Just quoted £630 to get car through MOT - any point?

[Old Mac Rocco]

I'm sure if you got all you needed and advertised on here for a mechanic someone would be able to help out.
There is a lot of people unemployed or on short time and would look forward to a days work and a few quid for a few beers on a weekend.
Might be worth putting a few feelers out and see what response you get.

[jim91]

Most dealers charge £60 an hour if not more, independant garages about £25 and you're not getting more know how with a dealer with standard servicing etc.
It's nice to have a stamped service book, but isn't cost effective imho! I would have thought that including parts new brakes etc £150 tops, new clutch and fitted £150?
It's hard to get someone good you can trust though so can see why you'd be reluctant to change, but someone on here bound to be able reccommend good mechanic in your area dude

[steve GT VW]

I had a similar situation a few years back, but my cost was nearly £1500.00 to fix all the problems, I bit the bullet and had the work done, very glad I did have done another 150,000 miles since and it has passed the MOT every year since without cost, if you like the car and you intend to keep it, then why not, you could buy another good car, but you will not know what needs to be done, where as you know whats been done on yours, mine is a daily driver covering 30,000 plus miles a year.

Steve

[chadwick]

Cheers, I'm not going to a dealer though. It's a local garage in a back street that just happens to specialise in Volkswagens. They might not necessarily be the cheapest (quoted me about £300 to replace the clutch), but they do know their stuff. I've taken the car to other garages in the past, and they were completely clueless and cost me more in the long term. Other garages have had NO idea what to do with the carbs, or where to source parts from.

I've coughed up the money now, but when the clutch and gearbox do finally give out, I reckon I might take your advice and shop around a bit.