Have used KF near me for tyres and exhaust replacement - excellent quick, cheap and polite service. But, same branch offered me a brake check and advised that new front discs and pads were needed - quote was £360. Asked them to break the quote down which they did. Discs and pads came to £360 - fitting was free. Went to main Citroen dealers (it was a BX) - pads £15-99, discs were £29 a pair, new screws 50p each, 4 needed , extortionate! With help of neighbour (I'm not very mechanically minded!) did the job in about 2 hours.
Moral of story - I use them for tyres and exhausts but not brake disc/pad replacement.
By the way, my local motor factors place did the discs for about £16 a pair! And my neighbour, who is very mechanically minded reckoned the pads had another 5000 miles in them and the discs about 20k.
Shop around and get different quotes!
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I am sorry, I cannot read this thread without posting.
Poeple, I suppose, are absolutely right when it comes to opinions on individual branches of Kwik-Fit.
to say it again - they are not all rip-off merchants. I have been into my local KF many times, and many times have been told that a simple repair is all that is needed, rather than the high-cost work that a mechanic would suggest.
I have been into KF with weird noises coming from my csr, fearing the worst, and again been told by KF mechanics that is wasn't a big problem.
I have also been there with, I don't know now, a battery problem, a tyre problem, it doesn't matter what - but they will *always* tell me if work needs to be done, or if it can wait, or if it doesn't need to be done at all. Amd if it doesn't need to be done at all then ten times out of ten they will make some little adjustment, to something, that sorts out whatever problem there was.
Maybe I'm just very lucky. I've used these guys ever since I started driving, and it really surprised me when I first saw anti-KF comments on the site!
All I can do, is for anyone in my area, is to recommend a KF outfit on Perry Hall Road. It truly is good, and my previously very cynical other half now trusts them too.
Good luck to the poster
HF
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HF,
You may very well be right - as I said, I have found them excellent for tyres and exhausts (I shouldn't admit it but I have an account with them!!) but I think it always pays to get a second opinion and, as others have said, so much depends on the local manager. If you have found a good 'un, good, but there seem to be some managers who are out to make what they can. No doubt they will be found out in time - same with most businesses I guess - there are good and bad - and Perry Hall Road is one to bear in mind - well done the manager and staff there!
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Hi Phil,
I also have an account - is that something to be very ashamed of?
I think I *have* been lucky, having heard many stories on the site about other KF outfits, and I agree completely that it doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. And, I think we do have a good 'un!
I've also got a very good and trustworthy local mechanic, but for certain things his prices are way higher than KF's. I'm maybe a little ignorant, but for virtually *any* problem I have with my car, I ask the KF people first - and so far I have always had an honest answer - either it's ok, or we can do it for you, or that we can't, but we'd imagine it would cost £whatever. But they will *always* tell me if something doesn;t really need doing.
They *are* good, and I wonder if HJ would consider putting them on his list of recommended garages/repairers? Not quite sure how to do this other than email HJ himself who I gather is pretty inundated at the moment.
In any case, I agree with you totally about second opinions, but also think that I have indeed got a good KF!
Thanks for your reply,
HF
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My first ever MOT test was carried out by a KF branch who diagnosed a serious fault but, on their own initiative, repaired the item rather than hit me for a replacement part. That step saved me (and lost them) serious money.
Later, the local KF was always a source of good advice and free help with minor issues. In return, I bought my tyres through them.
More recently, SWMBO's tyre punctured and needed replacement. The manager of the (different) KF site near her work was offhand, unhelpful, and when I bristled he had the cheek to ask me what choice did I have anyway as the tyre was knackered? I showed him what choice I had by going to another tyre fitter about 1/2 mile down the road.
Later, we moved and the (new) nearest KF is helpful, polite, competitive, and had stock when others did not.
I think the message of this thread is that KF is not a uniform company like (say) McDonalds or Starbucks. You have to form an opinion about each site.
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Doc - Whilst it was the case a couple of years ago I think you will find they are no longer owned by Ford.At the tome they were good for Ford bits including Cats.
I believe they were bought back by the original founder , Scottish chap (Sir Tom Farmer?).
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Tome = Large book.
Time = what I meant to type!
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One difficulty is that different people will have different experiences at the same Kwik Fit site.
The one in Bicester is, in my opinion, excellent.
On the other hand I know another guy in the village who really dislikes them.
I have to say that I don't know why people worry about this myth (?) that they do more work than is neccessary. On occasion they have suggested something which I don't think is needed at that time, and I simply say no.
Sometimes I ask them to show me the dodgy bit and to show me how a new one is different.
Perhaps they recommend a change a bit sooner than is absolutely neccessary, but I've never had them invent something.
They're like anyone else, they're in this for a profit. But within that, I find them reasonable and usually with good service.
I doubt I'd let them do anythying to the engine, but tyres, exhausts, brakes and suspension seem to be things that they're good at.
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But not cheap.
Aforementioned part, they quoted £140 for (and 'free' fitting) - would it be an original part they'd use?
Local motor factor, £48 including full fitting kit. How long to fit a replacement: 4 bolts to undo (industrial quantities of WD40 maybe)? That's one hell of a profit margin.
Using a local garage would surely be much cheaper. People agree?
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Good for - Oil & Filter changes
Bad for - everything else ! ......
Had an old Volvo 360 once, needed new exhaust. Since KF cheaper than Volvo ('and just as good' - KF), got them to do it. Notice after fitting that exhaust doesn't look same - seems to be nearly dangling on floor. KF assure me this is OK.
After driving for a few days, notice exhaust scrapes when mounting driveways etc. Complain to KF - tell me exhaust OK. Get exhaust checked at v.friendly Volvo dealer in Camden. Lets me look under car - the exhaust DOESN'T FIT ! KF, despite writing to head office, refuse to replace.
KF discs and pads - I can source these for my Corolla, and have them fitted by local mechanic, for nearly same price as KF - BUT - they are genuine Toyota parts.
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I'm insured through KF as it was the cheapest on the market last April. I have no idea what their after accident service is like though.
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Tom Farmer has started another tyre/exhaust chain up here in Scotland,nothing to do with Kwik-Fit anymore,but still personally owned some of the depots,so they are now back to being his.Ford no longer own them either.Not sure who does now,really. Also Hometune,which was KF owned is now no more.It ended in December last year.
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