Dealer or private garage ?

[daxmatt]

Hi all,Im just wondering who you guys favour for the repairs to your cars as I had quite a nice suprise today,im wanting the cambelt done on my a6 4.2 and decided to avoid the dealers to try and save a few quid (big mistake) called a few so called audi/vw specialists in my area and was getting quoted between 400/500 for the job,but not been convinced they new what they were on about I came accross a guy from a garage that I had known about for years and allways heard good things about them so I gave them a call.Right from the start the guy was on the ball with what needed to be done and also suggested a water pump swop to save any extra expense in the future got quoted £750 for the job all done and I was happy in the knowledge that the guy new his stuff so booked it in,a few hours later a mate came to were I work (who used to be a car dealer)and we got on to my new purchase of the audi that I had called him to get advice on,told him about the cam belt job I was about to get done and he sugested the main dealer,once again I took his advice and called them and got quoted £530 for the belt and a further £150 for the water pump coolant and labour giving a total of £680,£70 quid cheeper than the so called specialist how can a dealer be cheaper,moral to this story is dont right off the dealer or you may like me end up out of pocket like I nearley did

cheers matt

[mr_brightside]

on the flip side to that Audi Southampton quoted me £750+VAT for the cambelt change on my A6 2.4V6.

I then spoke to Abtech in Southampton who priced it up at £400 all in. Did a bit of research and they were highly recommended so a no brainer really.

I will now always take the A6 to abtech rather than the main dealer.

Cheers
M

[daxmatt]

Bonkers isnt it,post code lottery on the dealers prices for practically the same job,the main problem I had was getting some one who could do the job on the v8 in the first place,most places just laughed and said main dealer mate,just shows on both cases that phone books and an hour on the phone can save quids



cheers matt