Well, just took my coupe for a free service to my local Arnold Clark Garage (same garage I purchased the coupe from 8 months ago).
Having booked the car in last week and was promised a courtesy car, I received a call from the service manager on my way to the garage this morning, advising there was no courtesy car available as a previous customer never returned the car I was due to get today. I was asked if I would like to rebook the coupe in for a later date to which I replied…..NO. I told the service manager on the phone in a polite manner that I was 2 minutes away and that was not suitable unless they wanted to pay for my petrol costs. He then offered that my car would be serviced 1st and if I didn’t mind waiting at the most 1 hour, they would get it done. So, 2 hours later they returned my keys having completed my 32 point service. Here’s a list of problems requiring my immediate attention:
Front brake pads – 90% worn - £120 to fix + VAT
Rear Brake pipes corroded - £300 to fix + VAT
Rear offside tyre beyond the wear marker - £70 (16inch standard wheel) + VAT
Fuel treatment required as emissions are out - £60 to carry this out + VAT
Brake fluid & Clutch fluid needs replaced - £27 + VAT
Total cost including VAT comes to £680.
I asked them if the brake pipes are covered under warranty but they informed they weren’t (surprise, surprise). I was then promptly asked when I would like to book the car in to have the work carried out; I advised them that I will get a 2nd opinion before I decide to book it in.
I left the garage feeling pretty p*ssed off as you can imagine. When I arrived at work, I took the opportunity to check the pads and tyres and what do you know, the pads are not even half worn (front and rear) and the tyre has at least 4mml left. I have not managed to check the brake pipes yet but I certainly won’t be taking the car back to the same garage to do any work.
I simply can’t understand how they thought the coupe required all the above work but then, the car was sold to me with 2 years free servicing and 1 year extended warrantee as part of the deal. Were they trying to recoup some of their costs for the free servicing or blatantly trying to rip me off?
I am going to check the brake pipes tonight and if they are OK, I will be contacting the garage tomorrow with and advising them exactly what I think of their service plan. I’m beginning to wonder if they actually did anything to the car or did they just stamp my Service record????
Ninos
