Have i been ripped off???????

[giz686]

I have a Daewoo nexia 1.5GLi 1997 on an R plate with 39900 miles on the clock (genuine). I recently had the head gasket go and was told that it was definitely this as the No4 cylinder was full of water. To remove the head, send it off to the engineering company, skim it, test it, refit it put in a new cam belt and a new temperature sensor/guage? and with labour and VAT would cost me �696. I live in the south east so maybe its a reflection of prices here, average hourly rate for a mechanic is around the �50 mark. is this a reasonable price as I have told them to go ahead and do it???? Help/Advice seriously needed. if I do pay this would I hae any sort of comeback if I find they have charged me over the odds?????? I also have another question, am thinking of getting another car, nissan micra 1.0 on an X plate (2001), 40k on clock, very clean and tidy, full MOT, nice JVC 12 CD Changer, 3door hatch with remote central locking and alarm..asking price is �2k............looking online peeps are asking this for older cars with more miles........honest asking price or con?

[Toureman]

The charge for the repair is very reasonable, the hourly rate at my Renault dealers is �75 hr.

It was only on the TV News last night that some garages in the South east charge more per hour that Lawyers! �100 per hour!

How can that price be a con if it is lower than for an older car with higher mileage?

[ianess]

2 points........[1] you live in the South East where all prices seem to be higher. Daewoo's are expensive to repair at the best of times and although other makes may be cheaper �696 is probably not too far off the mark.
[2] Once you've agreed a price, which you say you have, there's no point in complaining. Did you not shop around for quotes?

As far as the Micra goes, it certainly looks interesting but get it checked over to make sure. And see if you can buy a guarantee for �200 or so to give you a bit extra piece of mind.

[kepla]

Daewoo Nexia - that's the one that' a copy of the old Vauxhall Astra, yes ? Nice and simple to work on - but thank god they are as, once the guarantee runs out, you can expect to be doing plenty ! Do you know how you came to have the head gasket problem ? - did the car overheat badly, or is it poor manufacturing quality ? The price you have been quoted is okay provided it is from a decent garage - not some cheap back-street place - and you get a proper written guarantee. If you have any doubts about the people doing the work then take it somewhere else. At that price you have every right to expect a job done properly. As regards the Micra - why keep on buying very cheap little cars which are horrible to drive only to find that everything on them wears out quickly so you are forever paying repair bills ? Have you seen what you can buy for 2K these days ? Keep well away from the small, cheap, poor quality models and there are some bargains to be had !

[cardude]

garage price for repair to head gasket is a good price, but i would have scrapped it, and put the money towards a better car than the micra. sorry

[giz686]

Well thanks to all the chaps and chapesses who replied to my question. Yes the work is guaranteed for one year parts and labour..............but will still get rid even if I only recoup the repair bill, I only paid �1500 3 yrs ago for it so have had my moneys worth I feel.

In relation to the Micra the reason I can only afford as someone puts it 'cheap cars' is called an ex husband!!! One who b**ge**ed off leaving behind �34k worth of joint debts which muggins here is still paying for! Answer the question? LOL And yes I know I could prob buy brand new with no deposit, zilch interest finance and free insurace, but why add to the millstone around my neck by taking on more debt, although its unlikely they would give me it due to the outstanding accumulative debts which have had payments negotiated on them!