My Octy 2 is due for cam belt change and also I will have the water pump changed at same time. I've been quoted about £340 by my Skoda dealer for the lot, including also the fan belt, which I didn't think was too bad, but then I rang round and found somewhere that'll do it for £200! This seems like a bargain, but is it too good to be true?? Are they likely to use 'cheap copy' parts that may be of lower quality than VAG? and I also don't want to risk having the work done sloppily by some halfwit! So I'm considering paying the extra and sticking with Skoda, as I know they will use genuine parts and the work should be done well.

Any thoughts anyone?:confused:

Thanks

That's the hardest question ever to answer. Based on what I've read about some Skoda dealers they're halfwits too, so there's no guarantee you'll get better anything from an authorised dealer. If your car is in warranty it might be worth staying with the dealer. Otherwise find a garage you trust, main dealer or not...

Ask your dealer what the parts are worth, then ask the other place if you can bring your own parts and what they'd charge you for the labor. Gets the best of both worlds. If it's only a small difference I'd be using Skoda for the nice stamp in the service history and the warranty.

Ask your dealer what the parts are worth, then ask the other place if you can bring your own parts and what they'd charge you for the labor. Gets the best of both worlds. If it's only a small difference I'd be using Skoda for the nice stamp in the service history and the warranty.

If you take your own parts then you run into the problem of 'well you supplied the parts', if something goes wrong.

The old adage "If it looks too good to be true...." applies here I think.

Seeing some of the very cheap knock-off water pumps, the impeller looks like a bit of old takeaway tray.

Went for a gander at the place yesterday, looked tidy enough and looks like they do a lot of commercials as there were several lorries and minibus' in the yard. Spoke to a nearby valeting place and they said they'd heard it was a good place, so I think I'm gonna accept they're bargain quote. I might ask them to put the genuine Skoda parts in rather than cheap equivelants though, depending on how much the quote changes.