Help! Alfa service price
Help! Alfa service price
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Discussion

Ozone

Original Poster:

3,104 posts

217 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
The OH has her Alfa GT 1.9JTD at the dealer for a 48k service but they couldn't tell her how much it would be at the time of booking 2 weeks ago or today when the car is in. Anybody know???!

Rochester TVR

3,314 posts

236 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Are you mad?! You've dropped the car off for a service without knowing how much they are going to rip you off?

My 159 is £380 at my local main dealer (after haggling) but £210 at a (better) indy garage...

So I'd guess they will charge you top whack, plus a bit extra because they feel like it, then tell you the brakes need replacing / exhaust is blowing / suspension needs replacing. Of course they wont know how much until after the work is done.

I hope Im wrong, but my advice is, go buy some KY your going to need it!






robsco

7,875 posts

206 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Looks like you're in for some forced bum rape here OP. You need to be on the blower ASAP demanding a price.

Twincam16

27,647 posts

288 months

Monday 6th June 2011
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Join the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club next year. Cheaper insurance and parts, plus they'll tell you where to get the car serviced to avoid this kind of situation. It'll be £30 very well spent.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Rochester TVR said:
Are you mad?! You've dropped the car off for a service without knowing how much they are going to rip you off?
Absolutely this. Bonkers.



Ozone

Original Poster:

3,104 posts

217 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Yes, i did pester her to get a price from them and she expected them to phone back but surprise, suprise they didn't. She's even called Alfa direct today and they couldn't give her a price! I thought all manufacturers had a standard service rate which varied by 10-20% depending on the dealer but it seems not so for Alfa. I'll wait to hear the good news later then.

stinkysteve

732 posts

227 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Rochester TVR said:
So I'd guess they will charge you top whack, plus a bit extra because they feel like it, then tell you the brakes need replacing / exhaust is blowing / suspension needs replacing. Of course they wont know how much until after the work is done.
Whatever they charge, make sure they have changed the Oil!!

I got very angry when after paying £300+ for a service on my 159 they asked when i'd like to bring it back in to change the oil as it was only at 5% remaining life.

Fell over, looked incredulous, took 5 minutes before i could start talking....

Oh yes, there was swearing.



hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Oh, I missed the 'her' bit. Prepare for a double reaming. Oh, and man up and look after these type of things for her as you'll end up paying in the end wink

Ozone

Original Poster:

3,104 posts

217 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Oh, I missed the 'her' bit. Prepare for a double reaming. Oh, and man up and look after these type of things for her as you'll end up paying in the end wink
You are correct.
It has never been an issue in the past and she's usually pretty good with these things. I have phoned the dealer myself, just so that they know there will be male intervention if necessary. They have assured me that it is an interim service and so shouldn't cost alot. We'll see what they think 'alot' is later.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Quite simply, I'm bemused how they can't tell you what the price will be. This is my number one question when I ring around to book in the service. If there's no price, then they don't get my business, simple as.

Rochester TVR

3,314 posts

236 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
I'm bemused how they can't tell you what the price will be.
Of course they do, I bet they pull this trick all the time.

"sorry sir/madam our system is down so I cant tell you how much it will cost, but bear with me while I book you in on the system"

If they know they can get away with it they will... simple as.



hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Oh I agree, but it's bizarre that people are such mugs they will let them get away with it. I've never had this as I usually call around a few local dealers to get price comparisons to ensure I'm not getting reamed come service time. If ever there would be no price then I would let them know I couldn't book it in without a price, simple as, and will go with someone else instead.

Not rocket science, is it? But it seems some people are too naive/trusting - I find a healthy dose of cynicism/paranoia/they're all out to get me helps hehe

Ozone

Original Poster:

3,104 posts

217 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Not rocket science, is it? But it seems some people are too naive/trusting - I find a healthy dose of cynicism/paranoia/they're all out to get me helps hehe
Yes, lesson learnt, she normally uses an indy who she trusts. The Alfa is a lease car that needs some warranty work doing. Part of the problem is that Alfa dealers are not in plentiful supply and the nearest one she used turned out to be a shower of st so it was on to the next closest or over an hour away for any others. Oh well, 7 months to go and that's it for Alfa's.

valiant1

14,190 posts

190 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
I thought alfa's did menu priced servicing??

This sort of stuff should just roll off from memory afterall they are doing the same type of car day in and day out.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
So... given it's a lease car, shall we start a sweepstake?

I'm going with two tyres being 'close to the limit' and front brakes with '20% life left in them'

Roo

11,504 posts

237 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Ozone said:
The Alfa is a lease car
Doesn't matter then as she's not the one paying for it.

XJSsometimeSoon

378 posts

189 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
In my family's experience, using an Alfa dealer is a recipe for disaster. Is there no way you can get it into a good indie place? they are much more likely to look at all the things that are likely to be going wrong in the next few thousand miles and take preventative action. Also a lot of the good indies will be able to maintain any warranty it has remaining (if any)

Roo

11,504 posts

237 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
The Crack Fox said:
Not necessarily, some leases exclude maintenance, don't they ?
Very true. My mistake for not thinking before typing.

Ignore my last comment. Just off to stand in the corner. silly

XJSsometimeSoon

378 posts

189 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Ozone said:
Yes, lesson learnt, she normally uses an indy who she trusts. The Alfa is a lease car that needs some warranty work doing. Part of the problem is that Alfa dealers are not in plentiful supply and the nearest one she used turned out to be a shower of st so it was on to the next closest or over an hour away for any others. Oh well, 7 months to go and that's it for Alfa's.
Ignore my last post, I had not read this.... oops

cv01jw

1,137 posts

225 months

Monday 6th June 2011
quotequote all
Why not call a couple of other Alfa dealers and find out what they would charge (if they will give a price, that is?)? At least you then have some sort of idea what they might ask from you?