9 May 2009 - Don't Skimp on Repairs

During this difficult financial period it is tempting to have your VW fixed by the lowest bidder. All I can say is beware! There are several people around the county and the country who will fix your VW on the cheap which is fine until things go wrong.

We are currently doing work on a vehicle that has been worked on by non-specialists and mobile welders. The bus is a death trap. It may have got an MOT over the past few years because the bodywork was solid and could resist the MOT testers' hammer.........but how would the bus fare in a crash? Well for a start the pop-riveted seatbelt mounts would have easily given way at the point of impact...the remaining bodywork would have then folded like a sheet of paper. These are family vehicles! look after your families and get them repaired properly!

Ah, but the guy that fixes my VW works at a garage by day, surely thats OK. NO. He or she may be a fine mechanic or welder but working at home they have no insurance and often the job is compromised by a lack of facilities/specialist tools/ramps and the working environment. These people also threaten the garages they work for by stealing work. With no liability insurance there is no comeback - regular garages have millions of pounds worth of cover - it's the law!

Sorry for the rant but I'm fed up of seeing poorly repaired vehicles entering my workshop. As a family man I just can't understand the way people put their lives and their childrens lives at risk for the sake of saving a few pounds.