Toyota - Reasonable for services/repairs?

Hey all,

Picked up a Rav4 recently, second hand. As with any used car, you'll come across a few bits and pieces that need fixing.

So I have a mechanic I usually use. He's a nice guy, but a bit difficult to get him to take a look at the car at the moment as he's rather busy.


So I had to pop out to Toyota recently for an unrelated event. While there I seen a sign on the wall that they charge €50 to give a quote, and if you get work carried out with them, they refund the €50 charge.

Out of principle I dislike this. It makes me feel like they're going to be very, very expensive (if they were competitive surely they wouldn't need to pull this kinda stunt to try and force you into using them?) but I just thought I'd ask on here anyway.

Pretty much, what I'm looking to get done is a full service of the car (as it's still new to me, want to ensure there are no horrible underlying issues), the rear driver side window wont work (regulator) and a couple of bulbs need replacing (a fog light, drivers visor light and a reverse light).

Was just wondering if anyone here has dealt with them and could advise what they're like at all? I'd also like to get the car valeted/cleaned/polished/etc. to make it look nice, too, but I reckon I might be better off getting that done at a dedicated car wash?


Cheers to anyone able to advise :-)

ba_barabus

Deleted User wrote: »

While there I seen a sign on the wall that they charge €50 to give a quote

I can't help with the rest but don't nearly all other manufacturers give you a free 'health check' once a year on your car whereby they try and find some stuff wrong to get work.

bazz26

Nearly all main dealers will be more expensive than your average independent garage or back street mechanic as main dealers have more costly overheads and big glass showrooms to keep open. The "€50 to quote" is probably their way of stopping messers coming in and having their car's problems diagnosed but then going off somewhere cheaper else to have it fixed.

Mechanically and depending how old the Rav4 is, it should be simple enough to maintain so unless you have a dealer warranty I'd try and find a good independent garage to service it.

Regarding valeting, if you want a proper job done on it then it will cost you probably well over €100 to have it comprehensively detailed inside and out by a professional detailer. If you only want an average wash and wax then your looking at one of those setups you see in a multi-story car park.

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Regarding valeting, if you want a proper job done on it then it will cost you probably well over €100 to have it comprehensively detailed inside and out by a professional detailer.

Can you recommend anywhere/anyone? Preferably in the Drogheda/Louth area?

EDIT: Was looking at these guys but not sure;

http://www.westernmotors.ie/web/car-valeting-services/

biko

bazz26 wrote: »

The "€50 to quote" is probably their way of stopping messers coming in and having their car's problems diagnosed but then going off somewhere cheaper else to have it fixed.

This. I wouldn't want to giving free professional diagnostic advice and then the person goes and gets the actual work done at an someone else.

biko

biko wrote: »

This. I wouldn't want to giving free professional diagnostic advice and then the person goes and gets the actual work done at an someone else.

I just find it a little odd. My brother has a Renault and they quoted for free and carried out the work at a competitive price.

Makes me feel like Toyota are going to be overly expensive. I already know what's wrong with it (for the most part) so I don't need them to tell me, I just want to compare pricing.

biko

You can still get a quote, the 50 is included in the price for the job at Toyota.
Maybe start by getting quotes from others first?

biko

biko wrote: »

You can still get a quote, the 50 is included in the price for the job at Toyota.
Maybe start by getting quotes from others first?

Well my main choices at the moment are really the indy guy I use, but I never seem to get a price off him until he's done, which can be a bit annoying (though he's usually very inexpensive and trustworthy, but busy at the moment) or I can go to Renault who I've been in and out with for a short while already (with my brother) who'll quote for free.

Not really interested in running around all the mechanics and garages in the town as I'd probably spend more on petrol than I'd save. Might just leave it until the indy guy is free to get a look in.