A year or so ago when taking the engine out of mums punto, we were stunned by the fact the gearbox with being held onto the engine with only 2 bolts, yes TWO BOLTS! Absolutely unbelievable!

Turns out she had a gearbox replacement carried out at FAST which is a fiat/alfa specialist in stockton-on-tees, portrack lane. Today stumbled across the receipt for this work. On the receipt is a gearbox replacement, and brake disc's and pads.

The price ? £1,490. So not only did they install the gearbox in an unsafe, extremely unprofessional, dangerous way. They charged her an arm and a leg for it too. Feel sorry for mum as they just saw her has a vulnerable woman who didnt have a clue.

Also was a little suspicious how the car kept coming out with new problems, one time the handbrake cable had miraculously fell off. One time it came out with a dead battery (having had it just replaced!) We were certain they kept doing things so we would have to go back!

NEVER go to FAST if you live in the area.

Interesting comments.

I have only ever used FAST once and they got the job bang on.

However, I thought they were very, very expensive for a small independent and one of the guys manner and language (in front of a new, paying customer) left a lot to be desired.

A job well done, but I never went back based on the first price and experience - that isn't to say that they weren't/aren't good ay what they do. It was the lack of professionalism and high price that I didn't like.

I used to use this garage all the time as it was handy for me with work and I felt like it was better for my car going to a specialist.

Stopped using them after three bills of over £250 for MOT's and two alternator replacements.

I'm not a mechanic, I felt like they were just taking advantage when I had MOT's booked in.... suddenly a £40 MOT was failing and needing new coil springs, brake discs and calipers ect, and using shoddy parts when my alternator needed replacing (twice in two years).

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe those things actually were wrong with the car, I dont know, but I've not been back for two years, I now use the local council MOT test centre and for two years running its passed first time.

deebeepee said:

I used to use this garage all the time as it was handy for me with work and I felt like it was better for my car going to a specialist.

Stopped using them after three bills of over £250 for MOT's and two alternator replacements.

I'm not a mechanic, I felt like they were just taking advantage when I had MOT's booked in.... suddenly a £40 MOT was failing and needing new coil springs, brake discs and calipers ect, and using shoddy parts when my alternator needed replacing (twice in two years).

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe those things actually were wrong with the car, I dont know, but I've not been back for two years, I now use the local council MOT test centre and for two years running its passed first time.

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Brake disc's and callipers .... sounds overly familiar mum once went in with broken wiper linkage and they wanted £400 for a new brake calliper!

Mum stopped going when it went in for MOT (the punto has now been passed on to me! )

Failed on a CV joint, emissions and excessive corrosion, they wanted 1.5k for the work to pass it, welding, new cat & CV joint (He said thats what the knocking noise was from the front, which i had strangely never heard till after he tested it!)

Took it to a local garage that a friend recommended for welding, and the quote was 45 quid

He said the only rust is surface rust, which it can't fail on. He said the top mount was extremely slack, and when tightened up nothing had any play in what so ever (whether FAST did this to create the knocking i don' know...) And after warming the car up and holding the revs at 4 - 5k it flew through emissions testing (and has never failed on it since)

So the only thing he could do was put it through an MOT and pass it!

I now use a garage in stockton town centre, H R HICKSON MOTORS. Fantastic little garage, the work is top notch, and the prices are extremely reasonable! Really honest garage and a nice friendly atmosphere too. Have used them for everything from welding to MOT's & servicing over the last few years and plan to continue going there! Would highly recommend them.

Car flew through its MOT there in February, not bad for a 14 year old high miler!

I can see from a lot of peoples comments they have negative comments i can only say of the positive experiences i have had of this garage. I have had two puntos serviced and MOT`d from these guys from 2004 till now and i have nothing but praise for these guys.

The linkage on my wiper blade broke on the A66 in terrible conditions so took it straight in they fixed it for £15 and let me and the missus take the courtesy car for some dinner.

I don't feel like i have ever been overcharged by these guys compared to other garages dealer or not.

Last week the battery they fitted with a new starter motor a BOSCH S4 failed after only 10 months an AA call-out confirmed this i rang these guys up and they couldn't be helpful enough they said bring it in and they will get it replaced which i did last friday they replaced the battery and topped up the oil while my and my daughter went for some breakfast after i asked how much for the oil and they wouldnt take any money off me for it.

I realise other people seem to have had bad experiences with this garage but I cant recommend them enough and as i can only speak from previous experience i have never heard them be anything but polite and explained everything they have done or have to do before starting work.

Jason