Routine service: Car Xpress Service center or regular mechanic?

Irish_peppa

Curious what the petrol heads here think...
My local independent mechanic who I know 5 years even for a regular service makes me leave in the car in the morning then says it will "be done that day" "or in a few hours ill call you" Bit of a pain having to go home and head back hours later as he is not on the bus route and a 40 minute walk away which i explained to him but hes allways busy. He can never give any 1 or 2 hour time window for a routine service.
I was thinking to get my routine services done at the likes of Kwik fit or Atlas. Is this what most people do? Would be so handy to pull up and be on your way in under an hour.
Reason I ask I always see the likes of Atlas or first stop in santry always busy with all their car lifts full.
Purely for handiness and not for price as I reckon there is not much in the price difference between both.

Buddy Bubs

How often do you get your car serviced? Mine is once a year and I usually have to schedule my day around getting car to mechanic and getting back there later in the day, bus/walk/lift. Its worth it.

Would I bring it to an express place? No, I have no idea who is working on my car and they have targets to get your car in and out as quick as possible from the accountants in head office

Fabio

I'd stick with the local mechanic that you know, if you could.

He probably can't give a time because, if he's working on his own it can be very hard to know how long a particular job might take. If he's dong a routine service on a car before yours but comes across something big, that'll take time. Imagine if a bolt is sheared or something, you can't really predict for that. If he's told you to come back in 4 hours, and you arrive to see your car nowhere nearer the lift than before then you'd be pretty annoyed.

That being said, I used to find it really annoying that a garage couldn't give me an approximate time and price for some work and I ended up learning to do a few bits and pieces myself as a consequence.

Irish_peppa

Buddy Bubs wrote: »

How often do you get your car serviced? Mine is once a year and I usually have to schedule my day around getting car to mechanic and getting back there later in the day, bus/walk/lift. Its worth it.

Would I bring it to an express place? No, I have no idea who is working on my car and they have targets to get your car in and out as quick as possible from the accountants in head office

Well I had him replace a tyre was same thing full day no car, services once a year, Ahh i might just write my car off for the day I guess your right, thats true they would be under pressure to have the cars flipped and upselling stuff you dont need. I was just curious why they are all so busy so assumed I was missing something thats all

Fabio

Irish_peppa wrote: »

Well I had him replace a tyre was same thing full day no car, services once a year, Ahh i might just write my car off for the day I guess your right, thats true they would be under pressure to have the cars flipped and upselling stuff you dont need. I was just curious why they are all so busy so assumed I was missing something thats all

Probably do a fine job 90% of the time but the odd time when stuff is seriously amiss....they might miss. They tend to use the same oil grades across all cars as well, I think, so if yours needs something specific it's likely they won't have it.

Wishbone Ash

I would use the same indy mechanic. Having to leave your car for the day can be a pain but I just write off that day as a carless day. (I throw one of my bikes in the book and cycle home and back to the garage again that evening).

If you use the same mechanic regularly, he will develop some 'ownership' of your car and will be more inclined to be straight with you. if you go elsewhere, it will just present a opportunity for him to say 'who was at this last' if something goes wrong. He can't say that about his own work.

(In the past 30 years, I've only used 2 mechanics, apart from a couple of emergency works when they weren't accessible).

Irish_peppa

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

If you use the same mechanic regularly, he will develop some 'ownership' of your car and will be more inclined to be straight with you. if you go elsewhere, it will just present a opportunity for him to say 'who was at this last' if something goes wrong. He can't say that about his own work.

This was my exact thoughts..... Mechanic notices something..... also aware you used Express service for your oil change... "Well Could of been that crowd you used for the service .... shame you didnt come to me... its gonna cost ya now not my fault"

Yeah i think the days inconvieience might be worth it in the end. :cool: