Would you trust me?

You know I would

Why would most people not trust Skoda? I see nothing backing their answers up. Why do people call them the 'stealers' they do not price the parts/time for jobs themselves, It comes from the franchise and pricing is set for every job. I will take mine to a local specialist to have small work done, but when it comes to servicing i will always take it to Skoda. Somewhere down the line you may need 'goodwill' off Skoda for being loyal. My local specialist takes on ex-dealer technicians. What makes them different from one working currently for Skoda? Maybe someonce can shed some light on this for me.

 

Thanks

I can't answer that point myself, but I'm sure those with more clear negs over a big jobs like this will come forward. Hence this was my reason for questioning it.

If I'm honest I basically distrust most garages until proven otherwise. In a lot of cases my suspicions have been warranted hence why its actually worth respecting those garages you can trust particularly a good quality independent.

At the end of the day the work is only as good as the single mechanic on your car and you have to take a lot of trust when going to a dealer not knowing who is working on your car.

 

An independant is frankly more concerned with the wellbeing of the customer and frankly, doesn't sell cars - so more likely to go the extra mile for servicing.

For instance, U18 just did my service - they also threw in some bulbs I didn't even realise they hadn't charged for, and made sure I was aware of other faults with the car! Skoda might have picked those up, but I'd imagine I'd be looking at being at least £150 worse off (including being charged for bulbs)

 

Any dealer is first and foremost most concerned with those buying cars from them. Servicing is fairly important but to some degree they don't benefit from going the extra mile as far as servicing. If they are they will want to charge you the slightest second of their time ! (hence the term, stealer!)

 

Goodwill on an 8 year old car? Not expecting a lot to be honest.

Nah, for most jobs give me a quality independent over a main dealer any day

I done mine myself. I'm no mechanic but fairly competent with a spanner or two. Would rather do a timing belt than a clutch again!

Do you need special tools for the cambelt change ?

Ive just done the clutch on my VRS and have noticed a small coolant leak coming from the RH side of the engine - water pump maybe ? Need to investigate this next week sometime.

It's very simple, when you have a clear idea of what you want done to a car then the dealer is as good a place as any to get it done, what they are NOT good at is diagnosing awkward faults on elderly vehicles, they don't want that work anyway, they've got to allocate an older mechanic who might remember what that particular cars foibles are rather than the younger techs, and they have no idea how long the job will take since no-one's really sure what they're doing with it. Like it or not, you're better off with an independent specialist because the vast majority of garages are generalists who undertake the simpler jobs cheaper than the dealer but will quote HEAVILY if it's a job they don't fancy because then they'll use a subcontractor to get it done.

 

The moral of the story is CHOOSE the firm to do the job according to what needs doing, choose an electronics specialist for electronics gremlins, an engine specialist for engine problems, a transmission specialist for transmission trouble, a bodyshop for bodywork, and anyone for run of the mill service work. NEVER take a complex problem to a run-of-the-mill garage or the main dealer, always find a specialist for it.

Do you need special tools for the cambelt change ?

Ive just done the clutch on my VRS and have noticed a small coolant leak coming from the RH side of the engine - water pump maybe ? Need to investigate this next week sometime.

 

Yes, a cam and crank locking kit.

Do you need special tools for the cambelt change ?

Ive just done the clutch on my VRS and have noticed a small coolant leak coming from the RH side of the engine - water pump maybe ? Need to investigate this next week sometime.

You will need the crank locking tool. I got a draper one for around £15 from car spares but, you can get away with the right size drill bit for the cam.

You will need the crank locking tool. I got a draper one for around £15 from car spares but, you can get away with the right size drill bit for the cam.

 

It's not worth it, the drill bit will stick out so far that it'll make doing the work more difficult and if you catch it and it snaps off you're in big trouble.

It's not worth it, the drill bit will stick out so far that it'll make doing the work more difficult and if you catch it and it snaps off you're in big trouble.

Yeah I know that but I Diddnt want to splash out on all the tools for a one time use. It's all down to taking your time and being aware of what your doing. I done mine with no issues but it's down to the individual undertaking the task. If your a bit of a plonker don't change your belt!!! (Was not calling you a plonker!)

The issue as I see it with ALL main dealers, is less to do with trust (except Ford) and more to do with cost.  How they can sill justify charging over 25% more than a quality independent for the same job using the same parts is the issue here (in the case of Skoda)

 

I had my cam belt, water pump and tensioner done last week at a specialist (VW Hub, Tewkesbury) for a shade over £300.  They know what they're about as much as any main dealer and their staff are very well trained, helpful and thorough.  Why would I or anyone else wish to pay another £100 to a main Skoda dealer for the exact same service?  No harm to Skoda who I'm sure employ great mechanics but their prices are simply too steep.  When will main dealers ever learn not to be so greedy?  It is symptomatic of any large organisation controlled centrally by managers remote from reality though.