Car Servicing & Mot?

[Matheous-2]

My Toyota Auris is due its first MOT and a Service this year....Out of all the big nationals; who do you trust to do a genuine service & MOT ? KwikFit, Halfords, National Tyre Services, Arnold Clark etc., etc., without ripping me off??

[shoota]

Two man independent garage for me.

[Baldric]

None of the Nationals thank you!

[tonyav]

Why a national, Matheous ?.

[Prudie]

I use a well trusted local independent. For no good reason I wouldn't touch Kwikfit or Halfords.

[Electrochem]

I always go to a reputable local garage.

None of the national companies for me I'm afraid!

[Buenchico]

I use a local guy who doesn't even has his MoT testing facilities. (He takes vehicles to a garage that he has an arrangement with). I'd regard a good independent garage as far more reliable than any national firm.

However the one national firm that has given me excellent service in the past is KwikFit. I took a car into a regional firm because the brakes on my car were soft and, even after they'd 'fixed' the problem, I couldn't tell much difference. (I gave them a second chance and they still couldn't detect any problem). So I went to a big national firm and they also said there was no problem. So I tried KwikFit, who quickly found two leaking brake cylinders. I used them several times after that and always got good service. (However I suspect that, like all of the big chains, the quality of service depends upon how good the manager is. I've also heard plenty of moans about other KwikFit branches!)

[mayennaise]

In the past we've used both the independents and the main dealer - expensive and unreliable is our view but Kwik Fit outshines both! Our local branch has been consistent and fairly reasonable for both services and MOTs. I would highly recommend them.

[TonyV]

I always use independant garage

[dustypuss]

a little tip for you . If you go on line and book your mot with halfords its half price

[Matheous-2]

tonyav, Obviously I can't name every garage in the country, not having tried ALL the Nationals, I thought perhaps there was one 'good' egg in there somewhere.....
To make this an even taller order, I forgot to say in my initial question, the Toyota is a HYBRID - however I don't think there is any maintenance involved with the batteries.
I tend to agree that a reputable independent garage would be the best option....

[tonyav]

It's ok Matheous, I just wondered why thats all. Go independent if I were you, but if one of the nationals have any good deals or offers on it's worth looking at.

[Iggle Piggle]

Ask work colleagues and friends for a local garage recommendation.

[gingejbee]

In the past, I've always been impressed with "formula one autocentres"...before I got a new car last year, I had several MOTs done there and they always passed the car first time without finding "faults" that needed attention. At present, MOTs are only £25, or £15 when done with a service.

[gingejbee]

...I suspect that they are better than most, because they are still family-owned and controlled.

[derekpara]

I agree with Chris (Buenchico).

KIwik Fit has always given me excellent service. They always invite me to look at any fault before they do the work - which has always been excellent.

During an MOT on my Polo, to prevent a failure they even secured the exhaust pipe with a clip because the original bracket had snapped - and didn't charge a penny.

However, I have also found my local one-man band garage to be fair and trustworthy.

Speak as you find.

D

[bhg481]

I've used Halford's Autocentre for several years now, two different branches because parking is easier at one of them, and I've had no failures or problems of any description. As Dustypuss says, book online and get it much cheaper.