service and cambelt: cheap but dodgy dealer or good but expensive one?

[TomH]

Got a dilemma here -

I'm due for a 4 year/40k service including cambelt, as well as MOT.

My nearest dealer who I've used before and are quite good, including good reviews on here have quoted around £660 for all that.

My second nearest dealer who get terrible reviews on here and people have warned to ignore have quoted approx £530 for the same work, a faily significant £130 saving - So.... who would you go with?

Oh and I'd be happy to use an independent but there are a real lack of them in my area, and I'd rather use a VAG specialist for peace of mind that they are doing the cambelt right! My nearest specialist quoted approx £590 for the work, so not cheap in comparison!
(and £38 more if brake fluid change is required - can anyone confim if it is?)

[Captain Sisko]

I'd speak to the dealer you use regularly and ask about the possibility of getting that price lowered.

[high on dirt]

Where abouts are you?

[TomH]

Originally Posted by Captain Sisko

I'd speak to the dealer you use regularly and ask about the possibility of getting that price lowered.

There's scope for haggling? I assumed the parts and labour rates would be fixed!

[TomH]

Originally Posted by high on dirt

Where abouts are you?

I'm in Christchurch/Bournemouth. The poorly rated dealer is Westover Skoda, but they are a lot cheaper!

Any good independents around? Can any old garage do the cambelt?

[ap0gee]

Yes, any old garage can do your cambelt. But JKM are only over in Pompey - about an hour away from you IIRC from visiting grandparents (one in Chichester, the other in Bournemouth) I've no experience of them myself, but presumably as a site partner it should be easy enough to find out what they're about...

[Captain Sisko]

There's always scope for haggling.

My mate got quoted one price for having his glow plugs changed but they reduced it afterwards.