Service and Tyres - few questions

cbmonstra

Hi All,

I'm getting my car serviced by a friend of a friend (nixer type thing, but not mates rates).

I only have the car a year, so it's my first time putting it through a service and I know sfa about cars. So I have 2 questions please;

1. He serviced it yesterday, but is fitting new brake pads, and adjusting the handbrake for me tomorrow. How much should I expect to pay him for all that? Just a ball park figure would be great.

2. The tyres are over 6 years old, and while he said they will be ok for a couple of months, I'm going to replace them sooner I think. Should I go for new or part-worn? How much would I have to shell out for say, 4 part-worn ones? Should I invest in new tyres instead of part-worn if I want to hold on until it's next NCT (2013)?

The car is a 99 Renault Clio, 1.4. Timing belt was changed when I bought her back in 2010.

I love the car, and want to keep it going for as long as I can, at least till the NCT in 2013, and the mechanic says that the engine will go forever in it.
I only do city driving really, about 4 miles to work and back, and the occasional longer spin (2hrs max) at the weekend.

Thanks a million!!

Tallon

If you're paying 'normal' rates then I would suggest going somewhere legitimate instead of a friend of a friend.

Service + Breaks etc should be about 200 or so if it's just the pads that need replacing.

As for tires, buy new ones, they are your life when it comes to contact with the road, and shouldn't be taking sparingly

Also, your engine will not 'Go forever'

Tallon

Tallon wrote: »

Also, your engine will not 'Go forever'

:eek:

Mechanic was telling fibs

robtri

Tallon wrote: »

If you're paying 'normal' rates then I would suggest going somewhere legitimate instead of a friend of a friend.

Service + Breaks etc should be about 200 or so if it's just the pads that need replacing.

As for tires, buy new ones, they are your life when it comes to contact with the road, and shouldn't be taking sparingly

Also, your engine will not 'Go forever'

price seems reasonable for a service and breaks...

personally i prefer part worn tyres, prefer to buy a good brand part worn then a budget brand new....

cbmonstra

RoverJames wrote: »

:eek:

Mechanic was telling fibs

Ah well, I'm not stupid enough to think that it will never, ever die...

I'm assuming he means that it's not going to die on me in the next year or two, that's what I thought he meant anyway..

Tallon

RoverJames wrote: »

:eek:

Mechanic was telling fibs

I've heard of one or two doing that alright

robtri wrote: »

price seems reasonable for a service and breaks...

personally i prefer part worn tires, prefer to buy a good brand part worn then a budget brand new....

Thats just my ballpark figure, and what I meant was, if he's spending normal price for a Service, he should go to a reputable garage like Urban or similar

The words 'part worn' just don't sit well with me

cbmonstra wrote: »

Ah well, I'm not stupid enough to think that it will never, ever die...

I'm assuming he means that it's not going to die on me in the next year or two, that's what I thought he meant anyway..

No, what he means is, "I'll see you in a few month, oh, and bring your wallet"

cbmonstra

Tallon wrote: »

No, what he means is, "I'll see you in a few month, oh, and bring your wallet"

I know what he means and that's not it, but thanks for your help and advice on the tyres anyway

coylemj

Tallon wrote: »

No, what he means is, "I'll see you in a few month, oh, and bring your wallet"

I can see that Obama's uplifting speech has done nothing to cure the rampant cynicism on boards. FFS there are taxis going around town all day that are older than the OP's car and as you can see from the response he/she isn't as stupid to interpret 'forever' in it's literal meaning so lighten up and give them a break.

Tallon

Tallon wrote: »

he should go to a reputable garage like Urban or similar

You jobhunting ? :pac:

Tallon

coylemj wrote: »

I can see that Obama's uplifting speech has done nothing to cure the rampant cynicism on boards. FFS there are taxis going around town all day that are older than the OP's car and as you can see from the response he/she isn't as stupid to interpret 'forever' in it's literal meaning so lighten up and give them a break.

It was meant in a lighthearted way. Relax their chief