Formula One Autocentres Recensioni 501

First time I booked my car for MOT and the appointment was cancelled. Later I realised a refund was not issued and it was too late too get a refund.
Decided to give them a second chance but the MOT experience was terrible! there was a small fault with the car but they would not fix while the car was in the garage. I've had to take the car and rebook for a test for an additional fee. On top of that there was no appointments available for over a week and my car would have been out of MOT. So, I decided to cut my losses and take it elsewhere.

Ashton in makerfield branch. Took car in for service to be told it needed all 4 new brake disks, pads and 2 new tyres. Apparently the brakes were "dangerous and needed replacing asap"

Took car to an independent mechanic who said absolutely nothing wrong with any of the brakes and still 4mm on the tyres.

Formula 1 staff aren't mechanics they are salesmen working on commission.

The Worst Service I Have Ever Experienced!
(READING)

I strongly advise against using this company. My car was booked in for a service and MOT on Tuesday, 19th November. Instead of the quick and efficient service I expected, I was met with a nightmare that lasted until 23rd November!

During the service, they damaged the oil dipstick and ordered a new part – which is already a shocking display of carelessness. But that was just the beginning. For several days, absolutely nothing was done to fix their mistake, leaving me without a car.

Let me emphasize that this was the middle of the week. I have two children who need to be dropped off at schools in different parts of the town, a job to get to, and freezing temperatures to deal with. When I asked if they could provide a courtesy car, I was told they wouldn’t. This is outrageous!

Finally, after four days, when I was finally able to pick up my car at the end of the day, I was informed that the MOT – which the car was booked in for – hadn’t even been done! This level of unprofessionalism, lack of accountability, and total disregard for the customer is beyond belief.

What should have been a two-hour service turned into four days of chaos, stress, and endless inconvenience, all because of their mistake.

I will never return to this place and strongly recommend everyone else avoid it too. If you value your time, sanity, and professional service, steer well clear of this company!

Rating: 0/10. An absolute nightmare.

Wouldn't trust the Maldon branch with a scalextric.
My vechile had more problems when I collected than when I took it in.
Customer service very poor didn't want to know.
Steer clear.

Maidstone Branch - Appointment booked to replace a tyre for 10.45am. Arrived at 10.30am as instructed. Car driven into bay by a mechanic at 11.35am (I was told they were short staffed). The mechanic comes out at 11.50 to say the locking wheel nut key won't lock onto the looking wheel nut and informs me that I'd need to take the car somewhere else. I drove home and tried the looking wheel nut key myself. After about 10 seconds of wiggling it, it went on fine so I phoned the garage and took the car back straight away. I then waited about 10 mins, before the mechanic took the car back into the bay. The mechanic comes out 5 mins later and says that the tyre is almost brand new and repairable so suggests it is repaired rather than replaced. As I'd already paid for a replacement we agreed he would put a new tyre on and chuck the repairable one in the boot. 10 or so mins later it's done, but when the mechanic hands over the keys I'm now informed that the old tyre wasn't repairable, so he hasn't put it in the boot as agreed. I finally drive off about 2 hours after my initial appointment time.

Awful MOT service. They failed my car on it’s mot and then said it would cost £675 to repair!
Nothing wrong with the car. Had another mechanic look it over, he said nothing wrong. Took car to another garage for another mot and it sailed through.
Formula One are a rip-off. Please don’t use!

Absolutely waste of time had my car Mot & serviced, they over charged me. .then ordered 4 new tyres at a cost of £630 after a two week wait and loads of promises still never materlised .would never recommend them to anyone.

Booked a puncture repair online and called to arrange a time as per the instructions. Turned up at 14:25(appointment was 14:30). Car eventually driven in to be sorted at 15:20. I cancelled meetings at work to attend the appointment for them to just waste my time and money. I’ve used part of my time to write this review…it is now 16:00…for a puncture. Ridiculous, I will not be wasting my work time again with these people. Very very poor

Poor.
Avoid at all costs.

Had a service this week and have been very disappointed asked for a print out of the inspection and after paying was told that they didn't do a printout so no checklist of what has been checked. When I got home I had to retune my radio settings I also noticed that the millage on the receipt was quite a lot less than the actual mileage on the odometer so I called the leek road centre and was asked to call in. I was expecting a new printout with the correct mileage on but was told this wasn't possible so the person behind the counter just wrote the correct mileage on the original receipt put a stamp on and initialed it. I left very disappointed and will not be using these again. I hope this saves someone else from a disappointing experience.

Cowboys from start to finish. Westwood Cross Broadstairs branch.
Took my car for a full service and MOT last weekend. Apparently I’d been driving my car with no coolant….ok, I didn’t personally check, so I’ll take the £40 “refill” charge, but apparently it will probably fail the MOT on the brakes. I was told on the phone it was one front pads and disc and the rear pair pads and discs, also one tyre is at 3mm so will need replacing “soon”. I went to pick the car up, having refused the quote for work and pushing the MOT back a week to allow me time to fix the problems. When I looked at the quote, it was £600 for rear pads and discs and front pads, and a brake fluid change. I sourced the parts and replaced all pads and discs all round with a local mechanic for £300. When it was taken apart, the discs were nowhere near needing to be replaced, all pads at worst case scenario, but I did the lot anyway seeing as I had bought it all already and had a mechanic already doing the work. Took it in for the MOT….failed on the tyre and windscreen wipers, that were apparently all ok last weekend. So, quoted £600 for work that didn’t need doing, not quoted for work they claimed to have checked during the service and said was fine.
When I brought it up after I paid the bill, I was told it’s all down to difference of opinion between the service technician and the MOT technician, nothing they can do about it.
So thanks F1, absolutely rip off prices for wiper blades (£53+VAT), incorrect advice, £200+ wasted on brake discs that weren’t needed, and £200+ on a service and fluids that I now doubt you even did properly or needed to do.

