SJB Autotech, Basingstoke

Dishonest mechanics and awful customer service! Not even registerrd for Trading Code of Practice!! Came here for 2 things- MMI issue with a Golf, and then just to check a sound at a Mokka front wheel. Said Golf is a 5f control unit fault- quoted £2500-3000 on the phone. When asked for a written quote, was told (in a very rude way) that they would not provide one. Martins VW in Basingstoke have quoted £1800! Mokka- wanted a metallic noise (assumed wheel bearing) checked, no issue with steering, braking, no warning lights, just annoying sound. Get a call 3 hours later.....the ABS pump! Apparently they couldn't see anything when on the ramp, all the ABS lights were on, the mechanic who drove it around said the wheels were locking. I asked if it could be driven, his response "I wouldn't but its your car". Surely if its the brakes, it shouldn't! They definitely whacked the sensor when cranking it on the ramp because 5 mins later, cue a call from the same mechanic- "I've just turned the car on and the ABS light has turned off and it's all back to normal". When I asked if this was something they might have caused, he denied it. The old lady receptionists were incredibly rude and clearly not cut out for this line of work! When collecting the car, they said that the diagnostics was free because "this isn't the garage for me". When I asked if it was because they'd caused the sensor issue on the ramp, she claimed it never even went on the ramp- so one of them isn't telling the truth! Also refused to give written diagnostic reports for either cars.

I've lived close to them for years and always had VW or Audi's but their prices are high compared to others and they never get back to you with a quote. I only use them if I have to, I'd rather travel to another or just use Audi. I also saw a young lad with an SJB T-shirt on thrashing an R8 up the A30 which completely put me off. Average rating from me and I would not recommend as there are better VW / Audi specialists out there for the money, for example The Firm in Camberley - these guys are very hard to beat.

Very good

From my first phone call to collecting the repaired car, all four people I contacted there could not have been more helpful and easy to deal with. A stark contrast to the conversations I had with the dealers I purchased the car from! When my next service is due I shall be going back to SJB Autotech.

Sam and the guys at sjb autotech did a fantastic job balancing my wheels and carrying out a four-wheel alignment check on my recently purchased Audi TT RS. They also carried out a free health check and printed out a screenshot of my alignment checking before and after. Price was extremely competitive and communication was very good and they carried out the job in a very efficient time. They're extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I will I'll be taking my car there for servicing as well as my Skoda. Highly recommended and a great example of how the motor in trade should operate and treat customers.

My golf has been here three times now, each time very professional great service. Vw parts are expensive but this is not SJB fault. Very impressed with Jim and the team.

My VW went in for a Haldex problem; I was called and told the bonnet catch had failed, £140 to repair(!) and had been done. They also needed to read the fault codes - £60. I would need to return to have the Haldex unit replaced, which would cost £1400. I was stunned to be charged so much for a £20 bonnet catch I would have repaired myself, and the cost to have fault codes downloaded. Basically £200 and nothing was fixed. Worse was to come. Feeling very unhappy at their advice, I decided to contact a non-VW Haldex expert for a second opinion. He suggested that SJB had no idea about Haldex units and were trying to rip me off with an easy fix for them. So, instead I delivered the car to the Haldex specialist who repaired the control unit for £100. This confirmed my suspicion that SJB might be ok for an oil change, but I would not suggest using them for anything more than that. Definitely a garage to avoid.

Great local garage, very knowledgable and friendly.

Love these guys. Will always do their best to help you. Work is of very high standard and much more reasonable in price than VW dealerships. Never feel intimidated speaking to these guys as a women who's not technically minded. Always feel I'm looked after.

SJB Autotech are a great garage. Excellent service from knowledgeable, helpful and friendly staff. I trust them to do what is needed to keep my 15 year old Audi TT in good condition and they have always advised me on what needs doing now and what should be monitored. They may not be the cheapest garage around but they provide great quality service and advice, and in the long term I think their service will save me money. Five stars, well deserved.

Great place to take your VW if you want it looked after properly by people who know their stuff

first time user of this garage had arranged for the cam belt to be changed as well as the water pump.booked the car in and left my works number so they could contact me also left my mobile number on the key fob.been there all day no call,rang at 4.00pm to see if it was finished ,it was but i was informed that another belt had been changed with an extra charge of £16.00 no big deal financially but when i asked why i had not received a courtesy call to give the go ahead i was told we could not get hold of you we can put the old belt on if you dont want it.this has left me with doubts as weather i can use these again as it seems they change and charge what they seem to feel not what the customer wants or is able to clarify so beware,audi are more expensive both in terms of servicing and repairs but they always call and update me. to me thats worth the extra. to sum up work maybe ok but god knows what else you will pay for. not a good first experience lesson learned

I took my Golf Mk4 TDI into SJB for a service and had a great level of service - the staff knew their stuff and the car was all done in one day. Will come back for cambelt change later this year.

This is an independent VW / Audi / SEAT / Skoda specialist. They provide a good honest service and do not try to confuse the customer into buying something they don't understand. All other (non VAG) makes are catered for, in their usual professional manner. I chose this independent garage based upon their open approach. I also looked inside their workshop (as I did at other competitors) and noticed how nice and clean the place was kept. Surely good housekeeping is a visible sign of their attitude to their work. (Some other places look to be just a black hole!).