TheEdge Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Hi all Dropped my car in at VW Citygate today for my free MOT picked up the car but requested a quote for my 40,000 due soon price came to £365 this apparently includes my 30% discount for being a CITYGATE customer!! ( buying a a used car from a dealer ). I just find this a complete rip off !! basically the cost of the service would be £450 approx without my discount. I phoned APS today and got a quote for £345+£35 brake fluid ( they said brake fluid will be changed if necessary) so £380 all in. Based on the exellent feedback from you folks on here im forking out the extra mileage to travel to APS for a piece of mind. I know dealerships having higher labour rate costs etc and promote themselves as genuine parts users etc but to be honest for the sake of a dealers stamp and all the smart talk I think independents have a good customer service ethic and continue to build themselves on good word of mouth! further to this a lady had work had problems with her VW Polo a few years ago at a dealership about a return service where things were meant to have been done but hadnt on top of not returning phonecalls, emails etc !! this just alienates some customers to seek servicing at other Outlets. thanks all VW R32 mark 4 39125 miles and counting .......................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 That does sound steep. Have you no VW service centres round your part of London? In Edinburgh, we have 2 x VW stealers, but a VW service only centre which is a fair bit more economical. I guess it's down to individual views on the worth of a manufacturers stamp service book. For me, I insist on having the manufacturers own stamp, but each to their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrik Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 I can feel your pain. My Gti is in at the stealers as I type for it's 40,000 service. There is lots of sucking of teeth going on I can tell you. My basic service is costing me about 250 euros (I am living in Germany right now) - which is about 250 quid at the present exchange rate. That is just for oil change/pollen filter. They tried to convince me to replace the battery at 160 euros. Which I refused as it seems to work fine. They also told me the suspension bushes were defect so needed replacing at 50 euros each. Not sure what the labour for that will be but I agreed to get them swapped. I guess when all told it will set me back about 500 quid. I think I will look elsewhere for a service next time. Who cares if there is a VW stamp on the book? So long as there is a stamp from somewhere. The warranty has ran out a long time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEdge Posted January 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 youre right a service which is every 5000 miles or 10000 is relevant as long as it gets done. If a car is out of warranty i cant see the problem of going to a non VW dealer. All for the sake of a glorified oil change and filter etc !!!! With VW dealers its all too many people getting involved the person checking you in, the people in the dealership then the 3 different technicians working on your car the message gets lost somewhere down the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted January 14, 2009 Report Share Posted January 14, 2009 Don't forget that a 40k service on an R32 requires a change of the Haldex oil and filter, so the price will be higher than a normal 20k service. The only thing you need to think about is the VW dealer stamp in the book and whether you think it'll make a difference when you come to sell the car. If you intend to part-ex it to a VW dealer, despite it having had the service, it only counts as a partial service history. Personally, I'd go to APS and get it done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Who cares if there is a VW stamp on the book? So long as there is a stamp from somewhere. For a few reasons; one of which Mook has identified: The only thing you need to think about is the VW dealer stamp in the book and whether you think it'll make a difference when you come to sell the car. If you intend to part-ex it to a VW dealer, despite it having had the service, it only counts as a partial service history. Each to their own, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry52 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 I'm amazed how many people complain bitterly about the poor service and high prices that VW charge, about their inability to put things right etc etc and yet insist on taking their cars there for service and presumably insisting that the next car they buy has a VW service history. Is a VW stamp really worth that much. How many people have ( honestly, hand on heart ) bought a second hand car with dealer stamps and actually phoned the dealers to check if they have worked on the car. You can buy amazingly good kits to replicate anyone's stamps. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 I only buy from established dealers, so would like to think that I would avoid any "bad eggs" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 How many people have ( honestly, hand on heart ) bought a second hand car with dealer stamps and actually phoned the dealers to check if they have worked on the car. Every car I've bought in the last feck knows how long, Henry, but I know a lot of people don't. It's the perception people have that a main dealer serviced car will be looked after properly (not always the case, I know!). Breeze used to service mine, but my local specialist used to do everything else, because I trust him to do the job right first time. There's also the issue come resale time. A lot of people trade their cars in, rather than sell privately, and if a car doesn't have a full set of main dealer stamps in it, it's only classed as a partial history and has to be pushed directly out to the trade (main dealers aren't allowed to sell them and they can't give a VW warranty on them). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 I guess it can also help if you're looking for some goodwill if the car's warranty has just expired and something goes wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robs1977 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Maybe save a little bit if you buy the parts online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry52 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I know what your saying Mook but sometimes when you've had a car for a while and spent a couple of grand on servicing and bits and then the dealers want money of you to take it off your hands,( slight exaggeration) when you were wanting 10k you think to yourself was it really worth those stamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 I know what your saying Mook but sometimes when you've had a car for a while and spent a couple of grand on servicing and bits and then the dealers want money of you to take it off your hands,( slight exaggeration) when you were wanting 10k you think to yourself was it really worth those stamps. Yes, because without them, the car will be deemed to be lacking full service history and a dealer will be less keen to pay the price he/she would for a car with full VWSH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 I know what your saying Mook but sometimes when you've had a car for a while and spent a couple of grand on servicing and bits and then the dealers want money of you to take it off your hands,( slight exaggeration) when you were wanting 10k you think to yourself was it really worth those stamps. Completely agree Henry - I sell my cars privately to get more money for them, but some people want "the easy life", despite having to pay more for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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