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Having a Bugatti Veyron in the garage is usually synonymous with absolute luxury, immense speed, and exclusivity. But even in the world of millionaires, there is a limit to what is considered acceptable in terms of maintenance costs.
This was exactly what British Carl Hartley experienced, owner of a Veyron valued at around R$ 11.4 million.
A simple problem with the mirror adjustment button almost resulted in a bill of R$ 67,000 presented by the official Bugatti workshop.
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A dent that seemed simple turned into a R$ 68,000 bill after damage to a pickup truck required almost complete disassembly, removal of a panel integrated into the roof, and a complete paint job.
However, the solution came in an unexpected way: a local mechanic fixed everything in less than half an hour and accepted only a beer as payment.
The Price of Luxury: Services That Cost More Than a Regular Car
Launched in 2005 and produced until 2015, the Bugatti Veyron is a landmark in the automotive industry. Its 1,001-horsepower W16 engine was designed to exceed 400 km/h, making the model an icon of engineering.
But along with that extraordinary performance comes disproportionately high maintenance costs.
The annual services recommended by Bugatti include oil changes, filter replacements, inspection of the transmission and differentials.
The service requires nearly 18 liters of oil and over 27 hours of highly specialized labor.
Result: a simple service can exceed 25,000 euros, equivalent to R$ 145,000. Even changing just the transmission filter can cost 3,000 euros.
These figures reflect not only the complexity of the car but also the exclusivity of those who can afford it.
However, when applied to minor repairs, as was the case with Hartley, the situation borders on the absurd.
The Quote of R$ 67,000 for a Simple Button
Carl Hartley, heir to one of the largest luxury car dealers in the UK, took the Veyron for routine maintenance that would already cost around £40,000 (R$ 275,000).
During the process, he took the opportunity to request an assessment of the mirror button, which had only a slight play.
The response from Bugatti was surprising: the quote to fix the button exceeded £9,500, about R$ 67,000.
The justification was that it would be necessary to replace the entire internal mechanism, requiring the disassembly of the door.
Outraged by the proposal, Hartley decided to seek a second opinion.
The Independent Mechanic and the Part That Costs R$ 6
The businessman turned to Neil, a trusted mechanic who services his luxury car dealership. Days later, when he returned to the shop, Hartley found the car ready.
The defect had been fixed in just 25 minutes with a part that cost less than £1, or about R$ 6.
Neil explained that the button was identical to one used in a much more affordable model: the Volkswagen Transporter van.
As Bugatti was developed during the time when the brand was part of the Volkswagen group, various components were shared with regular vehicles.
The repair was so simple that the mechanic refused any payment in cash, accepting only a beer as a reward. Carl Hartley, surprised by the solution, stated, “I will never take my car to Bugatti again.”
The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Supercars
The episode exposes a little-discussed facet of the hypercar market: the practice of inflating maintenance values in the after-sales service.
Although vehicles like the Veyron require special care, it is common for some components to be identical to those of regular cars.
The difference lies in the price charged by dealerships, which leverage the exclusivity to justify exorbitant prices.
And this is not an isolated case. Brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini are also known for charging astronomical figures for services and parts, even when the repair in question does not involve cutting-edge technology.
What catches the attention is when the charge exceeds any notion of reasonableness – like changing a button for nearly R$ 70,000.
The story of Hartley quickly went viral on social media and garnered attention in specialized outlets like Motorpasión.
Many supercar owners took the opportunity to share similar experiences, showing that sometimes even millionaires need to resort to creativity – and the help of a trusted mechanic – to escape the traps of official after-sales service.
Tem gersao pra todo lado. Essa lei de proteção ao consumidor filho da **** distorce tudo.
O cara viu anúncio de Heineken a 4.92 foi lá e comprou 16000 em cerveja , estourou o cartão, pra levar vantagem em.tudo …. paga de coitadinho agora .
Porisso não compro esses moderninhos…fico c .eu OPALÃO 82 mesmo!!! Kkk