AA Car Servicing - Highly Recommend!

justindublin · 10-10-2010 09:43PM #1

Right, Admittedly this might sound a little like an advert, but its more of a 'word or mouth' kinda thing than anything else.

For the last few weeks my 2005 TDI Golf has been crying out for a service and having been financially raped in the past from fairly respectable garages I decided to go with the AA instead.

I had a call out a few weeks ago from a patrol when I had an electrical problem and the AA guy truly went above and beyond (He drove to buy the new part, came back, then fitted it) so I decided i'd give their servicing a try.

Anyway, me having arsed up the booking I accidental book the service for this morning (Sunday) at 9am which I guess answers anybodys question as to how flexible they are.

Bang on 9am the patrol arrived in a pretty fancy looking 'AA Service and Repair' giant van. It was different from normal patrols, different fit out and alot more pricey looking, really sound bloke too.

The whole thing takes place in your garden so I left the guy too it and luckily he left all the noisy stuff till last so not to piss off my neighbours lol

The whole thing took him about 90-120mins and there was something really comforting knowing it wasn't being rushed and if there was anything major wrong he'd knock in, drag me out and show me - rather than the normal vague call from a garage.

Once the job was done he went through everything major he'd done plus anything I should get checked by a dealer or by calling the AA and arranging a booking. For example my engine is leaking a little oil the last few months and only way to check that is obviously up on a ramp and cleaned.

Anyway, this has gotta be the most pleasant car servicing I've ever experienced so thought i'd come on and recommend it since so many people usually only have horror stories from other places!

Oh and BTW, running like a charm! It was a FULL service on a MK5 Golf TDI, and I got a detailed check list of the 70+ points checked plus a little summary - €220

Just scared of the leak now

Savage Job!

J

mondeo · 10-10-2010 09:47PM

Good for you if it worked out for you..... Not a hugh fan of the AA myself...

unkel · 10-10-2010 09:50PM

Wasn't aware of this service. Glad it worked out well for you, OP!

mondeo wrote: »

Not a hugh fan of the AA myself...

Any reason why not?

justindublin · 10-10-2010 09:53PM

mondeo wrote: »

Good for you if it worked out for you..... Not a hugh fan of the AA myself...

Yea i'd one bad experience about two years ago at Christmas when they refused me a patrol because i'd already had had three in the previous 11 months. Left me stranded.

Nothing a ranting letter didnt sort tho, plus its more the arsey admin staff in the Head Office because the patrol guys are normally dead on.

unkel · 10-10-2010 09:59PM

justindublin wrote: »

Yea i'd one bad experience about two years ago at Christmas when they refused me a patrol because i'd already had had three in the previous 11 months. Left me stranded.

You're a bit economical with the truth there, aren't you?

The official AA policy (fair use policy) is that you can have 5 call outs in a (membership) year. After that you get a letter in the post that you've reached the maximum number of call outs and that you will be charged should you have another call out in that year. No, they will not leave you stranded, unless of course you still refuse to pay them even after having been warned in the letter

mondeo · 10-10-2010 10:02PM

unkel wrote: »

Wasn't aware of this service. Glad it worked out well for you, OP!

Any reason why not?

Use to use them years ago, they were ok generally.... weren't very helpful the time I needed a simple jump start from home. Thats going back a long time ago but I believe these things are inclusive in their current policies.
Some things just stick with you and this one did. I have not generally heard anything bad about them and if I really needed a breakdown policy I would go with them.

_Kaiser_ · 10-10-2010 10:05PM

I was with the AA until 2 years ago when my new insurance policy included the Rescue/Home Start equivalents through them.. haven't called them yet though so no idea if they're any good!

But, had cause to call the AA a few times in the past and was very satisfied (including one call when the Merc E-class I'd been given as a loaner while my old Passat was in for service ran out of petrol!... not my fault though! The fuel guage was broken and I'd only put 20 quid into it the day before! Thirsty fecker!!

)

More details on the AA site here, but:

- You have to be an AA member or Insurance customer
- You have to be in Dublin

Pity.. my 06 Passat needs some TLC at the moment and I'll have to get it done somewhere. Don't suppose anyone can recommend a decent indy in Cavan/Meath?

mickdw · 10-10-2010 10:06PM

What did ya get changed in the service?
Nothing cheap about them.

frank gooding · 10-10-2010 10:23PM

Nice to hear a positive thread for a change.

