College working on your car?
Discussion
I have a friend that teaches tiling at college and after talking to him about needing a new clutch in my car (Peugeot 106 GTi) and how much I was going to pay to get is sorted (£120 Valeo Clutch Kit and £100 to fit) he said if I take it to the automotive area of college where he works to do the work its practice for the students and apart from a few beers in his direction it will be free.
I have had a call from him this morning saying they can get the same clutch in for £84 (trade price) and the labour will be free as done by the students all be it supervised by a qualified MOT tester tutor.
My questions are:
1. would any of you do this? or have any of you done this?
2. Were would I stand if there was a problem. (haven't had the chance to ask this yet)
3. Will the work be completed to the highest of standard with it being supervised?
My main concern is the standard of the work/potential future problems.
What do you guys think?
Thanks.
I have had a call from him this morning saying they can get the same clutch in for £84 (trade price) and the labour will be free as done by the students all be it supervised by a qualified MOT tester tutor.
My questions are:
1. would any of you do this? or have any of you done this?
2. Were would I stand if there was a problem. (haven't had the chance to ask this yet)
3. Will the work be completed to the highest of standard with it being supervised?
My main concern is the standard of the work/potential future problems.
What do you guys think?
Thanks.
I would say go for it - lets face it, you will get students who are going to (usually) try to do their best, with the work signed off by a tutor.
If you take it to a clutch place, you could get some ex-KF muppet working on it and rushing it through.
If it were a choice of one or the other for me personally, I would deffo go with the college.
If you take it to a clutch place, you could get some ex-KF muppet working on it and rushing it through.
If it were a choice of one or the other for me personally, I would deffo go with the college.
I don't see why this would be a bad idea. Providing that you can obtain in writing a description of the work and that if any damage is caused then they are insured, then all should be fine. Any work the students will be undertaking will be checked and recorded by their tutors anyway, so if it isn't fitted correctly then I'd imagine it will be put right.
You may just want to get written confirmation that the work is to be done correctly and that the college are insured if any damage is caused accidentally or during the work being carried out.
Farnborough college down the road from me do the same thing and are regularly working on donor cars supplied by local yards and even some of the tutors runabouts. I enquired for the same thing a few years ago, but as it was a fairly new development, they weren't accepting work for external clients.
You may just want to get written confirmation that the work is to be done correctly and that the college are insured if any damage is caused accidentally or during the work being carried out.
Farnborough college down the road from me do the same thing and are regularly working on donor cars supplied by local yards and even some of the tutors runabouts. I enquired for the same thing a few years ago, but as it was a fairly new development, they weren't accepting work for external clients.
Having met a few of the guys that run car mechanics courses at college they will not let your car leave if it isn't 100% done right. Most of them are properly old school methodical car people and probably care as much for their P&J as you do for yours, just expect it to take a bit longer than a normal mechanic.
Cheers guys just what I wanted to hear.
I was thinking will it be done to a high standard but then thought because of the potential of a fatal accident if not completed correctly that they wouldn't let it leave if it wasn't 100%.
Still waiting to here back when the work can be done (should be early next week)then will let you all know how it went.
Not sure if I can stop to watch it done due to me working the same hours as the college but will definitely ask for something in writing about work carried out and insurance etc.
I was thinking will it be done to a high standard but then thought because of the potential of a fatal accident if not completed correctly that they wouldn't let it leave if it wasn't 100%.
Still waiting to here back when the work can be done (should be early next week)then will let you all know how it went.
Not sure if I can stop to watch it done due to me working the same hours as the college but will definitely ask for something in writing about work carried out and insurance etc.
Go for it. At the end of the day your typical college student (especially when it is a "customer" car) is going to try 10xs harder and be 10xs more careful and far more likely to ask a qualified expert than say the equivalent 19 yr old d
head down Mr Clutch who doesn't give a toss and what's more his bosses don't give a toss.
It may take a day to do a 2 hour job but It will be supervised and signed off by somebody who knows what he is doing; and what's more, the college guys probably ain't total muppets either (this far into the school year anyway
)
head down Mr Clutch who doesn't give a toss and what's more his bosses don't give a toss.It may take a day to do a 2 hour job but It will be supervised and signed off by somebody who knows what he is doing; and what's more, the college guys probably ain't total muppets either (this far into the school year anyway
)For 3 years I had my Rallycross Metro looked after by a College in North Wales and I cannot speak highly enough of the quality of the work, the dedication of the students and the thoroughness of the work.
