Formula One Autocentres - Cowley Reviews 

If I could one star I would. Ordered tyres via Asda and selected the fitting centre in cowley Oxford. Arrived early and they had no idea of my order and no tyres.

Disorganised branch staffed by other branch members who clearly don’t care or too stressed to care.

Cancelled the tyres and fitting and got a refund. If this is how a family owned business is run then go to a chain.

Went for my appointment to have new tyres fitted last Thursday only to be told that the tyre fitter was off sick. Returned for a new appointment today and guess what? No tyre fitter!
They failed to call me to stop another wasted 25 minute drive. Very polite but sorry, just not acceptable!

I had two tyres fitted, efficiently at Formula 1 autocentre Cowley.
Unfortunately soon afterwards once of the balance weights fell of a wheel leading to a vibration at speed.
That issue was rectified for free.
Jude, Reece and Leo were all pleasant to deal with, and communications were clear.
I would happily use them again

I've been using these guys since my BMW needed its first MOT in 2021. I've been failed on tyres twice. Not for bad things but for small but relevant defects.
Their examiner is top-notch and the reason I consistently return is because he is meticulous in his examination.
I do not want a check that is less than that.
Further, the staff are welcoming as are the premises.
God willing, I'll be back next year.

I had a great experience with an emergency fitting of 4 new tyres

Courteous and receptive staff. Had a full service check. Good workmanship. Easy to book. Good price for services.

This was 1 star as of Friday due to a temp manager completely misleading me, not performing a handover to staff or promised works and not completing my MOT or even informing me it had failed. Thankfully, today’s staff (both management and mechanic) rectified the situation in exemplary fashion. My faith has been restored to the reliable company I have used in several different counties over the years. Well done team, good save and 5 stars deserved!

However, dropped to a 3 as unsurprisingly they did not stamp my log book for my service. I must return to the centre for a 4th time!

5 star services. Friendly, polite, extremely helpful, proactive in solving problems.
Highly recommended.

Just been here for my second replacement tyre.
The team of Ryan, Jude, Shaheed and Leo could not have been more helpful. This branch excels in customer service. If you need a new tyre, this is THE place in Oxford.

I am writing to formally complain about my recent experience at F1 Autocentres Oxford (Cowley), which I found to be entirely unacceptable. Two members of staff in particular, Jude and Ryan, were responsible for conduct and service that fell well below an acceptable standard.

Initially, I was given a diagnosis date that was not honoured. I was then told the diagnosis would be carried out on 30th December, followed by a further delay to 2nd January. When the 2nd of January arrived, I was informed that the diagnosis still had not been completed and was asked to wait until the 5th of January. When I contacted the garage again for an update, the response I received strongly suggested that no diagnostic work had been carried out until that very day.

Following this, I was informed that the issue with my vehicle was allegedly the glow plugs and was quoted approximately £400 for the repair. When I stated that I was unhappy with this price and would consult my own mechanic, Ryan responded in a rude and dismissive manner, stating “why didn’t you just go to him then”, which I found extremely unprofessional.

Before ending the call, I clearly stated that I would require a copy of the diagnostic report or fault codes. Ryan confirmed that this would be available for me to collect along with the vehicle. I was also informed that the £50 diagnostic fee would be waived.

However, upon arriving to collect my car (which required hiring a towing company at my own expense), Jude informed me that no diagnostic report or fault codes had been printed or recorded. When I queried this, I was simply told, “we just didn’t”. This is completely unacceptable, especially given that I was explicitly assured this information would be provided.

As a result of this poor service, I have incurred unnecessary costs totalling approximately £200 in towing fees, as well as significant inconvenience and wasted time. I believe the failure to provide diagnostic evidence after charging (or initially intending to charge) for a diagnosis is misleading and unprofessional.

I am requesting that this complaint be formally acknowledged and investigated, and that appropriate action is taken regarding the conduct of the staff involved. Should this matter not be addressed satisfactorily, I will have no option but to escalate the complaint to the DVSA and any other relevant bodies.

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

I dropped my car off in Cowley at 8.30 am for a service and MOT. I received a telephone call later saying it would be ready for collection at 2pm . No problems in my 2008 Mazda, both the MOT Tester and the receptionist were very friendly. What more can one ask for

I had an extremely terrible experience with this garage and everyone involved.

