My cars due a MOT and had to get the exhaust fixed fast, as I'd forgot about the renewal date. It's a 1998 Honda Civic VTI (yes quite old, but I hate wasting money on new cars) and the join where the rear silencer meets the middle pipe had collapsed.
I went along to an exhaust "specialist" that had been advised by many people who I work with, but I've come back feeling ripped off. I'm thinking of doing something about it if people agree the cost is not genuine, even going as far as reporting the company if they won't reply to my cost query.
Whilst in the garage, I queried why it cost so much and said the rear silencer can't be more than £50, but he came back with "it's a VTI, specialist parts" crap. Not sounding right, I reluctantly paid the bill as I need this car and, as I said above, friends had recommended the garage.
Once I got home, I went online, something I should have done first. The cost ex VAT:
For a rear silencer is £29.66.
Springs come to around £12 and a gasket £2.50.
These are the only parts listed on the exhaust "specialist's" invoice. Ordering online, I would have paid £61.88 for the parts, including VAT and £10 delivery.
On my invoice, it lists a rear silencer for £104.62, which is my main concern, and £24.34 for the other parts EXT VAT! Inclusive it totals £128.96 and even stranger, no labor is listed on the invoice?
Now, unless I'm paying £70+ labor costs for a 30min job then something just isn't right. Can anyone offer an opinion as to whether that's a fair price for a rear silencer change? If it isn't, I'm going to war....
Thanks for your help.