Richard Goulding

"Iain Miller" <donot@spam.me> wrote in message
news:cVuld.224$6x2.65@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> > > "Richard Goulding" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
> > > news:da-cnaW11b0IwgvcSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
> > > >I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi
Dealer
> a
> > > > year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> > > > cambelt
> > > > and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of
£431
> > for
> > > > the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for
the
> > > > service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am
> > considering
> > > > taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my
> other
> > > > cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general
> > garage
> > > > who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He
> > says
> > > > he
> > > > can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
> > > >
> > > > My questions are :
> > > >
> > > > Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
> should
> > I
> > > > now move to my local garage.
> > > > Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are
good.
> > > > Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
> job
> > > > like
> > > > a cambelt.
> > > >
> > > > By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > > Richard
> > > >
> > > > Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > I thought there was a new ruling that to maintain the warranty, ie
stamp
> > the
> > > logbook, anyone can do it so long as genuine parts are used. Land
Rover
> > > allow this as I know an owner who uses this method.
> > >
> > Thanks for the reply.
> >
> > I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
> >
>
> Best to try & find a decent Independent who specialises in VAG. Such as
> www.wheelbase.uk.com if you are anywhere around the south east
>
> I.
>
>
Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I am in the North East. I believe there is a VW\Audi locally
but I don't know anything about them so I am wary about using them
especially when I have an honest garage close to my home. Unfortunately they
don't specialise in Audi but how hard can it be to work on them ?

Richard

JULIAN HALES

> >
> >
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Unfortunately I am in the North East. I believe there is a VW\Audi locally
> but I don't know anything about them so I am wary about using them
> especially when I have an honest garage close to my home. Unfortunately
they
> don't specialise in Audi but how hard can it be to work on them ?
>
> Richard
>

I know a guy who does my MOT's in Sheffield, v small back st garage(but in v
posh part). he does things like Masaratis, 70's or older Jags etc or brand
new stuff or the run of the mill 1.1 festas. Not the fastest at getting
round to doing it, or maybe thats on my cars. But i can ask him a squestion
and he seems to know all the ins and outs about all brands. Whats a regualr
mailure etc or things like that.

I wouldnt trust my Toyota dealer to work on my car (1977 Celica) but someone
like him.


>

JULIAN HALES

> >
> >
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Unfortunately I am in the North East. I believe there is a VW\Audi locally
> but I don't know anything about them so I am wary about using them
> especially when I have an honest garage close to my home. Unfortunately
they
> don't specialise in Audi but how hard can it be to work on them ?
>
> Richard
>

I know a guy who does my MOT's in Sheffield, v small back st garage(but in v
posh part). he does things like Masaratis, 70's or older Jags etc or brand
new stuff or the run of the mill 1.1 festas. Not the fastest at getting
round to doing it, or maybe thats on my cars. But i can ask him a squestion
and he seems to know all the ins and outs about all brands. Whats a regualr
mailure etc or things like that.

I wouldnt trust my Toyota dealer to work on my car (1977 Celica) but someone
like him.


>

Robin Graham

>
> I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
>
If it's any help, I have a Rover which is well out of manufacturer's
warranty but for which I have an AA warranty. The deal is that I have it
serviced professionally, i.e. not do it myself. But they do not say that it
should be a main dealer, so I use an indie.

Rob Graham

Robin Graham

>
> I don't need to worry about the warranty as it runs out this week.
>
If it's any help, I have a Rover which is well out of manufacturer's
warranty but for which I have an AA warranty. The deal is that I have it
serviced professionally, i.e. not do it myself. But they do not say that it
should be a main dealer, so I use an indie.

Rob Graham

R. Murphy

For my money, stick with the guy you trust, and have the genuine parts. BUT
see if there is a VW equivalent - while waiting in our local VW parts shop
(which is next door to the Audi parts shop), the assistant served a customer
to a part, and commented that the same part from the Audi spares place would
cost a great deal more!

"Richard Goulding" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:da-cnaW11b0IwgvcSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
>I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
> he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
> like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Richard
>
> Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
>
>

R. Murphy

For my money, stick with the guy you trust, and have the genuine parts. BUT
see if there is a VW equivalent - while waiting in our local VW parts shop
(which is next door to the Audi parts shop), the assistant served a customer
to a part, and commented that the same part from the Audi spares place would
cost a great deal more!

"Richard Goulding" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:da-cnaW11b0IwgvcSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
>I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
> cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
> he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
> like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Richard
>
> Crossposted to uk.rec.cars.maintenance, alt.autos.audi
>
>

Adrian

Richard Goulding (nospam@nospam.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
> should I now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
> job like a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

A small specialist indie is FAR more likely to be good than a dealer.

Think about a typical mechanic's career path - start off in a dealer,
training up, senior technician, then off to start own business. If they've
chosen to specialise, it's usually in a marque they know well and are
enthusiasts for.

A dealer will also get away with sub-standard work, as they don't need to
trade off their reputation - there's a bloody great big sign outside that
does all the selling for them.

A dealer is also not going to see as much of the long-term work on older
cars. They're mainly going to get the first couple of years routine
servicing.

Pay more for worse quality work? Hmmm. Let me think.

Adrian

Richard Goulding (nospam@nospam.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or
> should I now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical
> job like a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

A small specialist indie is FAR more likely to be good than a dealer.

Think about a typical mechanic's career path - start off in a dealer,
training up, senior technician, then off to start own business. If they've
chosen to specialise, it's usually in a marque they know well and are
enthusiasts for.

A dealer will also get away with sub-standard work, as they don't need to
trade off their reputation - there's a bloody great big sign outside that
does all the selling for them.

A dealer is also not going to see as much of the long-term work on older
cars. They're mainly going to get the first couple of years routine
servicing.

Pay more for worse quality work? Hmmm. Let me think.

Hairy One Kenobi

"Richard Goulding" <nospam@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:da-cnaW11b0IwgvcSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
> I bought my Audi A4 2.8 Quattro (2000 W in the UK) from an Audi Dealer a
> year ago and it's warranty is about to expire. I need to replace the
cambelt
> and it is due the a big service soon. I have received a quote of £431 for
> the cambelt ( with water pump,tensioner,rollers etc) and £341 for the
> service. The car at present has a main dealer history but I am considering
> taking the car to my local independent garage who has worked on my other
> cars in the past and has done a good job. He is however a general garage
> who works in all makes of cars and not just specifically Audi/VW. He says
he
> can do the above work but suggested that he fits genuine parts.
>
> My questions are :
>
> Should I maintain the main dealer history even at these costs or should I
> now move to my local garage.
> Should I find a Audi/VW specialist in my area and hope they are good.
> Go to the main dealer and open my wallet epsecially with a critical job
like
> a cambelt.
>
> By the way the main dealer seems to be competent.

Before you make a choice, get quotes from a few other dealers in your
approximate area (£800 buys a lot of petrol ;o)

I can't remember exactly how much a service varied between low and high in
my area, but it was something like 50-100%. Yep, up to double from a
different franchised dealer.

One also upped the price substantially when I converted from a quote to
booking the car in. And lost the business in the process..

I'm personally very happy about specialists carrying-out work, but stick to
the dealer for the service stamp. 'Tis up to you, really..

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!