Not impressed with my enquiry this morning with D Salmon Cars of Colchester. I enquired about the first service costs for my GPS 1.4. Was quoted £248. I told them I was pretty shocked at the price and would leave it. Within five minutes they telephoned me back and quoted for the following service levels: Gold - £199; Silver - £159 & Bronze £99.99!!

Apparently the first quote I was given for £248 was Fiat's service cost. The next three costs are D. Salmon's servicing costs. What worries me is that if I had just accepted the first quote I wouldn't be any the wiser of the cheaper prices. At the same time I feel I have lost my trust totally in this dealership. I have booked my GPS in for 2 weeks time but, in the meantime, I shall be comparing prices elsewhere.

Glyn Hopkin Fiat
301-305 Norwich Road,
Ipswich,
Suffolk,
IP1 4BP

Just rang Glyn Hopkin in Ipswich. £264.86!! I didn't bother asking them if they had any other pricing tiers. Just not interested in being ripped of by Fiat dealers.

Thanks for the suggestion Dave. Think I will go back to my usual trusted mechanic Phil and know I will be getting a good job done.

phone um back an say they have got it wrong.

another good independent is

CAPEL STATION GARAGE
01473 730 002

OLD STATION YARD
BENTLEY HALL ROAD (its just off the A12)
CAPEL ST MARY
IPSWICH IP9 2JL

they use fiat parts

dave said:

phone um back an say they have got it wrong.

another good independent is

CAPEL STATION GARAGE
01473 730 002

OLD STATION YARD
BENTLEY HALL ROAD (its just off the A12)
CAPEL ST MARY
IPSWICH IP9 2JL

they use fiat parts

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But have they got it wrong? Thats the price that Fiat menu pricing states for the vehicle!

Kezza said:

Not impressed with my enquiry this morning with D Salmon Cars of Colchester. I enquired about the first service costs for my GPS 1.4. Was quoted £248. I told them I was pretty shocked at the price and would leave it.

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Wait till the second service is due, you are in for an even bigger shock

we havent payed anything for the services because we bought the prepayed service pack thing off of arnold clark includes the cost of the first mot as well.

Carl "Rolf" Dawson said:

we havent payed anything for the services

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Get real Carl :bang:......you have paid for them, or rather your parents have. Buying the service package means you are just paying for them upfront when you buy the car.

sledge said:

Get real Carl :bang:......you have paid for them, or rather your parents have. Buying the service package means you are just paying for them upfront when you buy the car.

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T.J. Vickers quoted me £286 for the 2nd service, £264 seems a bit steep for the first when you consider the extras on the 2nd service.

Carl "Rolf" Dawson said:

we havent payed anything for the services because we bought the prepayed service pack thing off of arnold clark includes the cost of the first mot as well.

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I'm always wary of buying services in batches in case the garage closes down or the good mechanic you trust leaves and is replaced by a bodger.

Sadly these days garage closures are looking more likely with the dropdown in sales.

I had a call from TJ Vickers on friday. telling me they have booked me in service on tuesday as it is now due. I was a bit off with them I said i havent asked for a service.

I said how much will this cost me - they said


FREE!!!!

Which is a good job as i was getting a bit worried i wouldnt have the money when the service was due.

sammiboo said:

I said how much will this cost me - they said


FREE!!!!

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omg how come

good write up on FF

Thomas_Si said:

T.J. Vickers quoted me £286 for the 2nd service, £264 seems a bit steep for the first when you consider the extras on the 2nd service.

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Just had my second service with TJ Vickers and it was £147.

Just go for a gold/silver/bronze dealer 'generic' service. You still get the exact same stamp in the book, which lets face it, with a modern car as long as the oil and filter is changed is all you actually need to have done.

not the Fiat gold/silver/bronze services I take it?

payney1 said:

omg how come

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I bought it in June so they said the sales department will cover the costs. Although i didnt expect them to.

I am taking the car in tomorrow morning so will let you know how I get on.

sammiboo said:

I bought it in June so they said the sales department will cover the costs. Although i didnt expect them to.

I am taking the car in tomorrow morning so will let you know how I get on.

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I'm jealous although they serviced my car for free when I bought it as it was 14 months old.

T14086 said:

not the Fiat gold/silver/bronze services I take it?

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Could have been a Fiat gold/silver/bronze. I just took it as being a generic service as it was so much cheaper than the usual Fiat prices.

car not back yet...

I am currently driving a bumble bee (black and yellow 500)

I had a call this afternoon saying they needed to work on the steering column. I am guessing this is to do with the recall. Anyway they said i could keep onto the 500 and the car should be ready tomorrow at 3pm

Will let you know how i get on when i get it back

you mean 'lower shaft' ?