What would you do?

Need some advice/opinions.18 months ago I bought the 2002 TF 115 with 6 months ticket on it for my son. April last year it failed the Mot on the rear shock absorbers and seized handbrake levers on the rear calipers so, due my long standing back problems, I reluctantly left it at the garage to be sorted out. Apparently it took some doing timewise due to seized/rounded off bolts etc. With all new parts, labour vat and the test the grand total was over £500 :omg: Last week I took it for this years test and it failed on a worn front wheel bearing,both track rod ends and a worn upper ball joint. Easy jobs for me usually but again the garage is repairing it due to my still ongoing back problems. The parts are costing roughly £90 and the garage have estimated around 5 hours labour at £80 hour depending on how easy things come apart.
That said my question is, once it's passed its test, does my lad keep it or sell it as it's fast becoming a money-pit for him as he's on a zero hours contract and I can forsee more expense next year
Just to add, I trust the garage as I've taken my own car there for many years for the MOT.
Thanks for reading this long ramble.

In my experience if you've already spent all of that you may aswell keep it, ive had upto date cars before that there was always something wrong with and it reached the point where i refused to fix some small thing as everytime i repaired something, something else would go wrong!

Would it be worthwhile getting someone like Russell to sort it out. Does a great job and doesn't charge £80 per hour. Failing that there are many members on this forum who may be able to give you a hand. As you say, its not too drastic to do.

£80 an hour labour???

My local jaguar dealer doesn't charge much more than that!!

Isn't your lad handy with the spanners??

It'd be a good father/son bonding session with him doing the work under your supervision :broon:

That's how I learnt what I know.

Did consider supervising him Andy but unfortunately using a spanner is not one of his skills and would more than likely lead to un-bonding between us lol. Besides the car is booked in for this Tuesday as the MOT expires on Friday and he needs the car for work.

Im in the same boat ive got a list as long as my arm of faults that needed doin or still need doin .. ive just last weekend changed both front track rod ends . Upper and lower ball joints and drop links all parts where good quality and only cost 80 quid but I did have to buy a ball joint splitter . 46mm deepsocket and drill bits but it came apart easy enough.

But yea lol I still dont no if I should just get rid of mine ...time will tell

Yea it's a shame really that they're not better build quality........such a nice car. Full marks to you for the repairs you've done. The frustrating part for me is the fact that I can do the jobs needed but am unable to, that and paying the garage to do them for me. :bang:

I realise you have confidence in the garage you use but tbh honest, they sound a bit pricey to me. As Andy says £80 an hour is what main dealers charge. Not only that but a pair of shocks, a pair of rear calipers should not cost £500+ to fit. Even allowing for seized bolts etc, they ought to be able to do both those jobs inside 3 hours and the parts would be less than £100 or so (guessing on the shocks to be fair)

That suggests they are being a bit flexible with they're hours worked calculations to me

you're committed on the current job list I suppose but it would be worth getting a good MG Rover specialist, possibly a mobile one, to give it the once over I suspect

Vector wrote: The parts are costing roughly £90 and the garage have estimated around 5 hours labour at £80 hour depending on how easy things come apart.

Nah... :dry: That's way too much, seriously. I always use the same two guys ( one Polish, one Asian) who have set up a little garage on a local industrial estate. They're grafters and they never fleece me. Plus they quote me for the whole job before starting. That job would be roughly 200 quid. Maybe 250 on a bad day. I use them because they're good, inexpensive and most importantly they don't bullshit me!

Vector wrote: Just to add, I trust the garage as I've taken my own car there for many years for the MOT.

They probably like you too.

The car's worth sorting but not at those prices. I'd be finding a new garage or a mobile mechanic. They do exist but you might have to search around a bit to find them. Make some calls and ask for some quotes as your first job.

Where in the world are you? Maybe someone has a recommendation nearby to you.

My old man used to use the same garage for his mark 2 golf gti and his escort rs2000 ,he used the same garage for over 20 years for servicing , mot and repairs but he soon realised he was getting fleeced and started to question the bills ... I think they take people who use them regularly for granted and regardless of how well u think u no them they are there to make money.

my dad ended up getting the work done cheaper by the manufacturer dealer and was much happier with it in the long run.

mg rover solutions has a great reputation on many mg and rover forums .. ive not used them personally but when the time comes that theres something I cant do myself they will be the ones I call. They come to your house aswell so no need to drop it off and pick it up.

plenty people on here have used them and have only ever heard sterling things about them and there work im sure there worth a call and im sure people who have used them will give you more details on them.

I think for you its time to break the mould and use some one else

Thanks to those who've replied and your input. Obviously the general opinion is that I'm paying far too much, mostly through my ignorance of garage charges due to having done all my own repairs except for the last two years. In fact to be honest your replies have got my gander up a bit and I intend to question the garage tomorrow regarding its charges and time taken to do the repairs if I think the bill to be too much. :bat: Will keep you posted.

I pay £45/hr labour when I need it at an independent garage where the owner also builds rally cars. However wage rates are much lower in the Highlands than most of the rest of the UK so where you live(?) could be affecting the rate.

Richard