I booked a full service for my Volvo V40 on a Sunday and called two days earlier to confirm the appointment. I was told everything was fine and to come as planned.

On the day of the service, things changed. After the work was completed, I was given documentation showing that the oil used was incorrect for my vehicle. The oil listed was VAG-spec oil, while my car is a Volvo that is still under warranty. Using the wrong oil can void the manufacturer’s warranty.

It took time and evidence from my side to prove that the oil was incorrect. The explanation given was that this was the only oil they had available and, because it was Sunday, they could not purchase the correct one. The following day, after management became involved, the oil was finally changed.

One month later, when I needed a battery replacement, I discovered that my air filter was still the old one. I will not comment on the fact that battery health should normally be checked during a full service, but finding the original air filter still in place was shocking.

This means that despite paying for a full service, the incorrect oil was initially used and essential service items such as the oil filter and air filter were not changed. This is completely unacceptable and makes it impossible for me to trust that any of the paid work was actually carried out. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE INITIAL FILTER USED FROM THE PREVIOUS GARAGE.

I will be reporting this matter and will be requesting a full refund for the work performed.

Arrived at my prearranged appointment to have 2 tyres fitted.....manager said he couldnt do it that day as they were overbooked,very rude throwing the order sheet across the desk....of course i was not impressed and told him so ...almost ending in a fight....his name was Jude and he is at the cowley branch oxford.......i will never EVER use this cowboy outfit EVER again..looked to me like a gang of misfits seem to work there and would anyone ever want any work on their car done by these freaks....cancelled the order of course and got kwikfit to fit the tyres who did them on my drive for no extra cost (2 tyresdeal).....if you want tyres especially if 2 or more go to kwikfit and avoid having to deal with rude misfits ..... its your car and its up to you if you want to take the risk BUT....i would avoid F1 if i were you.....dont say you havent been warned.

Good job again from the guys at F1, all the issues were fixed in my car and their communication was great. Big thumps up

Purchased four Hankook tyres for fitting at Oxford service centre. I received excellent customer service from the staff. Very friendly and helpful. Couldn't have been any better.

Took my car on Sunday to change the light bulb, was seen promptly and the staff was very polite and friendly! Would recommend this garage!

My 19 daughter brought her car Citroën C1 to have a light bulb changed, cost of light bulb £7.76, fitting charge of £32.71, how's this be justified when other national companies charge £10. Absolute robbery

Cowley, Oxford. A good garage experience. Courteous, quick and did the work properly. No corners cut. Several vehicles undergoing major repair work so capable of repairs on most vehicles. Happy to return and take my Audi Q5 in for a service etc at rates much less than an AUDI dealership. Booked two tyres and a 4 wheel alignment through Asda who use F1Autocentres as agents for such work. F1 Oxford fitted the tyres with balancing, new valves, a careful alignment test and rectification of misalignments particularly on one wheel which had uneven tyre wear. Asda said I would pay F1 extra for valves? Incorrect. Generally F1 prices seem lower eg. Asda wheel alignment £90. Free check at F1, if adjustment needed price £50.

I booked a service online for a Sunday, paid £165 upfront, and received a confirmation. Upon arrival, I was told they don't service cars on Sundays. Instead of apologizing or owning their booking error, they blamed me for trying to book that day. My time was completely wasted, and now I have to wait 5-7 days for my refund. Unacceptable experience.

Ryan kindly did a diagnostic check on my car on a Sunday at short notice and we arranged for me to come back for a full check a few days later. It turned out I needed a new battery that they sourced and replaced within a few hours. All of this was done on what was clearly a really busy day for them. Ryan and Jude were both particularly helpful. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough, an absolutely wonderful service!

Fantastic service under the new management team - Highly Recommended!

I brought my van in 3 weeks ago for a wheel alignment, tyre change, stabiliser link and track rod ends replacement and I couldn’t be more impressed with the service. From start to finish, the team was professional, efficient, and incredibly helpful.

The manager, Ryan provided top-notch customer service, taking the time to explain everything clearly and ensuring I was happy with the work being done. The wheel alignment was spot on, and the new tyres have made a huge difference to my driving experience.

The whole process was smooth and hassle-free. If you’re looking for a garage that’s reliable, knowledgeable, and friendly, I highly recommend them.

Many thanks guys! 🤩