Skoda main dealer rip off?

[Benji96]

Hi all,

my father has talked me out of doing my own clutch on my 1.4tdi Fabia.

 

main dealer in Chesterfield quoted £810 for a clutch (£250+VAT for the parts)

 

went to a local indipendant recomended by a friend, £340 inc VAT all in.

 

when I go on the skoda uk website it says a clutch on a Fabia is £459.....

 

was the guy in the dealership just having me on? Worth a message to skoda customer service ?

 

thanks,

 

ben

[Ootohere]

Maybe the guy in the dealership was clueless, was it at the Service Desk on the computer he got the price?

Maybe they are not a 'Participating Dealer' involved in National Pricing.

(see bottom of Skoda UK website conditions')

 

Not a rip off if not going to have them do it.

[Benji96]

I think clueless, he was at the service desk to get the price for the parts, then went out back to see how long it would take, came out and said 4 or 5 to do it and came up with £810

 

and yes they will not be doing it... saying that the gearbox oil is £6/ltr and is £10+ online so I'll probably use them for that. 

 

Anyone know the quantity needed for a gearbox oil change? For some reason I think it's 1.9ltr but can't remember 

 

thanks, 

 

ben

[malcster]

On 10/07/2017 at 17:18, Benji96 said:

 

 

when I go on the skoda uk website it says a clutch on a Fabia is £459.....

 

Do you have a link to that section I can't see it anywhere Although I am on mobile view 

 

As regards the independent quoting that price just check to make sure it's oe quality clutch like Borg and beck/Sachs/ or Luk pointless putting a chocolate clutch 

Edited 11 July, 2017 by malcster

[Ootohere]

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

[Benji96]

Well it's Bristol street Chesterfield which looks like a participating dealer to me. 

He said he would use valeo clutch which from what I can can is of oem standard (for the indipendant)

 

any thoughts ?, is there a get out clause that the car has to be under 3 years old for that price that I've missed ?

 

ben

[Ootohere]

I suspect you were dealing with a mumpty who never new ar53 from elbow.

[Benji96]

Seems that way! just concerns me that if someone without a bit of knowledge about cars went in and got quoted that then they'd be out of pocket big time!

[Ootohere]

Send an Email to the Dealership asking for the price of a Clutch Replacement and put that to the Service Department and copy in the Dealer Principal saying you already got a quote that seems ridiculous. 

That might get a sensible response.

[Benji96]

Just emailed them, will see what happens!

[Benji96]

just had a reply:

' I am writing to confirm that we are participants in Skoda ‘Fixed Price Service and Repairs’

The price fitted for a clutch on a Fabia is as advertised at the reduced price of £459 includes the three clutch components and labour. If you would like me to book your car in please let me know '

 

No apology, just that they will charge the correct price.... was thinking of getting an Octavia from there in 12 months, not anymore!

 

 

[mrgf]

I think the usual price is around £600 from a main dealer so that fixed price is ok, really! I think Toyota did a similar thing with older car servicing, saying "Keep your Toyota a Toyota" By using genuine parts etc. They lowered certain costs. This seems a little unfair though as if you have a newer one, do you pay more? Possibly!

Also, the first quote might be nearer the mark if you require the DMF (Dual mass flywheel) To be replaced too. This is around the same price as the clutch although the layout charge should remain fairly static as its just swapping a part you are already stripped down to, if its suspected it is worn/damaged!

 

Still, Its a lot nicer "Only" Paying around £340 from a clutch specialist for what amounts to the same job, if the parts replaced are of the same quality!

[Benji96]

The 1.4tdi doesn't use a DMF, unless the service department did t know that of course!

i agree £459 is actually a decent price, but that's not been any apology and since this happening and looking at the reviews for the garage, probably won't be using them. 

 

Just going to wait till its a bit more undriveable then get the localgarage to do it, like I say it's a valeo unit they'd fit which as far as I can tell seem to be a reputable brand.

 

ben 

[mgcvk]

Research the clutch you need. Purchase the clutch then get a good recommended independent garage to fit it for you. Absolutely no point paying dealership prices. There is no magic fairy dust they can wave over it. 

[delta925]

Of course while wrong to tar all with the same brush for many the slang phrase stealers is earned and more than ever dealers are mostly large groups so no connection / loyalty / respect / responsibility between the technician doing the work and the customer. Rather pressure to do the job in the booked time or less.

 

A good small independent relies on repeat business and word of mouth so far more incentive to charge a fair price and for the technician to the job properly.

[punyXpress]

13 hours ago, Benji96 said:

Just going to wait till its a bit more undriveable then get the localgarage to do it,

ben 

 

Just make sure the flywheel isn't damaged by the 'undriveable' plates!

[rum4mo]

On ‎14‎/‎07‎/‎2017 at 11:10, punyXpress said:

 

Just make sure the flywheel isn't damaged by the 'undriveable' plates!

 

Watch you don't need to factor in a recovery to that garage.

 

I'd doubt if main dealerships know/care who their techs are or what they do as long as Jo Public keeps coming back for more, I'd hate to work for some of these Stealerships, never mind having to use them (soon be time for wife's car to gets its service at the local VW place).

 

Being an old cynic, I seem to remember that Audi and some VW dealerships claimed to always give you "your" own mechanic/fitter, that would work as long they always remembered to use the required name in the job sheet/bill every time you booked the car in for work!

 

Edit:- years ago I remember being in my local VX dealership picking up some parts and overhearing some workshop guys getting told to do loads of housekeeping and just take the time out of the jobs they were being given that day, very impressive - not, in ear shot of customers, ie in the way of save time and use that time  - not normally assigned housekeeping time within each job.

Edited 15 July, 2017 by rum4mo

[Jeeves73]

On 7/13/2017 at 23:11, mgcvk said:

Research the clutch you need. Purchase the clutch then get a good recommended independent garage to fit it for you. Absolutely no point paying dealership prices. There is no magic fairy dust they can wave over it. 

 

^This. I bought an LUK replacement for mine & got my local formula1 to fit it. I think it was under £300 for the labour plus £89 for the clutch kit.

[jronnquist]

The only real advantage of going to a dealership effectively disappears when your warranty runs out. After that, it’s just another garage and a place to get certain OEM parts you can’t get anywhere else (unless you have a local TPS). Your local dealer may well be the best place to go, but that’s incidental. The old adage about your priest, accountant and lawyer being the three most important people in your life is wrong; you also need a good mechanic.