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[Travel] Car brakes - a recommended garage, please













WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,766
Hi nsc folk.

Any recommendations for a garage in the Shoreham to Brighton area, to replace front brake pads on a VW?

Got a predictably high quote from the main dealer. Looking for far better value.

My instinct is to avoid Brake Bros :)
Rapid Autos, North Road Portslade 01273 422128

Albion supporters and sponsors and over the years, amongst others, I have had the pleasure of chatting Football to Danny Cullip, Adam El Abd, Tomasz Kuszczak and the absolutely charming Sir Norman Gall :bowdown:
 








Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,262
Withdean area
Rapid Autos, North Road Portslade 01273 422128

Albion supporters and sponsors and over the years, amongst others, I have had the pleasure of chatting Football to Danny Cullip, Adam El Abd, Tomasz Kuszczak and the absolutely charming Sir Norman Gall :bowdown:
Funnily enough, I used them for both family cars for the entire 90’s and 00’s. They were brake specialists, Better Brakes I think, then they morphed into another trade name? I spent many a time sitting in their waiting room, with soft porn motor industry calendars hanging in the office.

Such a long time ago, I thought they may’ve gone.

Good news.
 








WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,766
Funnily enough, I used them for both family cars for the entire 90’s and 00’s. They were brake specialists, Better Brakes I think, then they morphed into another trade name? I spent many a time sitting in their waiting room, with soft porn motor industry calendars hanging in the office.

Such a long time ago, I thought they may’ve gone.

Good news.
The calendars have long been replaced with signed Albion shirts but a really good honest place who've done everything on all my cars for years (and even do the servicing on my mid life crisis pride and joy :wink:)
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,262
Withdean area
The calendars have long been replaced with signed Albion shirts but a really good honest place who've done everything on all my cars for years (and even do the servicing on my mid life crisis pride and joy :wink:)
Do they expertly replace timing belts and car batteries too?

Caffyns gave us (it’s Mrs.W’s little city car) a £four-figure shopping list.
 


WATFORD zero

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 10, 2003
27,766
Do they expertly replace timing belts and car batteries too?

Caffyns gave us (it’s Mrs.W’s little city car) a £four-figure shopping list.
Yes, yes they do.

Don't go to main dealers, all you will get is trainee mechanics pissing around and messing up your car once you give the man in the shiny ill fitting suit the key :wink:

Over the years, I wanted to get a reconditioned gearbox for one of my kids cars and I had to get some specialist work done on my mid life crisis car. Both times, they advised me it may be cheaper to 'shop around at a couple of replacement gearbox specialists' and to take my problem to my specialist garage as they would probably do it quicker and cheaper. I don't know if they are the cheapest, but they are disarmingly honest (y)
 
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upthealbion1970

bring on the trumpets....
NSC Patron
Jan 22, 2009
8,886
Woodingdean
Montgomery motors in shoreham or southwick, Woodbourne garage in Brighton, ATG autotuning at shoreham airport, Palmeira Servicing in Hove, GM Autocare in Montpelier road
 




Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,262
Withdean area
Yes, yes they do.

Don't go to main dealers, all you will get is trainee mechanics pissing around and messing up your car once you give the man in the shiny ill fitting suit the key :wink:

Over the years, I wanted to get a reconditioned gearbox for one of my kids cars and I had to get some specialist work done on my mid life crisis car. Both times, they advised me it may be cheaper to 'shop around at a couple of replacement gearbox specialists' and to take my problem to my specialist garage as they would probably do it quicker and cheaper. I don't know if they are the cheapest, but they are disarmingly honest (y)
 


Weststander

Well-known member
Aug 25, 2011
69,262
Withdean area
Yes, yes they do.

Don't go to main dealers, all you will get is trainee mechanics pissing around and messing up your car once you give the man in the shiny ill fitting suit the key :wink:

Over the years, I wanted to get a reconditioned gearbox for one of my kids cars and I had to get some specialist work done on my mid life crisis car. Both times, they advised me it may be cheaper to 'shop around at a couple of replacement gearbox specialists' and to take my problem to my specialist garage as they would probably do it quicker and cheaper. I don't know if they are the cheapest, but they are disarmingly honest (y)
:lolol:

I’ve never really been mugged by main dealers. The service today was just £200+, I was using them in a way to identify things. The car hadn’t been looked at or looked after, bar MOT’s, since pre Pandemic. I knew issues would be accumulating!

I was told the same story you tell a long time ago, trainee mechanics charged out at £80ph.

I pre-empted their sale pitch today with an early “I realise you’ll find issues today, but I’ll probably go elsewhere on cost grounds”.

All the way back to the 80’s, I found specialists who carried out stuff far cheaper, often it meant using places a little away from this very expensive city. Everything’s so much cheaper in Newhaven and Lancing.
 








pwlr1966

Active member
Aug 7, 2011
272
Try Alan at ATG AUTO TUNING 01273 453516, he has been servicing and MOT our family cars for years. very competitive and ex RAC mechanic based at Shoreham Airport
 




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