Initially cheap, potentially pricey (Charlie Browns)

Member Name: Julie-P

Product:	Charlie Browns
Date:	13/08/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: They are up for negotion on price

Disadvantages: Service cheap - additional works expensive

Today my car has been for an MOT and full service at Charlie Browns. After haggling a bit and quoting their "price promise" I got £10 off the cost (£180 to £170) - Its worth haggling, I probably could have got more off if I pursued it. They explained that should the car fail its MOT they would re-MOT it free if I had the works done at Charlie Brown.

The car passed its MOT, but the list of recommnded works needed is HUGE. They recommend I have a new exhaust, three new tyres (one has a nail in the shoulder of the tyre wall, Oddly my husband had a nail in the shoulder of his tyre wall when he went for an MOT at Charlie Browns last month too - we must be very unlucky) Two tyres have "cracking to the side walls" (they are 10 month old Michelin tyres - I've done 8K on them) I also need front discs and pads. The grand total for proposed repairs - C£840!!! Very expensive and I'm not a mechanic but this seems a lot for an 1.9TDi Audi A3 that has done 45K and only 15k since it's last brake pads and discs.
I also found it a bit odd that the advisory notice I recieved last year on the rack joint was not mentioned at all this year despite no remedial works.

Besides the enormous proposed works (which I will of course get second opinions and do a bit more haggling for) the service was good. They got the car at 8.30am and it was done by 12.00. They explained the service and I got a checklist to show me what they had done. The MOT cost £48, so the service (inclusive of parts and labour) came to £122. For this wheel balancing was done; oil, fuel and air filters were changed; hinges oiled; oil changed and all the usual inspections).

The staff were friendly and helpful, but I can't help but wonder if everything they have suggested is necessary - in the short term at least. They also forgot that I'd negotiated a cheaper price until I remided them - breakdown in communication apparently.

They were happy to answer my questions and explained why I needed the works done and I left with a wad of quotes to read at home. This could take a long time to sort out.

Update: Took the tyre with a nail in to another tyre place. They pulled the nail out of the tyre Charlie Browns said (on paper) was unrepairable, and I have since driven over 1000 miles to cornwall (and everywhere in between) on it with no problems - the other garage didn't even charge to remove the nail. So not "unrepairable" or needing replacment at £70 eh Charlie Brown?

Summary: Good for a service, will get a second opinion on everything else