They really took pride in their work (overseen by the tutors of course) and I'd recommend it to be honest.
They really took pride in their work (overseen by the tutors of course) and I'd recommend it to be honest.
I did a car maintenance evening course at my local tech college and the lads doing the automotive courses helped out. I found them to be pretty clued up and handy with the spanners. Their tutors were all highly experienced, ex or current main dealer mechanics.
If your car isn't anything exotic or unusual then it's certainly worth considering.
If your car isn't anything exotic or unusual then it's certainly worth considering.
I did a night course in basic vehicle maintenance at my local college. They did something similar to this in the day time. The tutors were all ex-dealer guys in the main. One or two had spent years servicing trucks, and had a VERY high standard of workmanship. The same could not be said for YTS kids. I turned up one night, the teacher was asking us what was wrong with the brake set up on one of the "permanent" practice cars. Some muppet had re-fitted the brake pads back in the wrong way around, friction material on the outside!!
I would happily book mine in to the local college though - the lecturers are very meticulous at checking the cars before they leave, and in the college I attended, they were "hands-on" with a 1-to-1 session with a trainee throughout the entire job pretty much. Only ever leaving them on their own for 5 minutes to undo a bolt etc. They had a rule of a maximum of 3 trainee's/ cars per tutor when working on cars driven in by the public.
I would happily book mine in to the local college though - the lecturers are very meticulous at checking the cars before they leave, and in the college I attended, they were "hands-on" with a 1-to-1 session with a trainee throughout the entire job pretty much. Only ever leaving them on their own for 5 minutes to undo a bolt etc. They had a rule of a maximum of 3 trainee's/ cars per tutor when working on cars driven in by the public.
Spaeking of Colleges it reminds me of this great work done in the past by one.
http://www.darrian.co.uk/Darrian%20History.html
Swansea Institute Team Darrian
As a development of the Higher National Diploma in Automotive Engineering, Swansea Institute purchased a Darrian T90. Their aim was to build the skills of their students by racing a car in the Welsh Drivers’ Championship. This they felt was an excellent way to forge a relationship and partnership with Wales’ most successful competition car maker, Darrian. Driving this pioneering course forward was Roger Dowden. The relationship forged between; Roger, Tim and Swansea Institute, cannot be underestimated, and really drove Darrian, as a specialist car maker, forward
During a trip to the 1995 Le Mans with Roger Dowden, Tim thought that it would be worth having a go at the National GT Championship. Spurred on by friend Paul Adams’ encouraging comments and his astute observations, the idea moved apace.
Ken Thomson had purchased a Darrian T90 during the winter of 93/94 and by 1995 had secured the Scottish Sportscar Championship, to become Scottish Racing Champion. Tim contacted Ken and invited him to form a team with Swansea Institute. Both cars were converted to run Millington Diamond engines.
In 1996, with the support of the WDA, the car and the team had developed to such a level that they won the extremely prestigious Privilege Insurance National GT Championship at their first attempt.
The team, SITD, continued to race in the championship until 1999 making technical improvements to the car which would eventually form the foundation of the new Darrian GTR.
The credibility the Darrian Team gained throughout the motorsport industry enabled Swansea Institute to develop the world’s first Motor Sport Engineering degree which currently attracts 150 students from all over the world. For this achievement Swansea Institute was awarded the extremely prestigious ‘Services to Industry’ award by the MIA. at the House of Lords.
http://www.darrian.co.uk
http://www.darrian.co.uk/Darrian%20History.html
Swansea Institute Team Darrian
As a development of the Higher National Diploma in Automotive Engineering, Swansea Institute purchased a Darrian T90. Their aim was to build the skills of their students by racing a car in the Welsh Drivers’ Championship. This they felt was an excellent way to forge a relationship and partnership with Wales’ most successful competition car maker, Darrian. Driving this pioneering course forward was Roger Dowden. The relationship forged between; Roger, Tim and Swansea Institute, cannot be underestimated, and really drove Darrian, as a specialist car maker, forward
During a trip to the 1995 Le Mans with Roger Dowden, Tim thought that it would be worth having a go at the National GT Championship. Spurred on by friend Paul Adams’ encouraging comments and his astute observations, the idea moved apace.
