Have we been totally ripped off or what???any one with car knowledge?

[beckoes]

We are yet to recieve the invoice for that bit!!! but i will be insisting he sends it to us. He didnt actually replace that part as it was over $500 and he said he could fix it to a new standard for $375 so he did that instead.

If it sounds right to people who know stuff about cars then i guess im happy, i know nothing!!!

[Netix]

Um, I just copied all the details of this thread to the Man (who is still at work). This was the reply I got back...

Maybe if they got dinner, movie, dessert and ....... then $1180 would be ok but if not then im thinking that they got ripped!
After all, it is only 4 cyl diesel PAGERO running gear.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Lol, I just realised he spelled Pajero wrong (not Pagero).

[*TripleJ*]

i would have said ripped too

[sconeonamission]

Dh says it could be a bit high...

[Tuesday's Child]

I ran this by DH. He said it depends on the hourly rate for labour. Some mechanics charge around $80-90 per hour. Some even as much as $120. He also mentioned that to get to the starter motor in a Delica requires the front seat to be moved and is quite awkward.

DH also mentioned that mechanics are not above charging more for more difficult jobs (or for jobs they don't really want). At least that's the case for his mate anyway.

Once you get the invoice, you'll have a better idea of how many hours it took to perform the job and what they charge per hour.
You may have been able to get a cheaper price if you'd shopped around. But it doesn't seem as though you've been grossly overcharged.

HTH

[~clover~]

I don't know. I do know the reason I've really only owned Holdens, Fords or Toyota's is because alot of other makes are complicated to pull apart.
Eg - I had a Ford Explorer (Ford, but imported). The slave & master cylenders went in it (owner before us screwed up oils). Because of the way it was made, the whole 4wd gear box had to come out before they could be replaced. We were quoted upwards of $2000, but with after market parts we were lucky & it only cost us $800.
Mitsubishi's are commonly expensive for this reason.

I'm not a car expert, but I have an idea of whats what & where things go. DH & I have almost always done services & repairs on our own cars. Til now, we have an 05 commodore & it beeps at us for a service! If we could shut it up we would!!

In saying that though, I don't have much experiences with mechanics & their prices. I do know we were quoted at one about $500 to do a job that I probably could've done alone, for about $50! (DH ended up doing it, just thought since it wasn't huge I'd ask them, thinking $50 & saving DH the effort!)

What to do next time? Take it somewhere. Tell them its making an odd noise & where, & ask them to check it over for you. Someone will usually come out of the workshop & look then & there to give you an idea.
Then ask what it would involve (ask for a list) & how much they reckon it'd cost you. Then tell them you have to discuss it with DH.
When you are home, ring around everywhere you can think of to see how much they'd charge to do the same job. Ask hourly labour rates as well.

DON'T leave it for them to look at! I did that once for a stuffed auto gear box they told me they could fix. I asked them to ring me with a quote BEFORE touching anything. They ignored that request & charged me $500. I was a single mum at the time! I was annoyed, but paid. Went to pick up my car & it started slipping gears again 40 KMS down the road!!