Normally someone moaning or something gone worng.

220 seems very reasonable for a through inspection and service.

We are talking at least 3 hours by the time the guy drove to the house did the job and the fact that it was Sunday too.

10-10-2010 10:26PM

justindublin wrote: »

It was a FULL service on a MK5 Golf TDI, and I got a detailed check list of the 70+ points checked plus a little summary - €220

Just scared of the leak now

Savage Job!

J

You've paid €220 for a full service and are completely in the dark as to where it is leaking from. Doesn't sound like a whoopideedodaa service to me to be honest. A VW specialist or a half decent independent chap would probably have that pin pointed fairly lively. Good that you're happy but there's nothing there to encourage me to use that AA mobile service.

Also as somone asked above, what did the service entail ? If it was oil, oil filter, air filter and nothing else €220 is not overly fantastic, fuel filter changed too I would think ??. 70 point check sounds lovely but 40 odd of them are no doubt simple at a glance checks.

Divorce Referendum · 10-10-2010 10:30PM

RoverJames wrote: »

You've paid €220 for a full service and are completely in the dark as to where it is leaking from. Doesn't sound like a whoopideedodaa service to me to be honest. A VW specialist or a half decent independent chap would probably have that pin pointed fairly lively. Good that you're happy but there's nothing there to encourage me to use that AA mobile service.

Also as somone asked above, what did the service entail ? If it was oil, oil filter, air filter and nothing else €220 is not overly fantastic, fuel filter changed too I would think ??. 70 point check sounds lovely but 40 odd of them are no doubt simple at a glance checks.

I suppose he actually called to the customers house unlike most mechanics and didnt have access to a ramp.

unkel · 10-10-2010 10:30PM

mondeo wrote: »

Use to use them years ago, they were ok generally.... weren't very helpful the time I needed a simple jump start from home. Thats going back a long time ago but I believe these things are inclusive in their current policies.

The basic package does NOT include calling out to your home. Not back then and not now. If that is why you're not a huge fan of the AA, maybe you should instead blame someone else who didn't read his contract

Seth Brundle · 10-10-2010 10:33PM

@unkel - the AA have been doing Home Start for several years now
http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/AA-Membership.aspx
(I used it years ago on my old E30 after I had loaned out my own charger)

edit - sorry I see the word "Basic" in your post now!

unkel · 10-10-2010 10:38PM

kbannon wrote: »

@unkel - the AA have been doing Home Start for several years now
http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/AA-Membership.aspx
(I used it years ago on my old E30 after I had loaned out my own charger)

edit - sorry I see the word "Basic" in your post now!

I've been a member (with Home Start

) for about 10 years now

justindublin · 10-10-2010 10:41PM

unkel wrote: »

You're a bit economical with the truth there, aren't you?

The official AA policy (fair use policy) is that you can have 5 call outs in a (membership) year. After that you get a letter in the post that you've reached the maximum number of call outs and that you will be charged should you have another call out in that year. No, they will not leave you stranded, unless of course you still refuse to pay them even after having been warned in the letter

Nope Truthful. The car went from...
Breakdown Location > AA Compound > Dealer
That counts as two call outs ya see and it happen me twice. Add the morning I needed a jump start and ya got my quota for the year.

Yea I refused to pay because I sorted a tow for free instead of the fee.

10-10-2010 10:45PM

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

I suppose he actually called to the customers house unlike most mechanics and didnt have access to a ramp.

No doubt

So is the moral of the story if your car is leaking oil getting it serviced on your drive by a mobile mechanic may not be the way to go.

unkel · 10-10-2010 10:52PM

justindublin wrote: »

Nope Truthful. The car went from...
Breakdown Location > AA Compound > Dealer
That counts as two call outs ya see and it happen me twice. Add the morning I needed a jump start and ya got my quota for the year.

Yea I refused to pay because I sorted a tow for free instead of the fee.

Thanks for the update

Your quota of, eh, yes, 5 then?

Divorce Referendum · 10-10-2010 10:53PM

RoverJames wrote: »

No doubt
So is the moral of the story if your car is leaking oil getting it serviced on your drive by a mobile mechanic may not be the way to go.

