STAY CLEAR OF RIP OFF MECHANICS

STAY CLEAR UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF - Went to these guys on recommendation from a friend. Took my car (Fiat punto Mk2) to have alloys I had just bought put on, this also needed spacers on the rear wheels as I had already been to another garage in hastings who had tried putting the alloys on but with no success as they had no spacers for the rear wheels (they didn't even charge me to put the wheels on). The owner of Oz tyres quoted for the spacers, new nuts and locking nuts a total of £120 which was definitely a top end price but feeling confident that they were going to do a good job I proceeded. I also decided to do a FULL service on the car at the same time which cost £175 . When I went to collect the car it looked fine, the mechanics had even gone as far as cleaning all the plastic covers in the engine which I was impressed by, then the mechanic took me for a test drive. sounded ok though was kind of hard to tell as I had the old wheels in the boot banging about. That evening when returning home in my car the rear wheels sounded terrible like some was rubbing I coud also smell burning rubber. When I got home I I checked the back wheels and no spacer had been put on, hence the rubbing. The following morning I checked again in the daylight to be sure and yes no spacers had been put on I assumed it was an oversight. I then noticed I had no new bolts either and the locking nuts I had chosen weren't the ones I received instead I got some cheap generic ones. When I went back to Oz the owner was extremely rude as if it was my fault begrudging put second hand spacers on the rear. At this point I felt as though I had handed the guy £120 to put wheels on and some cheap locking nuts. Ripped off??? Now the service £175 - They really haven't done a full service at all at best they did an air filter change, changed the oil but no oil filter, spark plugs and cleaned the air intake. I ended up taking it to another garage a week later to get all the bits done that they hadn't done costing me more money and time. Overall the place looks good and the mechanics are friendly however when it actually comes to doing a good and fair job at a competitive price then it clearly does not exist at this place I have spoken to others who have gone there for alloys only to be given some ridiculous price. Stay clear of expensive mechanics who don't actually do what they say they will is my advice.

Stuart Ettridge - 15/02/2013 | report this review