mention any business names. If you live near Norwich and own a Land Rover you can probably guess.
When I bought my car from a main dealer It had a MOT warranty so last year I had it MOT'ed there. This year because it was on their computer they sent me a reminder that it was due soon. Being aware that main dealers parts and labour prices are generally higher than independent garages I still booked it in, not expecting any major problems to arise. They nicely loaned me a shiny new courtesy car and I left it with them. Later they rang me with the news that it had failed the MOT because of a leaky power steering box. Plus it needed a replacement suspension bump stop. OK so how much will that cost me I asked. £825 for the box and £59 for the bump stop. Stunned! I did not allow them to repair the car. Instead I contacted a local Independent specialist. They quoted me around £650 for the box and about £20 for the bump stop. So a few days later I took it to the independent and while discussing the situation with them they offered to reseal the steering box but advised that it might be a lasting cure if particular parts were badly worn. I accepted that and left it their hands. They also loaned a car although it was not so shiny and new. In the end they resealed the box, fitted a new bump stop and MOT'ed the car. Total bill £250. Thus saving me about £630.
I'm not relay criticising the main dealer. They have guide lines and prices to work to that Independent solipsists don't. Also I possibly could have got it done cheaper still from a non specialised repairer but I think the high quality work at a reasonable cost offered by the independent is a better bet than the best efforts of an all-rounder and certainly preferable to main dealer high pricing pricing.
When I bought my car from a main dealer It had a MOT warranty so last year I had it MOT'ed there. This year because it was on their computer they sent me a reminder that it was due soon. Being aware that main dealers parts and labour prices are generally higher than independent garages I still booked it in, not expecting any major problems to arise. They nicely loaned me a shiny new courtesy car and I left it with them. Later they rang me with the news that it had failed the MOT because of a leaky power steering box. Plus it needed a replacement suspension bump stop. OK so how much will that cost me I asked. £825 for the box and £59 for the bump stop. Stunned! I did not allow them to repair the car. Instead I contacted a local Independent specialist. They quoted me around £650 for the box and about £20 for the bump stop. So a few days later I took it to the independent and while discussing the situation with them they offered to reseal the steering box but advised that it might be a lasting cure if particular parts were badly worn. I accepted that and left it their hands. They also loaned a car although it was not so shiny and new. In the end they resealed the box, fitted a new bump stop and MOT'ed the car. Total bill £250. Thus saving me about £630.
I'm not relay criticising the main dealer. They have guide lines and prices to work to that Independent solipsists don't. Also I possibly could have got it done cheaper still from a non specialised repairer but I think the high quality work at a reasonable cost offered by the independent is a better bet than the best efforts of an all-rounder and certainly preferable to main dealer high pricing pricing.
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