Depends on your situation I suppose. Sunday afternoon is handy, not many if any mechanics available on a sunday. If a mechanic isnt close by it can be handy too. Im guessing a oil leak might need parts that wouldnt be accesible on a sunday perhaps. The op mentioned the mechanic suggesting to bring it to an AA centre to properly diagnose the leak so more cost again im guessing. A few plusses and a few negatives in this particular case.

justindublin · 10-10-2010 10:53PM

RoverJames wrote: »

You've paid €220 for a full service and are completely in the dark as to where it is leaking from. Doesn't sound like a whoopideedodaa service to me to be honest. A VW specialist or a half decent independent chap would probably have that pin pointed fairly lively. Good that you're happy but there's nothing there to encourage me to use that AA mobile service.

Also as somone asked above, what did the service entail ? If it was oil, oil filter, air filter and nothing else €220 is not overly fantastic, fuel filter changed too I would think ??. 70 point check sounds lovely but 40 odd of them are no doubt simple at a glance checks.

Always one.

VW Specialist almost made me sell organs last time for a "basic" service.
Rip off merchants of the highest order. A girl outta the office has a fella who works for a VW dealer in south Dublin, who at the last Christmas party openly admitted they cut corners with filters etc and "tug tug, tap tap" so you'll be back. No thanks.

To find the source of a leak you need to ramp the car and clean the block so you can find it. I like my garden path so I opted not to go for it but instead drop it into their center instead. No 'decent chap' I know would be able to 'pin point' a leak without doing exactly what the AA recommended. I'm sure if it was important he would marked it so on the sheet.

Full Service. Exactly what it says on the thin.
You seem to know your stuff so I wont break it down.
Everything was changed, I watched as he put the old ones into the bag.

What 70 point check doesn't included visual items?
What you want, a 5 point service?
"We changed the oils but we didn't check the tyres, or lights, or pads, or wipers."

justindublin · 10-10-2010 10:55PM

unkel wrote: »

Thanks for the update

Your quota of, eh, yes, 5 then?

I still maintain it shoulda only been 3 calls outs :P

What happens if I reach my 5 while its int eh compound. Do I ever get my car back? :eek:

justindublin · 10-10-2010 11:00PM

RoverJames wrote: »

No doubt
So is the moral of the story if your car is leaking oil getting it serviced on your drive by a mobile mechanic may not be the way to go.

Yup, still tho. In the last year i've gone through maybe 2 bottles and never once seen a dot my driveway or parking spot so doubt she's gonna blow.

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

Depends on your situation I suppose. Sunday afternoon is handy, not many if any mechanics available on a sunday. If a mechanic isnt close by it can be handy too. Im guessing a oil leak might need parts that wouldnt be accesible on a sunday perhaps. The op mentioned the mechanic suggesting to bring it to an AA centre to properly diagnose the leak so more cost again im guessing. A few plusses and a few negatives in this particular case.

Considering I rank my previous mechanics and dealers on par with pedophiles this has largely been positive.
Perfect Service going on in my garden at a decent price, while I made a fry.

mondeo · 11-10-2010 12:26AM

unkel wrote: »

The basic package does NOT include calling out to your home. Not back then and not now. If that is why you're not a huge fan of the AA, maybe you should instead blame someone else who didn't read his contract

I knew that then but I asked would they come out under 'good will' as I was in a bad way only starting a new job. If they would not honour such a simple good will request like that under the circumstances then they can feck off...:rolleyes:

unkel · 11-10-2010 08:19AM

mondeo wrote: »

I knew that then but I asked would they come out under 'good will' as I was in a bad way only starting a new job. If they would not honour such a simple good will request like that under the circumstances then they can feck off...:rolleyes:

I'm in a bad way. Will you give me €50? No? You can feck off too then

Seriously - what were you thinking???? You're bad mouthing the AA because they didn't provide you with a service you hadn't paid for??????

coylemj · 11-10-2010 11:17AM

Getting a cheap service is easy - buy a car that uses long-life oil and go down the country for your service. I have a 2007 VW Golf GT 1.4 TSI, it's 168 bhp so not in the Micra class. I've had it serviced twice in a VW dealer down the country (Al Hayes in Portumna), total cost for the two services was 240 euros.

AA Car Servicing - Highly Recommend!

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