Broken car exhaust

[ladypenelope]

I know my car has a problem with it's exhaust - I can hear it!  I've taken it to a few of those national repair centres but tried another one today only to be told that my brake discs and pads are knackered as well .  Anyway if I want the lot repairing it'll ONLY BE £330 .  

 £330!!!!    That was me falling over laughing at the ONLY £330 interspersed with some very colourful language and not at all ladylike

They attempted to use scare tactics - your brakes might fail - your exhaust might fall off.  I really recommend you get it sorted today - yes I always carry £330 around with me!  Are they scare tactics??

B*****y car is only worth tuppence!!

I'm in a quandary - my car is old and not worth anything monetary but to me it's worth a fortune and I like my car and it's cheap as chips to insure.  I can't afford to buy a new one and I just don't know what to do...

I'm only having a moan - sorry but I know it's going to irritate me for the rest of the weekend.

[OliverB]

Those national places charge top-whack. Do you know anyone who could recommend an independent garage? One national chain wanted to charge me almost £400 to repair a knackered driver seat; a back-steet garage did it for £80

[Raffles]

ladypenelope... I run a 20+ year old Volvo 940, and it fits me like an old slipper. I used to take it back to where I bought it for servicing and any problems, which was about 25 miles away, which was a problem on it's own. I practically always got a phone call to say they'd found another problem that needed fixing.

Anyway about 5 years ago I had a 'blow out' very close to home, so I had the 'tow truck' take me to the nearest garage, which, because of their ridiculous petrol prices, I'd never considered. However, their garage services are brilliant and very much 'value for money'. I've used them ever since and never had an attempt to con extra cash out me. Plus I can drop it off and walk home.

Have you asked neighbours for any recommendations?

[chrisjw]

Brakes are a common con, 'cos you can't see them..........find a little local garage & get them to look at the exhaust................don't mention the brakes.......wait to see if they say anything about them.

[enjay]

All these big companies do this, they all tell you you need brakes regardless and want to charge twice the price for the parts never mind the labour. Go find an independent or get a haynes manual and some spanners.

I've been teaching my neighbours how to do their own brakes, what to check, how to check etc etc.

If someone tells you you need brakes get them to explain exactly why and show you the evidence, that's what we do at my mates place.

[ladypenelope]

Thank you raffles and chrisjw

Funnily enough I was just talking to my neighbour over the fence - like you do and he has recommended a local garage which he takes his car to and they don't charge a fortune so I'll give them a go.

Regarding the brakes - a long as they work that's fine by me and anyway when the discs are going you can hear and feel them scraping which I can't at the moment. The exhaust is the first thing I've got to get sorted - the noise is really beginning to get on my nerves and everyone looks

[ladypenelope]

They were definitely playing on the 'female doesn't know anything' but I'm not as daft as I look and I certainly didn't believe them about the discs - they looked OK to me - luckily I remembered someone showing me good ones and bad ones before and as I say they looked fine to me. I won't be getting out spanners and Manual - my talents lie in other areas. I'll leave sort of thing to people who know what they are doing!

I do however need to change my drivers seat - it's all bent and twisted. But I will have a go at that once I've found one in a scrap yard!