F1 servicing centres

[johnny37]

Anyone had experience of these? Ive been quoted £118 +£20mot (no spark plugs on the quote) for a full service on my 03 Focus 2.0. Seems cheap to me. Can they be trusted?

[TWR]

With the cost of MOT equipment John no garage big or small can afford to do a MOT for £20. cost in our area £45 >> £50, regards that service!!!! look elsewhere if you want the job doing properly, take it to a family run garage that way you are not paying over the odds for labour.

[mccfluff]

my local garagedioes my MOTs for £27.50

[flip_flop]

Call me cynical, but isn't this just simply a sprat to catch a mackerel?

Once they've got you car they'll 'discover' that other, more costly, things need to be done!

[KJN]

My son has used them for the last two years and had no problems, no pushed work on him either, Good as any other garage, they have been around for a while so cant be that bad.

[johnny37]

I think the logic of the £20 mot is that it is done at the same time as a service, so things like brakes, lights, etc are not checked twice. And yes it is done as a sweetner to get the business, not unreasonable if it allows them to cut costs.

[Toureman]

Depends what they class as a "full Service", what does your car service book say is a full service? do they use genuine ford parts and oil?

[johnny37]

Thanks guys but I really need to hear from someone who has used them. I hear lots of negative comments about Kwikfit but nothing about F1. They look like a good outfit to me. Of course they will find things that need doing. Its their job. They list the points up on the wall. I have known private garages with a sloppy service but surely it is not in F1's interest to tell lies or provide a sloppy service.

[chas2008]

there are garages doing free MOTs with a service, as said you are more or less covering the same ground...
Certainly not heard any horror stories concerning them.

[Andyvon]

Each garage is different Johnny - some are better than others depending on the attitudes and motivation of the manager and staff. Your F1 could be good or bad - it just depends.

In 2007, 'Which Magazine' surveyed how and where the average motorist could expect the best service. They found the worst service and highest prices were generally from large dealers, then national chains such as KwikFit came just behind the dealers for poor service and high price. The best service is generally provided by an independant garage operated by the owner and/or their family. They are also the fairest on price.

There are many variables but the magazine recommends that if you find a good local garage that does a fair and honest job then stick with them. They said after 50 years of similar motoring surveys the biggest factor in finding a good garage is - luck!

It stands to reason of course. If you go to a local owner-operated garage you are their personal customer. They want you to go back in future and put a good word around the area for them in the form of 'word of mouth'. Large dealers and chains don't give a damn about customers - just their weekly figures.

Good luck.

[Buenchico]

With big chain companies, the standard is often highly dependent on how good a particular branch manager is. (I'd rate KwikFit in Ipswich as nothing less than excellent but I accept that many people seem to have experienced problems at other branches of KwikFit).

Formula One in Canterbury has generally lousy reviews (but with one person saying that they're wonderful):
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews227550.html

Likewise in Maidstone:
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews243453.html

Similar views in Derby:
http://www.bview.co.u...to-Centre-Ltd-in-DE22

This reviewer was pleased with the Lincoln branch:
http://www.yelp.co.uk...e-autocentres-lincoln

Outstanding reviews in Crawley:
http://www.qype.co.uk...e-Autocentres-Crawley

Chelmsford seems good too:
http://www.qype.co.uk...utocentres-Chelmsford

In Aylesbury one person thinks that they're superb, while the other reviewer slates them!
http://www.touchhemel...iness/list/bid/679985

The Cheltenham branch is probably best avoided!
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews221744.html

Northampton might be OK:
http://www.qype.co.uk...tocentres-Northampton

Chris

[gingejbee]

What Chris has said about variability between branches is spot-on. You can't expect a national chain to have a uniform quality across many branches
I've had two cars MOT'd twice (four MOTs total- consecutive years- half price) at the same branch. All four were passes with no extra work "found" . On one occasion, they took about 10 minutes to unjam a rear seatbelt to ensure a pass - but didn't charge extra. I was pleasantly surprised and very pleased!