Formula One Autocentres Anmeldelser 501

Very disappointed with F1 Autocentre in Longwell Green, Bristol.

My car required an MOT. It failed and I agreed to the necessary repairs. I also asked for an oil change. However, I was pressurised / persuaded to have a major service instead. They were also extremely keen to sell me two tyres although only one had failed the MOT, and to do additional tasks such as wheel tracking. In any event, although the cost was escalating, I agreed. Nevertheless, It did rather feel as though they were desperate to meet a sales target.

Unfortunately, when I collected the car the bill had increased significantly from the already inflated figure that I’d agreed to. This was, apparently, because they’d had to have someone in to remove the locking wheel nuts. This was news to me and didn’t really sound very likely. They hadn’t contacted me about this and the key was a replacement one from McGard which was only a few years old. Anyway, without my prior agreement, they had charged me about £75 for the wheel nut removal and about £60 for new locking wheel nuts.

So, £75 for something which may not have actually been necessary and which there is no evidence of having been done (the old wheel nuts are not available for inspection). And £60 for new locking wheel nuts which could have been bought for about £30 if they’d just trotted 30m across the road to Halfords.

We’ve used F1 for years without feeling ripped off. We're now very disappointed and looking for alternatives.

Also, we agreed to them fitting new disks along with new brake pads, and we're now wondering whether or not these were necessary. I rather suspect not.

There's not much point in complaining to them; I have no confidence that there's any real prospect of any recompense. I’ll just leave this negative review and try to put it behind me and move on.

An update: 17th July 2024 - I have been sent an email telling me that I authorised the locking wheel nut removal and replacement. This is incorrect. They did not consult me and I did not authorise the work.
So, rather than apologise to me they have been provocative. In view of this, instead of putting the matter behind me and moving on, I shall now escalate things.

Absolutely dreadful customer service. I phoned up on Thursday to inform the centre that a tyre I had purchased from there less than 3 weeks ago, now had a puncture and since there was no obvious objects sticking in the tyre was it possible the tyre was faulty. Naturally I was told to bring it in so it could be looked which I did a couple days later and was then told upon arrival and very bluntly in my opinion that no one could take a look at it for another 3 days! I literally had the wheel in my hand and was told there was a 3 day wait just to look at the tyre and see what the issue. There was no apology, or offer of ‘if you don’t mind waiting as soon as a technician is available etc’, it was a very bluntly put come back in 3 days like it or leave it, despite the fact there was a technician in the office behind the counter not working on a vehicle at all.

F1 are clearly happy to take money off you in the first instance but the follow up aftercare is shocking. Avoid at all cost.

Took my car in for two front tyres after a decent experience with an MOT.
Terrible pushy service. Very keen to up-sell and called me almost immediately to say new break pads and discs were “essential” at a cost of £710!!
When I declined due to the clearly inflated cost, I was told that other mechanics were likely to use inferior products and I would be very reckless to go elsewhere. My car was also 45 minutes late being ready (presumably because I had declined to be ripped-off). Over two hours in total for the fitting of two front tyres- when I was told it would take “less than an hour”.
In my experience this company will ALWAYS add extras to your bill and even when you pay additional charges for a wheel balance- they always find it needs tracking adjustments as well adding another £50 to the bill when you collect.
AVOID this place. I plan to get the tyres and tracking checked (by the mechanic who does the pads and discs) after such a bad experience…Not worth the risk again.

I wwas charged £220 for a tyre,went on the internet to find the average for this tyre is £185.£35 over the norm is a lot for a pensioner will not be going there again.

Bunch of cowboys salesmen have got small man syndrome stay away

Booked air con regas at Grantham. Never took place. I had to keep rid to be told the air con machine had broken down. They had not had it fixed. This went in for days. It was left to me to keep ringing them. Went in today to ask for refund only to be told this would have to be done by the internet team. It would take 3-5 working days. Very poor service. Should not have taken bookings in first place. Even so they could have offered alternative site for the job. But weren't interested. I had to do all the running and chasing. TO BE AVOIDED

I booked on line to have a puncture repaired .
On turning up I was informed that tyre repairs do not appear on the centres system.
I was offered a two hour wait for the job to be done,
I asked the manager what was the point of me going to the trouble of booking on line only to find out that just dropping in would be the same.
I could not fault Simon the manager as he would like tyre repairs to show up on his system as everything else does.
If I had not already pre paid for the work I would have taken my business elsewhere .
This is an issue that needs urgent attention.
Steve Winfield

Took my car in for a full service and MOT. It failed and they suggested I take it elsewhere as they didn’t have the right machine to test the thing it had failed on. Took it elsewhere and it passed on that BUT Formula One had completely failed to notice a leaking shock absorber, 2 dead indicator bulbs and a hole in one of the tyres. When I called to complain and ask for a refund, they were rude and unhelpful and accused the other garage of lying. Given the other garage videos everything so you can see what needs to be repaired etc, and that I’d taken the car for a 3rd opinion, I have reported them to Trading Standards. Dreadful service, totally incompetent and I want my money back. Don’t use Cambridge Formula One - truly awful.

