Servicing a VW Golf

[manek]

A bit OT I know but my better half's old Golf needs a good seeing-to, so I wondered if anyone here could recommend a good quality (ie not a rip-off) garage to do the job somewhere in/around the Brighton area?

Thanks,

[pbrettle]

I can recommend a couple in East Anglia - but thats no use to you - come on chaps recommend some for Manek. Oh, and I have had very PATCHY service from VW main dealers. Some are great and some are bad.....

Get some strong recommendations before going to a main dealer - by the way Ted, this is a common criticism of the VW dealer network. So I am not treading on any toes there.

Cheers,

Paul

[dan]

I had patchy service from the same dealer with my old VR6 Golf.

Mostly realy good service, but the last one was crap. 3 days after the 40,000 mile service (VW do 10-20-10-40-10-20... etc) I started to hear a grinding from the back of the car, I took a look and sure enough the pads looked low. I wouldn't have minded so much but I had specifically asked them to look at the ABS as I was getting a warning light!! Their answer had been it needs a new management chip 1600 quid please, oh and it wont get through the MOT like that sir.

So I sold the car. (and yes I told the buyer about the brakes but he said he new someone in the trade... probably cost him a tenner and a pint... 1600 quid my arse).

Anyway the dealer was west of Swindon so don't worry.

Cheers Dan

[gold man]

I've got a Golf too. Its going in for its MOT and Big 80k mile service on Friday.
VW Dealership quoted:
£290 + VAT for Big Service
£30 + VAT for MOT

This other VW place called Volkline (01227 767 958) in Canterbury is doing it all for £160 incl VAT!!!!

I've used them before and they know their stuff and do a bloody good job too.
Canterbury isn't that far away and it'll still save you money.
Say James Nichols told you if you go as it'll mean I get a discount on Friday!!!

[Roop]

If you're oop North and want vee dub servicing, I HIGHLY reccomend Dubsport outside of Wigan - they're just of J19 or summat - address at www.dubsport.com - When my Golf was running crappy (kept stalling and smeeling of petrol etc etc) they spent 2 hours on the car, cleaned out all the engine breather thingies, replaced the rubber hoses on the car, new set of spark plugs, new rotor arm, full set of belts including timing plus a tune up and check with their laptop plugged in the ECU. The result was the car was 500% better than it had ever been. The cost...? £100 all in.

Those guys know their stuff...

Roop

[gnomesmith]

A bit off thread but the US Golf was called a Rabbit and there were some nice aftermarket badges with one rabbit servicing another.

I'm off to my burrow..

[chuff]

Couple of years back enquired at local VW dealer in Walton on Thames about cost of 60K service on my Golf VR6. "Service adviser" pointed at the tariffs on the wall behind him (£385 from memory) and also told me it would need the cambelt changed at that mileage. Muppet didn't even know that the VR6 is chain driven.....so much for paying the extra for the expert knowledge....

[Timbo_S2]

I had a main dealer take my car out for lunch, and do their best to launch it from the speedbumps around the city (I know, as a mate of mine was following it). Will never take it back to them unless I have to...

VW garages in East Anglia, I use NVWC in Norwich. Very very good service...