Prompted to post this after seeing the latest DSG thread about clutch packs - but not wanting to hijack that particular one.

 

As regulars might possibly remember (although probably not) mine is a 2011 1.2 DSG - owned from new and with 33,000 miles on the clock.

 

Has had the campaign work done and a new clutch pack under warranty.

 

It goes back every year to the local VW / Skoda main dealer for servicing and MOT - but I recently spoke to my (even more local) independant garage which services my other car (a little Hyundai) and he says that the people in Exeter who he refers on to for specialist gearbox work has invested in equipment and knowledge to do work on DSGs. Previously they said stick to main dealers for DSG work.

 

After 8 years of loyalty to the VW/Skoda garage I now have to wonder whether to go  to the aforementioned independant and have him do the servicing and, if the DSG needed work, go to his recommeded place in Exter.

 

It has to be said the main dealer has tried it on a couple of times - including, about five years ago, telling me my front brakes need renewing ... and they're still on there to this day and apparently still fine. They also returned my car with under inflated tyres once.  But, apart from that, they seem to do  the required work and seem respectable enough ... and collect and deliver the car from my house, which is convenient.

 

The main reason for going there has been the hope that I might get favourable treatment if the DSG packed up, and they could see I have full dealer servicing history with them.

 

Maybe I should stick with them or maybe, after 8 years, I could entrust the car to the independant.  I honestly don't know how much (if any) cheaper the indie would be - I just assume he wouldn't charge main dealer prices ... he does my little Hyundai at reasonable rates and seems trustworthy.

Edited 7 October, 20196 yr by oldstan

I’d make the effort to visit the indie and checkout his garage.

Did you not read any of  what I wrote, Ryeman?

 

I said I already use the indie to service my other car ... and that I found him trustworthy.  I visit him regularly, I've checked out his garage.

 

Why go to the bother of writing if you haven't read the post?

It's a miracle; Ryeman actually posted something he'd typed and not just a web link! 😉

 

For myself, I'd expect to be paying similar labour rates to your indie for a Skoda as for a Hyundai, and have been very happy with work done by other indies for less per hour than Skoda dealers (who're charging you for the new car showroom overheads).

Re the point.

'Favourable treatment if the DSG gives up'.

I doubt you would even get the Goodwill Gesture of a 20% discount on the cost of the overpriced work they would quote when it is an 8 year old car.

It would be nice if they were giving Favourable Treatment to those that have DSG's that are just out of Manufacturers Warranty and have had FMDSH's.

Edited 8 October, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

If you know the other garage does a good job (and you seem happy with them as keep taking your  other car there) then may as well take Skoda there as well

 

If the car is now 8 years old, almost certainly not going to get any goodwill or contribution to repairs anymore.

 

Our 1.2tsi Roomster is in a similar position, now just over 7 years old,  37000 miles and DSG done under warranty at 2.5 years.  Ours is used in London traffic and not giving any problems, but if it did would rather take it to auto transmission specialist now.

 

All the above noted with thanks. 

 

Two heads are better than one .... I think I just felt that 8 years is long enough, and now I know the place that the indie recommends also does DSG work I think that's made my mind up.

 

The car has probably lost the bulk of its value by now and I rather fear that an expensive repair, such as that to the transmission, could almost write the car off.

 

Thanks again.

23 hours ago, oldstan said:

Did you not read any of  what I wrote, Ryeman?

 

I said I already use the indie to service my other car ... and that I found him trustworthy.  I visit him regularly, I've checked out his garage.

 

Why go to the bother of writing if you haven't read the post?

Why ask then if you know his situation?

Brits do love a grudge it seems.

I won't waste time prolonging this, Ryeman.

 

But try to observe if you will, that the other responents understood the question I was asking and helpfully offered sensible, useful opinion, which I valued.

 

Unlike yourgoodself.

 

Maybe just stick to posting a video clip in future.

 

I trust this ends this discourse between ourselves.

Edited 8 October, 20196 yr by oldstan

Stan,

There is a very useful facility in this forum called Ignore and our Australian member is included in my list. Means you don't have to see any of his posts.

8 minutes ago, Llanigraham said:

There is a very useful facility in this forum called Ignore and our Australian member (Used advisedly?) is included in my list.

{AOL} Me too {/AOL}

8 years old?

 

5 years ago, Skoda UK may have entertained a gesture of goodwill on cars with a full main dealer service history up to 5 years old.

 

Those times are over. Skoda don't value customer loyalty anywhere near as much as they used to. I'm not saying it isn't there, just that they're a long way from being as generous as they used to be when the Skoda brand was the butt of jokes in the UK.

 

What kept me in with the Skoda main dealer was their fixed price servicing and maintenance, in addition to their free courtesy cars, or free collection and drop-off facility. Free coffee, free Wi-Fi etc.

 

I'd throw all this back if the main dealer prices were exorbitant, but they really aren't. Whilst we still have a Skoda in the family, I recently treated myself to a Mercedes-Benz. As nice a car as it is, boy you don't realise how good you have it with Skoda servicing costs...

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

 

Might be worth getting an approximate price from your independent garage, to at least compare...

 

 

 

Edited 11 October, 20196 yr by silver1011

I would go to the good independent purely on cost. My Jan 2012 car (Dec 2011 build) with FSSH is just starting to shudder slightly sometimes when pulling away. I bought the correct LUK clutch pack for £240 (bargain, on offer) a couple of months ago which they are happy to fit at their normal £64 an hour labour rate.

 

I did the timing chain as a precaution in the summer, but decided to go to the Skoda dealer. This was just in case there was something on offer workshop campaign wise (there wasnt) but mainly because the work would be covered for a couple of years if there were any problems or anything catastrophic! With the clutch the indy are more than capable and it is a lot cheaper on labour (as well as my parts price).

 

You pays your money you take your choice.

 

Both above posts noted with thanks.

 

Checked my receipts from the past 8 years and they're broadly in line with the above.

 

I've been happy enough to have it done at the main dealer up to now, especially given my concerns about the DSG and in the vain hope they might have treated me gently if it had need a new clutch pack.  But now it's got to this age I feel the indie would probably do a similar job but it might cost less and I would be inclined to use the specialist transmission repairer he recommends to sort out any DSG problems that may occur in the future.

 

Ordinarily, by now, I would have sold the car and replaced it with something else, given the age of it,  but am fond of it and there are few cars that I actually fancy and which suit my modest needs.  Owning cars of this age is probably cheap motoring all the time they're not costing a fortune to keep running - and I can't complain about the Yeti or the little Hyundai in that regard.

 

If I were to change, the Kia Niro and Suzuki Vitara come reasonably close to fitting the bill but I still come back to the fact that I like the Yeti a lot .... it's just a shame that the transmission is such a liability.  It drives fine 99.9% of the time - only rarely does it show a sign it wants to judder, and only dependant on it being in a particular gear if you catch it at the wrong revs/roadspeed/throttle opening etc ... when it shows a tiny hint that it feels a judder coming on.  Not enough to worry about.

 

Anyway, I shall probably go to the indie next time - I'm happy enough with the way he does the other car - and if it does seem that the main dealer is no more expensive I could always go back there with my tail between my legs.

 

 

 

Edited 12 October, 20196 yr by oldstan