vw golf mk4 clutch costs

jambofc

hi,just looking for a bit of advice,i need a clutch(4 piece) in my golf tdi,now i can get the kit cheap enough but with the limited number of garages around me the cheapest i can find to get it installed is €250,i asked a couple of lads who thought as i did that independant garages charged around €25 an hour,so by my thinking this is a 5/6 hour job so should be a lot cheaper,am i way out here or are the mechanics in my area pricey?
cheers

dieselbug

I dont think you will find any decent garage working for eur 25 ph. Double it + vat would be more realistic. 25 would be worryingly cheap.

jambofc

dieselbug wrote: »

I dont think you will find any decent garage working for eur 25 ph. Double it + vat would be more realistic. 25 would be worryingly cheap.

really,i get all work on my motorbike done by a fully qualified mechanic and the going rate is €25 an hour,bit mad that car mechanics charge double,anyway thanks for your input

dieselbug

It's not the mechanics hourly rate alone which dictates garage hourly rate. Add premises,insurance, stock, equipment etc etc.

I don't believe any garage could survive on a rate of €25ph, not for long anyway.

The Pontiac

My mechanic charges €37 p/h and it's a decent garage. Fully equipped, proper setup.

And he's one of the cheapest around.

I'd be cautious of a mechanic charging only €25 per hour. They've many other expenses - lighting, insurance, tools/equipment, rent etc.

George Dalton

We charge €50 per hour ex VAT which I think is about average and I can assure you that we aren't exactly making a fortune. Ideally I would like to charge €60 to take the pressure off a bit but the market won't stand it at the moment. I don't think €25 per hour is a sustainable amount for a proper garage.

We would also want €250 ex VAT for labour to fit a clutch to a Mk4 which was not supplied by us so that is similar to what you have been quoted.

jambofc

thanks for the input all
should have done my apprenticeship when i had the chance many moons ago

s14driftking

George Dalton wrote: »

We charge €50 per hour ex VAT which I think is about average and I can assure you that we aren't exactly making a fortune. Ideally I would like to charge €60 to take the pressure off a bit but the market won't stand it at the moment. I don't think €25 per hour is a sustainable amount for a proper garage.

We would also want €250 ex VAT for labour to fit a clutch to a Mk4 which was not supplied by us so that is similar to what you have been quoted.

what u charge is about the normal for the area one or two cheaper and one or two dearer.
my mechanic charges 40 for a service and look over of the car on my mothers car. we supply parts.

Wheres My ForkandKnife

jambofc wrote: »

thanks for the input all
should have done my apprenticeship when i had the chance many moons ago

You make it sound as if mechanics are coining it in:eek:Any business has running costs before they turn the key in the door.Somebody has to pay these.It's not as if the mechanic pockets €50 every hour or that the pocket the whole €50 for an hour's work. The couple of mechanics I know are busy because they are good at what they do but they are not earning two grand a week.Main dealers charge €100-€120 an hour btw.

I would be careful trying to save money by supplying the clutch as it could be a false economy.What happens if there is a problem with the clutch a month down the line.The mechanic has a look and says its the clutch you supplied thats the problem.He's not going to do the job a second time for free whereas if he has supplied the clutch he will stand over it.

For that reason I would never supply a clutch.Its not the same as supplying your own oil