Car service South Dublin (Yet another - sorry!)

Fiii

Hey Guys

Sorry if these threads have been done to death - I tried going through a few olds ones, but most are from years back, and prices will obviously have changed etc.

So my 1.2l, 2001 Fiat Punto is in need of a full service.
I bought it 3 years ago, and it was then at about 27k miles (iirc), and has just now hit 47k miles. I haven't had it fully serviced as such in those 3 years, just maintenance really, so it's high time.

From doing my research, it looks like it's going to cost between €140-200 to get it done.
I'm looking at Advance, which is €200 for a full service (http://www.advancepitstop.com/car-service/servicing.282.html)
and Atlas, which looks to be €140 from what I can make out (http://www.atlasautoservice.ie/car-servicing-2)
I'm in South Dublin for reference.

Looked at the AA too, but it seems you need to be a member, which I am not.
Has anyone had a recent service in either of these places?
If anyone who would be so kind as to look at the two services on offer, could offer any opinions on which would suit best, it would be massively appreciated.

Cheers for any help.

Toots

I used atlas in Stillorgan about 2 months ago and found them very good. My main reason for choosing them was their opening hours, and I work nearby so it was easy to drop off my car and collect it. I had to get 2 new tyres (knew this before I dropped it in) and was pleasantly surprised at the price cos my wheels are huge so I was expecting it to be really expensive.

Anan1

If it hasn't been touched in 3yrs/20k miles then it's likely to need more than just a standard service. Is the timing belt due for renewal, for example? Brakes? Tyres? I'd be looking for a decent mechanic, rather than the likes of Atlas.

coylemj

Why don't you stop penny pinching and bring it to a real garage for a service? Dropping it into a tyre shop for a service really takes the biscuit after neglecting it for three years.

Sorry to be blunt but I'm tired of inhaling the noxious smoke that comes out of the exhaust of badly maintained cars. People pay thousands of euros for a car and then begrudge spending a couple of hundred euro for a decent service.

Fiii

coylemj wrote: »

Why don't you stop penny pinching and bring it to a real garage for a service? Dropping it into a tyre shop for a service really takes the biscuit after neglecting it for three years.

Sorry to be blunt but I'm tired of inhaling the noxious smoke that comes out of the exhaust of badly maintained cars. People pay thousands of euros for a car and then begrudge spending a couple of hundred euro for a decent service.

Assumptions much?!
For your information, it had a brand new exhaust installed about 6months after buying it.
It also passed the NCT not 4months ago, so it's in fairly good working order, it just needs a going over and a spruce up.
As for 'neglecting' it, I take good care of it, cheers. My dad is an ex mechanic and has helped me out with the little bits that needed doing until this point, but he's got enough on his plate at the moment, and I'd rather not bother him.

I did say FULL service in my original post, and the reason it needs a full service is to check things like brake pads, tyres etc. which has been pointed out. I'm not a mechanic myself, so need someone who knows better to give it a good going over and then they can tell me what bigger jobs need doing and I can sort it either with a mechanic, or with my dad.

As for 'begrudging' paying more, yeah, quite frankly I do when money is tight and it's a 10 year old car that I will probably only have another year or two at most, and most importantly it's not needed.
So climb down off your high horse mate.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful and courteous replies.
If anyone has any suggestions of other places, I'm all ears.

coylemj

Fiii wrote: »

it just needs a going over and a spruce up.
..........
the reason it needs a full service is to check things like brake pads, tyres etc.

So climb down off your high horse mate.

So you bought a seven year old car in 2008 and since then you've driven it for three years and clocked up 20K miles and never had someone look at the brakes?

I reserve the right to mount my high horse any time I hear stories like yours.

Fiii

coylemj wrote: »

So you bought a seven year old car in 2008 and since then you've driven it for three years and clocked up 20K miles and never had someone look at the brakes?

I reserve the right to mount my high horse any time I hear stories like yours.

And I reserve the right to ignore you seeing as you couldn't be bothered to actually read my post and see that my dad has been helping me look after it until now.
The brakes need checking to see if they will need anything doing within the next year or two. They have been looked at previously.

Syllabus

Fastfit/Firststop are doing servicing now

special offers for the months of july and august €110 for a full service

depot on taney rd is open from 8-7 and has at least 3 qualified mechanics out of a team of 6 (i think)

hope this helps

Soapysuds

Hi Fiii
Like yourself I never needed any real work done on my car til recently. I brought it to a newly opened garage in Deansgrange MF Auto services. The mechanic was very genuine made a list and went through cost with me. Very reasonable and I wasn't ripped off.

Nissan doctor

Anan1 wrote: »

If it hasn't been touched in 3yrs/20k miles then it's likely to need more than just a standard service. Is the timing belt due for renewal, for example? Brakes? Tyres? I'd be looking for a decent mechanic, rather than the likes of Atlas.

Whats your experience of Atlas?

mickdw

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd be looking for a decent mechanic, rather than the likes of Atlas.

Thats fightin talk:D

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Whats your experience of Atlas?