I took my Ford van to formula one autocenters in Swindon. I used to use Ford Swindon but, didn't have very good experience with them. So decided to try Formula one Swindon. What a difference, amazing staff and couldn't be more helpful.
I had some tyre and wheel Problems. They guys were so helpful.
I have to say the new lady Charlene on the front desk was amazing.
I would definitely recommend them and now won't go any where else.

My order was for 2 front tyres and front wheel alignment check.

1st day of appointment, was told machine broken so my tyres could not be fitted. Next day, tyres fitted after being told they are too busy and to come the next day. The staff were walking around doing nothing, didn't appear busy.

Finally tyres fitted and I left. My order included wheel alignment check, which they didn't do.

Never again, pay bit more but don't go here.

The staff don't care in the slightest. It's like an episode of the Office but worse. After speaking with the least intelligent human being I have ever met in my life I gave up and went to another tyre shop. I wouldn't trust them with a wheel barrow, they'll lose car keys, forget to call you, will be running 2 hours behind on their scheduled appointments and do so with a 'meh, it happens' attitude. I'd rather crawl over broken glass than go there.

Excellent service from Mark and his team Clacton formula one for my family's Fiat 500 for its recent MOT and subsequent work. Have used this centre for seven years and will continue to do so . . .

I had 4 tyres booked in to be replaced, I was told it would take 2 hours so hung around.
They took 4.5 hours. I was told they had balanced the tyres and test drove it.
It had a horrendous wobble on the way home. I rang back and was told they didn’t have time to do it. I then rang back again to insist they do it as I had a 4 hour journey the next day. I was then told the machine was not working.
I then arranged , after my frustrating trip, to have them redone. I drove away only to find they still had a wobble.
I’ve tried to go back yet again and they couldn’t fit it in, despite all the history.
I have gone elsewhere.
Poor quality of workmanship and customer service.

Fixed the wrong part and didn't align the wheels afterwards. Car was at F1 Farnborough yesterday (04/03). Not only did they fix the wrong part (front left axle instead of the damaged front right axle), they also didn't align the wheels afterwards. Tbh, considering that they did the original repairs, the damage shouldn't have been there in the first place, meaning that the part was wrongly fitted from the start. The wheels are literally pointing in the opposite direction. Car has to go into the garage today again (F1 Camberley) and we will never use F1 Farnborough again. We gave you the benefit of a doubt after having had previous issues but this is it. How can you be so careless? This could have had serious consequences if my husband would have encountered issues on the M25. Avoid at all costs.

Very good centre, wouldn't go anywhere else, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly and were able to sort out my puncture no problem at all.

I am seldom moved to right reviews.
However, F1 in Basingstoke were so helpful dealing with a MOT issue that arose more than two months after the test that I was dumbstruck. I was convinced they would deny responsibility. Not so. First class customer service from Tony and his supporting team.6/5.

What great service the Newbury branch gave me, Jazz and Ethen were fantastic, My exhaust was broken and they fitted me in and sorted it, Thank you so much.

I always go to F1 Autos at Woodford Green. Nathan & Alan were very helpful when I said I had a problem with my battery. The battery was tested & they sourced a battery & fitted in a couple of hours. Great service!

I have been going to Formula 1 auto center west quay Southampton. However, while doing my car service for 3 consecutive years 2021-2023 they never bothered to check whether the sump plug coper washer had a wear and tear and even suggest to replace the plug with new one and charge for parts.
After 6 months my engine oil light came on, therefore, I checked the oil level to see the level of engine oil was bellow the minimum level.
I had to take it to different auto center who identified that it has been leaking and said that it should have been replaced on the last service as it is a well known fact that the seal wears over time and the shop that serviced it should have replaced it.
After I had the engine oil drained a new sump plug (cost £3.79 vat included replaced), oil filter and engine oil costing me £116.75.
I went to speak to the F1 auto center manager, who said it is not their fault as on the day of service there was no leak. Since I used it for few months tough luck.
I explained that being the repair and service experts they should have known the part required replacing.
However, Formula1's manager argument was that when they serviced cars, they follow the service package details and not solicit about parts that have wear and tear.
I do not recommend the West Quay F1

Avoid at all costs !!! Ruined my car, fitted the wrong size part, car was declared unsafe for road use by the manufacturer, these cowboys dragged it out taking responsibility and left a disabled person (which they knew) without a car for weeks on end, after they were told it was unsafe for the road they wanted me to drive it 30 mins to another location to be looked at, they malfunctioned the keyless system which they knew because they had to show me how to start it with a faulty system, ripped off a part underneath and cable tied the remaining part on and said this would pass an MOT if they did it, several occasions they told me my car was safe drop it off after hours and post the keys, their cameras are fake which they admitted in email after I requested cctv to be reviewed of them wiping the key system, all admitted in email that they lied, they’ve also lied to ombudsman ! Time to find a solicitor!! Avoid at all costs, they don’t care about customers