Drove in suspecting some issue with rear suspension. Guy done a push up under my car, spent there around 10 second and told me I need rear trail arms and bushes (£400 parts + around £250 for labour). I took my car for £50 inspection to another garage and I was told that there is rear shock absorbers that in the future will need attention but for now nothing to worry about. So very genuine rip off for £650. AVOID AVOID AVOID! That is for a garage in Camberley.

I called regarding my Astra 2.0t which needs a conversation. The man who answered the phone was extremely rude, dismissive and kept talking over me saying ‘when do you want to book it in, when do you want us to look at it?’ I didn't need him to look at it, I knew everything already. He said it would be Thursday before they could look at it unnecessarily, and charge me for it. When I said I'd get back to him, he replied ‘well good luck shopping around’ and hung up. Little did he know he lost a customer of 10 years.

St Albans Formula One. Don’t even consider them! Booked an appointment for tyre fitting through ASDA Tyres. Got there before the appointment time, left the van and when I got back the tyres still hadn’t been fitted. The staff members attitude was disappointing. Just did the fitting guy was busy! Why bother booking an appointment!!!!! I run a small business and had to cancel appointments because of this!!!! They said if I have a problem I should contact ASDA Tyres!!! Nice one.

Shocking! I booked my car in for work, took the afternoon off work, arrived and they denied all knowledge of the booking! I'd even bought the tyres head of the appointment! Complete waste of time. There must be companies more organised and deserving of your cash and time.

I got a puncture in my tyre after a simple trip to the local tip. I phoned the centre and they booked my car in within 24hrs. Very professional and knew what they doing and my car was fixed within 15minutes

IPSWICH BRANCH

Avoid like the plague. Bunch of robbing ba****ds. Failed mot on one thing quoted 3 times what it was at 4 other local garages in Ipswich. Took it back for a retest and the guy with tattoos on his neck was rude an aggy . Will never return

Maidstone Branch - Car taken for MOT as a last minute change due to first choice garage unfortunately let me down. Cheap deal which was good.
Unfortunately the car failed, which happens but was advised headlights were too low and couldn't be fixed so wanted to charge for 2 new headlights and a new tyre which would be £900 in total. Did not sit well with me so wanted second opinion.
Took to my usual garage who fixed the lights in half an hour saying any person who knows anything about cars can fix this issue. Also advised tyre, although does need replacing would pass the MOT..
Moral is don't trust F1 Autocentre and always get a second opinion which can save hundreds of pounds

Been to F1 auto centres a few time over the years never felt comfortable there it was just convenient, on July of 2023 took the car for an mot major service and an aircon clean and regas, all work carried out satisfactory however upon collection service book was not filled out so had ask for this tobe done, once home I checked beneath car as there was a slight noise from below the engine , the under tray was not fastened back properly, so just about to call F1 when they ring me apparently the (so called) mechanic has left his magnetic torch in the wheel arch can he pass by and retrieve it, so I said yes and he can also put the tray back properly which he did, he also told me he had dropped the oil filter when changing it so there might a small oil drip so proceeded to take vehicle back to F1 made them clean it up. which they did.

So, took my car there this year Major service & MOT, again, completely different staff from last year, it seems that Formula one autocentres change there staff at branches more than I get my car serviced.
So where to begin on this bunch of absolute cowboys and let's be honest total patronising morons.
Arrived at Coventry F1 autocentre 8:30am my mot done by 10am, with a list of advisories that where to say the least BS, now discs and brake pads kinda knew that might pop up so no surprise there and got all the parts to fix this myself, so apparently my rear near side indicator bulb isn't orange enough, REALLY, looks bloody orange to me, what you colour blind as well? As crap mechanic, also my dash cam which is behind the passenger sun visor , was obstructing the drivers view so was removed, WHY, 8 MOTs I've had done same car same dash cam never even mentioned in any capacity before, rear offside nearside Coil springs corroded, hahaha REALLY they were changed three months ago as the offside one had snapped, so I said what other stories do you tell, he says it will be rechecked as we have two cars the same in for mot today and may have got our info mixed up, ya think!!, unfortunately for me they published this info with vosa, so they claim cannot be removed without a retest, so do a retest then they did not. Grrrr. Also got another messy oil drip from the undertray so they have no respect for people's property, just do a service and let old oil go everywhere, also they left the engine cover off had get a friend to retrieve it as could not get there, that's unacceptable. They were apologetic however the idiot there sounded more patronising than apologetic.
Also they had the car until 5pm, 8 and half hours to do a service and mot, muppets, never before have I had so much crap from a simple service & MOT, they take your money but I feel ripped of by these charlatans at F1, avoid this place at all costs go else where even it costs more.

Will Never use this rubbish place again they are absolute morons, liars, and cowboys. and certainly cannot be trusted.
F1 Coventry branch was my unfortunate choice BTW.

Visited my local F1 auto centre near manchester today with an exhaust rattle.. simple enough to look for.. the car was put on the ramp by an 18 year old and revved up while his mate who was probably 16 walked around underneath looking for the rattling noise.. after about a minute they lowered the car and opened the bonnet.. by now there was 4 teenagers looking under the bonnet clearly knowing nothing!
1 of them decided to remove the oil filler cap whilst the engine was running and announced that the pistons were knackered because there was a bit of smoke coming from the oil filler.. and said that was what was causing the exhaust rattle !
I've never heard such a load of crap in 40 years of buying and selling cars.. I suggest that F1 employ people that know something about cars..
They clearly think their customers are stupid and know nothing