Is it me or does £192 per hour sound a bit on the heavy side?
Main dealer hourly rate...
- Thread starter Stay Frosty
- Start date
Even round here that's eye watering.
I use Bells in town for the Volvo, and they're £140 plus vat. I regard that as eye watering too, but at least they've proven to be very good over the years.
Is that Parkway down on Riverside? What work you having done?
I use Bells in town for the Volvo, and they're £140 plus vat. I regard that as eye watering too, but at least they've proven to be very good over the years.
Is that Parkway down on Riverside? What work you having done?
I can't say the name of the place, Vindis, Northampton 
, as they've just rang up to tell me they've sorted the slight tinkling noise which I had thought was the auxiliary belt tensioning pulley and were going to charge for half an hour instead of the full £192 hour.
I know I should fix these minor faults myself but just want to get more than 200 miles into France without abandoning our holiday like last year.
One final thought and the VW tech assured me that they had applied some grease to the cam belt which was making the noise, he assured me that they hadn't fitted a Transit engine but had used Boots No 7 organic fan belt balm.
We've got one more trip to Mersea Island, Essex next month as a final shakedown before France so fingers crossed!
, as they've just rang up to tell me they've sorted the slight tinkling noise which I had thought was the auxiliary belt tensioning pulley and were going to charge for half an hour instead of the full £192 hour.I know I should fix these minor faults myself but just want to get more than 200 miles into France without abandoning our holiday like last year.
One final thought and the VW tech assured me that they had applied some grease to the cam belt which was making the noise, he assured me that they hadn't fitted a Transit engine but had used Boots No 7 organic fan belt balm.
We've got one more trip to Mersea Island, Essex next month as a final shakedown before France so fingers crossed!
If you are within warranty period, then it is understandable using Main Dealer Network. If you are happy with their work and standards stay with them perhaps. Personally I would be looking for a good VAG Independent, preferably by recommendation by looking around or asking on these pages. Main dealers are expensive but also have high overheads, technical staff, clerical staff and everything that comes with Main Dealership, Flashy Show rooms and equipment. A good Independent may only be one guy who may hire additional staff now and again or perhaps have a small crew. Some have all the correct diagnostic equipment and may have spent loads of cash on that sort of thing. A good independent is very used to sorting out all sorts of problems and is not pursuing warranty work. They will also be capable of working outside of VCDS remits on those occasions where other forms detective work and experience may need to be used. They will need to be honest and costumers will keep returning because they are respected. They may not necessarily do all types of work but will usually advise on that and give suggested others, for instance not all do body work repairs. They may not even have a hoard of T6 vehicles on there premise but will not be daunted by them either!
When you find a good one stick with them. They may not be the most chatty well met either. A good one will be respected within the trade within the local area also. I just pay mine what he asks and without question. He is extremely busy but also efficient and while waiting for parts immediately starts on other vehicles checking if they can be done and ordering parts for them before returning to the order of works when the parts come. Mine is so efficient I get home after 20 miles or so and have often to return because he has done it. I was quite shocked and thought special treatment but he explained how he works. That is have the vehicle in very early or the night before. I usually do the latter. On attending MOT a few miles further away they enthused about my guy when I told them who does my work. They have absolute high respect for him even though they do their own work.
My advice would be to have a good think about direction then enquire and look around.
When you find a good one stick with them. They may not be the most chatty well met either. A good one will be respected within the trade within the local area also. I just pay mine what he asks and without question. He is extremely busy but also efficient and while waiting for parts immediately starts on other vehicles checking if they can be done and ordering parts for them before returning to the order of works when the parts come. Mine is so efficient I get home after 20 miles or so and have often to return because he has done it. I was quite shocked and thought special treatment but he explained how he works. That is have the vehicle in very early or the night before. I usually do the latter. On attending MOT a few miles further away they enthused about my guy when I told them who does my work. They have absolute high respect for him even though they do their own work.
My advice would be to have a good think about direction then enquire and look around.
I know it sounds like a line from "Would I Lie To You?" but that is what he said as apparently the belt was the noise I could hear, I'm hoping it's racing grease and good for at least another 50hp but reckon it's probably more like the rosin you put on violin strings.
Moist?Technically now a wet belt?
I started work at £20 per month.
Can't beat that as I was on 44p an hour in 1975 and used to earn £22 a week which was nearly enough then to buy a terraced house, a 1970 2 door Ford Escort and pay my board and lodging... tell kids today and they won't believe you. 
