I was wondering if anyone had any current advice on places to take a car to have a service (Hillsborough area preferably). If it helps the discussion, I have a Peugeot 306 Turbo D.

I've got quotes from Robins and Day an the Nationwide Autocentre. I think that both come in around £150 although the former seems to suggest a timing belt change for a small amount extra.

Does anyone have any other recommendations or advice on these?

Cheers.

Purely because it's so close, I've used Atkinsons Motor Services on Oakland Road and found them to be very good.
If you're having a service, it'd be worth getting the timing belt changed if it's only a few quid more. Having a worn timing belt fail will cost you significantly more!

Very close to me as well.. I have been using Bows Garage for repairs on the recommendation of the previous owner of the car so far but if Atkinsons Motor Services are good I could change my allegiance.

Anyway, I am pretty new to all this having to get my car serviced thing. Is there any advantage to using the Peugeot dealer? Is there anyone who would recommend the Robins and Day near Hillsborough?

Another thing I have no idea about is how long I am likely to lose the use of my car for..

If you use the Peugeot dealer you will get official Peugeot parts and having the dealer stamp the service history *may* increase the cars value should you come to sell it. A full service shouldn't take more than half a day.

Very close to me as well.. I have been using Bows Garage for repairs on the recommendation of the previous owner of the car so far but if Atkinsons Motor Services are good I could change my allegiance.

Anyway, I am pretty new to all this having to get my car serviced thing. Is there any advantage to using the Peugeot dealer? Is there anyone who would recommend the Robins and Day near Hillsborough?

Another thing I have no idea about is how long I am likely to lose the use of my car for..
If you want your service record stamped other places can now do it but they must use original parts and follow the Peugeot service charts.Peugeot Dealer mechanics may be Peugeot trained.
Ask them how long it will take.
Argh hotphil I am a slow typer.

How about Hi-Q at law brothers on leppings lane they are very good reliable and usually cheaper.

So there is a definite set of checks that are meant to be carried out? That is one of the things that was worrying me about the Peugeot place. The reply I got from them was a bit vague, only talking about some of the replacements that they do depending on the service that is chosen. This is in contrast with the nationwide autocentre where I was able to see a full list of the checks and replacements included.

Is Hi-Q another national franchise?

think so Hi-Q has depots in other places but i always go to that one give them a ring.

Well, I decided to go with the Peugeot garage this time but unless they work some kind of miracle then I'll try somewhere else next time. Worryingly, looking back through the history, I can't find the details of services for quite a while.

Oh, thanks for all the advice so far. I'd still like more opinions if anyone wants to contribute.

I use Atkinsons aswell. They are a member of the Good Garage scheme, whatever that means. They have always done a good job with my car.

Good garage scheme.. it seems that there is a website associated with them. Obviously enough it is http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/

The closest member garages to me appear to be Highbank Service Station, Leader Road Garage and Atkinsons. All get good recommendations, as does Bows Garage which I have used before. Hmm.. not sure what to do from now on!

Well.. the car is back from servicing. I did end up take it to Robins and Day because of the timing belt.

They were trying to convince me that I got a good deal, charging an extra £35 to for an auxiliary belt of some sort that I agreed they could replace and claiming that the change of timing belt should have cost about £100 but only added about £4 to the cost. Given all that I am very surprised that they agreed to the price when I took it in.

Oh.. the good thing to report is that I think that I haven't noticed any smoke out the back when the turbo kicks in any more but the bad thing is that the tachometer is still only working intermittently.. I guess I can't expect miracles!

try looking on www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk
This is a site based on customer recommendations
I used it a few weeks ago and the garage were as stated in the reviews