No such thing as a free lunch

[Drago]

My Mum was a director for the importers before she retired, and it's telling that she doesn't drive an Audi, despite being able to buy them at cost price.

 

[screenman]

Damning with faint praise...??????

Why is that?

 

[slowmotion]

Why is that?

There is a general suspicion that all garages servicing cars are complete robbers. No, I don't want to pick a fight.

 

[screenman]

There is a general suspicion that all garages servicing cars are complete robbers. No, I don't want to pick a fight.

You go to the wrong garage then, there are good and bad in every trade out there. I think a major problem is the cost of opening and running a dealership, it is through the roof. A small family owned main agent can easily run at £30,000 per month just to open the doors.

 

[screenman]

My Mum was a director for the importers before she retired, and it's telling that she doesn't drive an Audi, despite being able to buy them at cost price.

What does she drive?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Having a lease car I'm forced to use main dealerships, in my experience they're generally pretty poor, the Volvo one I went to was so bad I didn't consider getting another of their cars. We take my wife's car to a mechanic I know who operates out of an old barn on a farm, he's one of those mechanics that can mend stuff rather than just replace bits, it's a much more satisfactory experience.

 

[Drago]

What does she drive?

A Honda.

I know what you mean McGinty. My Dad recently took his XC90 to the local Volvo dealer for a service. They tried to tell him there was something wrong with his brake discs. Unfortunately for them my old feller has degrees in both mechanical engineering and metallurgy so knew they were chancing their arm for extra work.

One complaint to head office later and he got the cost of the service refunded.

 

[Kestevan]

Audi driver proves to be a bit of a self obsessed dick...... now there's a shock.

In other news revelations that estate agents may slightly bend the truth........

 

[screenman]

The most dishonest people I have ever met in the motor trade have been customers.

 

[mybike]

There is a general suspicion that all garages servicing cars are complete robbers. No, I don't want to pick a fight.

last year I took my car in for servicing & about a week later got an email telling me the cam belt needed changing! They also managed to adjust the brakes so the handbrake wouldn't hold on a hill - this from a main dealer!

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I drive company cars and the curious thing I've spotted at most services is one of the windscreen wipers gets replaced due to "not clearing correctly" or somesuch. Must have happened about a dozen times now.

The cynic in me might think garages are adding a minor expense to company cars knowing it's unlikely to be challenged.

 

[Saddle bum]

Audi driver = Road Nazi.......

 

[mybike]

I drive company cars and the curious thing I've spotted at most services is one of the windscreen wipers gets replaced due to "not clearing correctly" or somesuch. Must have happened about a dozen times now.

The cynic in me might think garages are adding a minor expense to company cars knowing it's unlikely to be challenged.

Don't worry they try to do it to the rest of us too.

 

[Brandane]

You go to the wrong garage then, there are good and bad in every trade out there. I think a major problem is the cost of opening and running a dealership, it is through the roof. A small family owned main agent can easily run at £30,000 per month just to open the doors.

Many years ago, my local Vauxhall franchise (a small family owned business which was excellent, and my usual choice for car purchase/servicing/parts) was basically forced out of business by Vauxhall because of the financial demands. I can't remember the figures now, but Vauxhall wanted an astronomical sum from them to help pay for a TV advertising campaign (the "take your silly face off that Expression" one, with Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith) and they simply couldn't afford it. The garage site is now a block of flats.

 

[Saluki]

£20k for a second hand car! I paid a lot less than that for my first house and only £5 more for my second house (not owned at the same time).
Audi should have set an upper limit. Woman was having a meal for 2 people, she was definitely taking the pee but Audi did say that they would cover it, so they should.

Still shocked at £20k for a used flipping car though. What are they made of? Gold?