Volvo garage in Surrey?

[v40alex]

I'm wondering maybe they've quoted you for a complete gearbox change rather than the just the linkage?

[2000V40]

thank you for all the input and recommended garages, much appreciated. Glad i'm not the only one slightly shocked by the price.

Apart from regular services, i've not had any major work carried out on the car, so didnt quite know what to expect apart from what i could find in old threads/google.

The price for the VVT/Timing belt itself seems reasonable enough based on what others here paid in the past and being a dealer i didnt expect it to be cheap, only thought I'd check with them as they are so close to work.

v40alex - I did specify in the list of work to be done that it was the linkage itself, but if they were thinking the whole box, then maybe the price would be more "correct"..

will try the one down by Gatwick and Worcester Park for quotes as they're easy enough to get to. Looks like there's an indy garage in Twickenham and one in Chertsey as well, so at least i've got some local options to explore!

[Yorlecm]

That 'indy in Twickenham' is local to me; I used them regularly years ago when they specialised mainly in Volvos, and also had local competition from the Volvo main dealer [Tollbar] They did have a small car sales place in central Twickenham, with an agency for Subaru but I had the impression the servicing side was their main business.

Since then, the car sales side has grown substantially: they've grown from a 3-cars-on-the-pavement arthur daley type of operation, to taking over the old Tollbar Volvo site. They've also switched brands, and effectively become a Mazda main dealer.

They'll still service your Volvo [or Subaru!] but my feeling is that the whole operation these days certainly has 'main dealer' aspirations, with attitudes and prices to match; YMMV, but personally, I wouldn't go out of my way to put my car in with them.

[2000V40]

Originally Posted by Yorlecm

That 'indy in Twickenham' is local to me; I used them regularly years ago when they specialised mainly in Volvos, and also had local competition from the Volvo main dealer [Tollbar] They did have a small car sales place in central Twickenham, with an agency for Subaru but I had the impression the servicing side was their main business.

Since then, the car sales side has grown substantially: they've grown from a 3-cars-on-the-pavement arthur daley type of operation, to taking over the old Tollbar Volvo site. They've also switched brands, and effectively become a Mazda main dealer.

They'll still service your Volvo [or Subaru!] but my feeling is that the whole operation these days certainly has 'main dealer' aspirations, with attitudes and prices to match; YMMV, but personally, I wouldn't go out of my way to put my car in with them.

cheers Yorlecm, good to know indeed!

[Yorlecm]

To add some actual facts to my previous personal opinions above, in fairness, I did use aforesaid indy in the middle of last year to do my VVT. I think it is one of those jobs where you do feel you want some confidence that the garage concerned can at least pronounce 'Volvo' correctly, even if they're not quite sure how to spell it....!

I've checked my car paperwork / receipts file tonight, and the damage was £428 including the VAT. Which is either 20% more than the Chiswick main dealer cost you mentioned in your original post, or about the same, if your original figure was ex-VAT.

[2000V40]

Originally Posted by Yorlecm

To add some actual facts to my previous personal opinions above, in fairness, I did use aforesaid indy in the middle of last year to do my VVT. I think it is one of those jobs where you do feel you want some confidence that the garage concerned can at least pronounce 'Volvo' correctly, even if they're not quite sure how to spell it....!

I've checked my car paperwork / receipts file tonight, and the damage was £428 including the VAT. Which is either 20% more than the Chiswick main dealer cost you mentioned in your original post, or about the same, if your original figure was ex-VAT.

Inc vat, but vvt only and not vvt/timing belt etc.. i'd like to have it done by volvo or volvo accredited garage as it's a fiddly job as far as i understand it!

[timmytarmac]

I have used Bosch Service Centre plus in Redhill and Reigate and found they seem to be reliable and not to expensive, they are a franchise so have many garages around and I get my mot done with them.