*** (30/09/2015 20:25)
It was a while back that my Outlander decided to shred a brake pad on the way down to Laon. I had this place recommended to me by the RAC European help desk and duly made my way down there. They stripped it down, scratched their heads, made that sharp-intake-of-breath noise that English mechanics also do when preparing a customer for the worst, and told me they could have the part within three days. It wasn't their fault I had to be back home in two and so nursed the old the beast back up to the channel. Throughout the time I was there I was kept supplied with very nice coffee and a running commentary from le patron, Monsieur Hennecent, on what his young mechanics (none of whom he considered capable of changing a spark plug without his supervision) were doing. At the end of it all I was charged the basic labour for the inspection with no attempt at any sort of ripping-off at all. If you have any mechanical troubles while in or around Laon you could do a lot worse than roll up here and see what they can do.