If you want very cheap rubbish cars that fall apart and astronomical parts cost, just try Renault. That is the worst I have found so far.

Parts / labour cost similar to Audi/ VW and quality/ fit and finish of their new cars is diabolical. I had a new shape megane (briefly) which used to red line itself from startup when a vacuume pipe came loose. Also they had a known bug with the body computer that disabled the aircon and requires software upgrade to fix. Dealer would not help as it was one year out of warranty. "you can take our aircon service at £120 where we top up the gas (which it didnt need) and plug it into the computer to read the fault codes. Any other work required will be £120 / hour. Never again. Still I suppose they have to fund F1 somehow.
Fiat is very cheap compared to those crooks.

I think I quoted on this seatbelt about 6 times!!! Is this the one that has rubbed right through the belt?

I'd make sure you sort out the problem before fitting the new one or you could end up in the same situation again!

I will resist the temptation to join in the earlier argument lol!

just do what i do, have 3 stilo's in the household so if something like a seatbelt goes and you need it for an MOT, just swap one from the others for that day. Then you have a bit more time to sort it out and have a look round some scrapyards

I did that for my brakelight switch, gave me that extra day to buy the one from fiat that didnt actually fit in the slot and then modify it. works like a charm :devil:

Obviously this isnt FF or any kind of official advice as its probably illegal *cough*

Things like seatbelts shouldn't be ignored though, they really can be a matter of life or death

john55 said:

If you want very cheap rubbish cars that fall apart and astronomical parts cost, just try Renault. That is the worst I have found so far.

Parts / labour cost similar to Audi/ VW and quality/ fit and finish of their new cars is diabolical. I had a new shape megane (briefly) which used to red line itself from startup when a vacuume pipe came loose. Also they had a known bug with the body computer that disabled the aircon and requires software upgrade to fix. Dealer would not help as it was one year out of warranty. "you can take our aircon service at £120 where we top up the gas (which it didnt need) and plug it into the computer to read the fault codes. Any other work required will be £120 / hour. Never again. Still I suppose they have to fund F1 somehow.
Fiat is very cheap compared to those crooks.

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Agreed!!! exhaust manifold for my 98 megane couple.........800pounds +vat + labour, 1400pounds +vat, thank you very much!!! I ended up taken the manifold off by myself and a mate (3hrs + some beer, 3pounds?) weld it back together (30mins?) put them back together (2hrs + some more beer, 4pounds) total bill? less than a tenner vs 1400pounds + vat which Renault wants!!!!

Mudflaps for a current astra - £60, and £40 for the half hour labour to fit them (full labour rate was £80ph) at a local main vauxhall dealer. Needless to say when we changed the astra for another we didnt bother with them again! I remember a number of years ago dad getting quoted £300 for a new rear exhaust for the honda by the dealer which would take 3 weeks to arrive from Belgium - they also stated it was a specialist part that could only be bought through honda. He got on the phone to the local tyre and exhaust place who had one delivered THE SAME DAY and fitted at a cost of £80. Same thing when a suspension bush went. Honda wanted over 400 quid for the parts. He got the parts from a rover dealer (this was back when hondas and rovers were basically the same underneath) for £150 and a local mechanic fitted it for a lot less than 100 quid! Just shows how certain dealers and manufactuers take the P when it comes to parts and servicing. Needless to say from then on the car was serviced by an independant as it was out of warranty anyway!