Ken Thomson had purchased a Darrian T90 during the winter of 93/94 and by 1995 had secured the Scottish Sportscar Championship, to become Scottish Racing Champion. Tim contacted Ken and invited him to form a team with Swansea Institute. Both cars were converted to run Millington Diamond engines.
In 1996, with the support of the WDA, the car and the team had developed to such a level that they won the extremely prestigious Privilege Insurance National GT Championship at their first attempt.
The team, SITD, continued to race in the championship until 1999 making technical improvements to the car which would eventually form the foundation of the new Darrian GTR.
The credibility the Darrian Team gained throughout the motorsport industry enabled Swansea Institute to develop the world’s first Motor Sport Engineering degree which currently attracts 150 students from all over the world. For this achievement Swansea Institute was awarded the extremely prestigious ‘Services to Industry’ award by the MIA. at the House of Lords.
http://www.darrian.co.uk
DaveH23 said:
I have a friend that teaches tiling at college and after talking to him about needing a new clutch in my car (Peugeot 106 GTi) and how much I was going to pay to get is sorted (£120 Valeo Clutch Kit and £100 to fit) he said if I take it to the automotive area of college where he works to do the work its practice for the students and apart from a few beers in his direction it will be free.
I have had a call from him this morning saying they can get the same clutch in for £84 (trade price) and the labour will be free as done by the students all be it supervised by a qualified MOT tester tutor.
My questions are:
1. would any of you do this? or have any of you done this?
2. Were would I stand if there was a problem. (haven't had the chance to ask this yet)
3. Will the work be completed to the highest of standard with it being supervised?
My main concern is the standard of the work/potential future problems.
What do you guys think?
Thanks.
Young Apprentice being supervised in a college enviroment where they are being monitored, tested and marked for freeI have had a call from him this morning saying they can get the same clutch in for £84 (trade price) and the labour will be free as done by the students all be it supervised by a qualified MOT tester tutor.
My questions are:
1. would any of you do this? or have any of you done this?
2. Were would I stand if there was a problem. (haven't had the chance to ask this yet)
3. Will the work be completed to the highest of standard with it being supervised?
My main concern is the standard of the work/potential future problems.
What do you guys think?
Thanks.
Vs
Young Apprentice (possibly dropped out of college) being told to "do that clutch while I work on this nice easy job", and making tea's inbetween and paying £100
Difficult decision that.....
volvoforlife said:
I wouldn't worry about a car.
A mate of mine was studying dentistry at Uni and they had real patients to practice on. Now thats something I'd worry about.
Or the student doctor in A&E who had three attempts to put a drip in a vein in the back of my wife's hand before he gave up and let the nurse do it (who did it first time without any pain).A mate of mine was studying dentistry at Uni and they had real patients to practice on. Now thats something I'd worry about.
Used to see it done at Colchester Institute, but I left before I got a car otherwise I would have done it. I never heard any complaints, and there were people taking older, usable classics in for welding/bodywork etc. By all accounts they were fine.
I did used to let the trainee hairdressers cut my hair. That was a nice experience.
ETA I've had the student doctor thing too - all a bit embarrassing having a female doc - who is also my friend's mum - plus 2 female trainees, all having a gawp at my downstairs region when I was about 19...
I did used to let the trainee hairdressers cut my hair. That was a nice experience.
ETA I've had the student doctor thing too - all a bit embarrassing having a female doc - who is also my friend's mum - plus 2 female trainees, all having a gawp at my downstairs region when I was about 19...
I worked on ex Police Mk2 Escorts at college in the early 1980's, we used to do work on tutors cars, friends and family of the tutor and each others 50cc mopeds.
Back then nothing was allowed to leave unless each process had been inspected by the tutor.
I can't see a problem myself. Have you been to the college and had a look around the workshop?
Back then nothing was allowed to leave unless each process had been inspected by the tutor.
I can't see a problem myself. Have you been to the college and had a look around the workshop?
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