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Panda 2012+ Servicing my 2014 panda

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Panda 2012+ Servicing my 2014 panda

Darrenandrew said:
Will do. I can increase my budget but not by much. I think a recommended garage is ideal so I am not taken to the cleaners🙂
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FYI. - the same VVT FIRE engine was in the 500,.... And Ford Ka

SO a garage experienced in small fords is also a fair option
 
rmjbn1 said:
I wouldn't go near KwikFit personally, but then I do as much of my own servicing as I can.

My sister used to use them for oil changes, the one near her used to offer them cheaper than DIY.

I guess a loss leader.

They would give her a long list of other jobs that needed doing on her car.

As long as you're happy to ignore them and drive away, and don't get bullied into giving them extra work, oil & filter change for £30-ish might be worth considering. Not for an MOT though.

And I'd still rather support an independent garage.
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Just one word to mention - Upselling!
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
Service MOT and cam belt all within your £400 budget? Do let us know where you get that done and we'll all line up behind you!
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I've been quoted £477 on click mechanic. But can be a random garage. No need for the sarcastic comment though. We are not all smart arses like you. If you can't be civil. Or helpful. don't reply at all.
 
Darrenandrew said:
I've been quoted £477 on click mechanic. But can be a random garage. No need for the sarcastic comment though. We are not all smart arses like you. If you can't be civil. Or helpful. don't reply at all.
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I'm 64 and I'm in remission from cancer. So I can't do to much for myself. I thought this forum might be helpful. But it seems trolls get everywhere. I will try myself to sort it. God helps those who help themselves. Thanks to the majority who tried to help me.
 
Darrenandrew said:
I'm 64 and I'm in remission from cancer. So I can't do to much for myself. I thought this forum might be helpful. But it seems trolls get everywhere. I will try myself to sort it. God helps those who help themselves. Thanks to the majority who tried to help me.
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I think you've got completely the wrong end of the stick from something, no-one has been anything but helpful in this thread ?!
 
rmjbn1 said:
I wouldn't go near KwikFit personally, but then I do as much of my own servicing as I can.

My sister used to use them for oil changes, the one near her used to offer them cheaper than DIY.

I guess a loss leader.

They would give her a long list of other jobs that needed doing on her car.

As long as you're happy to ignore them and drive away, and don't get bullied into giving them extra work, oil & filter change for £30-ish might be worth considering. Not for an MOT though.

And I'd still rather support an independent garage.
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Many thanks for your input. Much appreciated.
 
Darrenandrew said:
I've been quoted £477 on click mechanic. But can be a random garage. No need for the sarcastic comment though. We are not all smart arses like you. If you can't be civil. Or helpful. don't reply at all.
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I'm very sorry that you feel like that. I was just trying to be "funny", but obviously it didn't work. I'm a retired mechanic with a number of garages around here where I'm a well known face and they give me good prices if something crops up I can't manage due to me being physically not able to cope - I'm considerably older than you. I know non of them would get within sniffing distance of the price you've been quoted, well done. so I genuinely hope it all works out for you and I'm sure folks on here would be very interested to know where you got the work done as I'm sure anyone in the area would be keen to give them a go. That's all I meant with my comment. So sorry if it offended, it most certainly was not my intention.
 
rmjbn1 said:
I'm 100% sure no offence was meant, it's easy to take things the wrong way in text.

Jock's one of the most friendly and helpful people on the forum. I'm sure he'd be mortified if he felt he'd genuinely offended someone on here.

Just a misunderstanding, I've always found this a friendly and supportive forum 🤝
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Thanks for the support rmj. I think everyone will know I would never deliberately try to offend anyone and I'm feeling just a wee bit upset that this chap has taken it in this way. Ah well, that's life I suppose and is as nothing compared to the emotional upheaval I'm still feeling following the death of my brother.

I might say that, if he wants to compare medical problems, I can probably give him a good run for his money including problems with the "big C" and I commiserate with him over the way it limits what you can do.
 
@Darrenandrew To help with a price comparison, one of the best independent Fiat (and Alfa) specialists is near me in Hertfordshire (which I appreciate is not near Nottingham). They list (as a fixed price) £525.83 for a full service and cam belt replacement in the 1.2 Panda, inc VAT, using the correct Selenia oils and genuine or very good OEM parts. See here: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/fiat_Panda_fixed_price_servicing.shtml

Anyone charging less is possibly cutting corners? Changing the belt (on the variable valve timing versions of the 1.2 engine, which yours has) requires model-specific camshaft locking tools. There are several other threads in this forum about how folk have had issues with getting this job right, so its best entrusted to someone very familiar with this engine - ideally an independent Fiat workshop, and possibly not a business whose main function is selling tyres.

Also for comparison with the above price, without doing the cambelt, a full service is £239. (Their price for the correct oil is £12 a litre and the filter a similar £12.)

They also outline the whole cambelt replacement sequence here, and suggest it takes them 2 hours: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/Fiat_500_Panda_Grande_Punto_1.2_cambelt_water_pump_replacement.shtml
 
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Herts Hillhopper said:
To help with a price comparison, one of the best independent Fiat (and Alfa) specialists is near me in Hertfordshire (which I appreciate is not near Nottingham). They list (as a fixed price) £525.83 for a full service and cam belt replacement in the 1.2 Panda, inc VAT, using the correct Selenia oils and genuine or very good OEM parts. See here: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/fiat_Panda_fixed_price_servicing.shtml

Anyone charging less is possibly cutting corners? Changing the belt (on the variable valve timing versions of the 1.2 engine, which yours has) requires model-specific camshaft locking tools. There are several other threads in this forum about how folk have had issues with getting this job right, so its best entrusted to someone very familiar with this engine - ideally an independent Fiat workshop, and possibly not a business whose main function is selling tyres.

Also for comparison with the above price, without doing the cambelt, a full service is £239. (Their price for the correct oil is £12 a litre and the filter a similar £12.)

They also outline the whole cambelt replacement sequence here, and suggest it takes them 2 hours: https://www.fiatworkshop.co.uk/Fiat_500_Panda_Grande_Punto_1.2_cambelt_water_pump_replacement.shtml
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That looks about right to me. Our original poster said his budget was £400 and I just felt, as a person who has managed workshops in the past, that that was not a figure that could keep you in profit. it's just too low for you to make a living from the job. Later in the thread he went on to say he'd been quoted £477 on click mechanic which is not an organization I know, but have heard the name, and I guess they will be comparing prices in his region and offering the best they can find. At £500, using good quality parts and oils, You're in the right ball park I'd say.
 
Pugglt Auld Jock said:
That looks about right to me. Our original poster said his budget was £400 and I just felt, as a person who has managed workshops in the past, that that was not a figure that could keep you in profit. it's just too low for you to make a living from the job. Later in the thread he went on to say he'd been quoted £477 on click mechanic which is not an organization I know, but have heard the name, and I guess they will be comparing prices in his region and offering the best they can find. At £500, using good quality parts and oils, You're in the right ball park I'd say.
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We should also be clarifying whether that includes VAT. FIAT workshop I believe does. @Darrenandrew I think you were saying that your budget was £400 not that you had been quoted that? I don't think there was any disrespect intended in any of the replies more an indirect observation that this was very cheap.
 
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