Formula One Autocentres Reviews 

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

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.