I was wondering who people prefer to get their cars repaired, serviced MOT'd etc with.
Would you rather use a big well known dealership or a small local business?
My car is just about ready to be serviced and i'm not sure whether to go to a well known business or to support a local small business.
Any comments welcome.

Thanks
Zip.

Thank god my car is out of it's warranty now.

I can't even begin to catalogue the problems I had at Hartwells. I wound up having to complain to head office, and an inspection of the vehicle was carried out at another branch following the incopetence at saville st.

I now have my car serviced etc with my previous mechanic. Unfortunately he's in Peterborough, but finding somebody to trust with what boils down to 'your life' is difficult.

Personally I would trust neither (I know that isn't much help to you but thought I would answer the question), prefer to do our own servicing.

Only go on recommendation when it comes to garages.

The larger national garages, or franchises, can be just as dodgy as your average back street garage, but charge more because they have a recognisable identity.
Being well known doesn't necessarily mean they'll be trustworthy.

Ask around your friends and see what they've been happy with, and go with that.

Good garages never have to advertise and are always busy :)

My uncles do a lot of the work needed on my car. The only thing they dont do is tyres, but they have a contract with a tyre garage so I dont pay full price for them. Unfortunately they've just changed who their contract is with and I dont like the new garage as much.

My parents cars are still in warranty so they use the Ford garage in Market Harborough and apart from the odd niggle, havent any real complaints.

Originally posted by ZIPPYZ
I was wondering who people prefer to get their cars repaired, serviced MOT'd etc with.
Any comments welcome.
Thanks
Zip.
i always used the dealer that matched the car, until i realised how much they hump you by. Now i go local and hes ace. PEOPLE SAY for the first three years of your cars life stick to their named dealer, so it looks good when you sell it on. Does this make a difference??

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
i always used the dealer that matched the car, until i realised how much they hump you by. Now i go local and hes ace. PEOPLE SAY for the first three years of your cars life stick to their named dealer, so it looks good when you sell it on. Does this make a difference??

I think it can invalidate the manufacturers warranty if it's not serviced by approved dealer.

K x

I wouldn't trust *ANYONE* (except close friends) where money is concerned.

People *WILL* rip you off ... ESP IF YOU GO ABOUT TRUSTING THEM.

It's been my experience that large dealerships charge a lot lot more than smaller local garages.

Originally posted by Kristian
I think it can invalidate the manufacturers warranty if it's not serviced by approved dealer.

K x even if they fully qualified etc....? then again they never mend owt on warranty for free anyway - you end up paying

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
even if they fully qualified etc....? then again they never mend owt on warranty for free anyway - you end up paying

That was the situation when I bought my car new 3 years ago. After terrible service from Hartwell, I had mine serviced by an independant garage after the first year.

It turns three years old next week, and it's just gone straight through it's first MOT without needing any work! :clap:

K x

Mine is under warranty so I use approved dealers.

Originally posted by Kristian
I think it can invalidate the manufacturers warranty if it's not serviced by approved dealer.

K x

Not anymore. Laws (or regulations) were passed last year to stop this.

As long as original manufacturers parts are used you can go anywhere.

I'll try to dig up the info.....

Originally posted by Ginner
Not anymore. Laws (or regulations) were passed last year to stop this.

As long as original manufacturers parts are used you can go anywhere.

I'll try to dig up the info.....

Oooh - Good! If you can find any definate info I'd really appreciate it! :thumbsup:

K x

Originally posted by Ginner
...I'll try to dig up the info.....

Here ya go...

http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/facts/blockcars.htm

Page down to the FAQ listed at the bottom.

Basically with the block exemption now in force you can take your car to anyone to be serviced as long as they are VAT registered, use genuine parts and stick to the manufacturers service schedule.

Even with a new car nobody can tell you where to take your car for servicing , unless you have a service agreement.

However, a full dealer history may be viewed as preferential by a prospective buyer.

hartwells on saville street were **** last year, but there have been a lot of staff changes and a recent vauxhall inspection so they are now 200% better!!!

my boyfriend finishes his aprenticeship with them this year and he is a lot happier now than he was before xmas.

I use a local garage for servicing and MOTs because they're so well known and established.

But, I have no problems with my local Peugeot dealer - they're friendly, helpful and competitively priced. The door pin broke on my 306. They replaced it and the arm (which was bent) and didn't charge anything for labour.

The parts were only £4+VAT too, so I didn't get overcharged there either.

Be careful and I agree bigger organisations aren't necessarily any better than sole traders and small local garages. I always ask for a receipt which shows the cost price of any parts and oil etc, the mark up, the hours and full labour charge and VAT. That way I know they aren't trying it on, they have to evidence everything they buy at least and show how much they add on (I'm happy up to 30% but no more).

There used to abe a garage on Upwell St in Firth Park/Fir Vale backing onto a small brook and opposite another which is next door to the doctors surgery I think, can't remember his name, but he did some stuff for me and I had to argue with him because he didn't want to charge me. He said it wasn't worth paying for as it was only replacing bulbs and cleaning a bit of wire! He did a couple of jobs for me and seemed trustworthy and capable.

That said, we do most of our own work usually. Most attempts to save time and effort by paying have been futile. I once took up a free "service" in that LEX place on West ST. They told me my car wasnt safe to drive away and presented me with a £450 estimate for work. I told them to go boil their heads and demanded proof, it went up on the ramps and they impressively wobbled the wheels, so I asked them where were the rubber thingies that hold the steering rack in place and then they were quite keen for me to take it away. Interestingly I'd had a new steering rack fitted the week before, complete with its rubber doobries, had to get new ones and get "himself" to fit them.

Thanks for all you help everyone. I've had a word with a couple of friends and they've told me about a mobile servicer that they have used, and were really happy with. They come to your work place or home so i'm going to use them. I'll let you all know how it goes!

Zip.