Finding a good garage - how?

[seylectric]

Bbbbbbbbbbbbb

 

 

Sorry, post didn't display as it shoul have done. My "story" to follow when I get the chance.

[Che]

I would be interested to get info regarding this as well!

[Peepo]

Word of mouth I guess.

Ive worked at a couple in my local area.

But unless you live in Bournemouth I guess thats not much help to you.

[budwieser]

Anyone living in the Cambridge area let me know as i work for a great garage with an excellent bodyshop as well, Honda main Dealer.

[clairus99]

Was just looking on another thread where someone recommended a site - motuk.com or something....

 

 

Thread was MOT Retest OH MI GOD ... or something like that, I'm sure you'll find it easily!

 

Anyone living around Hounslow area I can recommend a good one, cheap too.

[seylectric]

What I was going to say earlier is that when I bought my current car I decided to use the main dealers instead of the local "back street" garage I had used for years, mainly because there was far more electronics on the car and the main dealer had all the equipment, and I thought I would keep up the main dealer service stamp (dunno why, my cars are usually battered by the time I've done with them anyway).

 

The trouble is the main dealers prices were sky high, and I decided to go to a local highly rated independant VW service garage when I had a small problem. £180 and three visits later and they still hadn't cured it. I went back to the main dealer who sorted it in half an hour and didn't charge me either.

 

Gone back to the "back street" guy now though, he now has the diagnostic software for my car and he's always been very good and a fraction of the price of the main dealer.

 

It just shows how hard it is though, highly rated indy VW dealer couldn't sort the problem and cost me a packet, main dealer sorted it quickly and free. What do you do?

[breadline]

Im giggling here, as i was reading i was going to write i used to work for a main dealer and the cars where never fixed properly and it usually took a few tries.

 

and it was

 

VW , so sorry for the giggle which is at VW,

 

I would stay away defo, go little man who needs your money

 

Bl

[seylectric]

The local VW franchise was highly rated and always looked after me OK but admittedly were a bit pricey. Then the owner died shortly after moving into new premises and the company was taken over by a larger group, much worse service and higher prices.

 

So the local guy looks after the car again now, not that anything ever goes wrong with it.

[MARTIN3030]

I have worked for both Audi/VW dealers and specialists.

 

The problem is sometimes with technology.

The dealers have all the training and up to date information on service and parts.

Through the network and with the importer (VAG) bulletins and up to date info on supercessions /recalls and other information allow staff to know the job (their cars) needs.

 

Lots of people do their training at the dealership/headquarters then leave to set up shop as a specialist.

Hovever with information changing so quickly,without getting this he can quickly fall behind.

 

I had contacts at the dealer when I moved to the specialist,who supplied me with monthly microfische details on parts and bulletins.

 

In exchange we supplied him with OEM parts when HE wasd stuck !!

 

 

My boss at the specialist had 24 years experience with VW and could take a Beetle or MK 1 golf to pieces and put back together with his eyes closed.

 

Hovever having the latest Bosch Anylising equipment is not all it takes to set an Audi 200 Turbo !!

 

Having the service manuals as used by the dealer helped ............but more importantly keeping the flow of that information going was essential to do the job as well or if not better than the main dealer !!

[breadline]

I think where i worked it had more to do with the mechanics eating snacks in customers cars and then kipping in them for half an hour of the charged time.

 

This was a VW/Audi big dealership.

 

Even the coffe machine was lethal and burnt customers.

A sign was placed on the machine and was immidiately ripped down in discust by the floor manager.

 

It was all about front and looks but under neath it was held together with blue tack.

 

After the knowledge i gained working in the showroom, I would never buy a new car and most certainly wouldnt use a main dealer.

 

BL

[MARTIN3030]

not by any chance Kg in Aylesbury ?

 

 

:idea:

[breadline]

not by any chance Kg in Aylesbury ?

 

 

:idea:

 

Bristol is all im giving. as an ex employee i think thats best.

[MARTIN3030]

of course,diplomacy is a very good quality..............

 

 

 

if only the banks would have a little of that !!

 

 

[breadline]

May be the main dealers secretly own the banks, the managing directors are all in the same wage catagorie:mad:

[seylectric]

LOL, understood. Great cars though.

[breadline]

It is a big shame as yeap i agree they are very nice cars.

 

Bl

[MARTIN3030]

One dealer I worked for in the Oxford/Berkshire area were part of a syndicate owning on of the countries top horse racing stables.

They spurned more than 1 Grand National Winner.

Not connected to any Bank...........but probably making similar dosh !!

 

[thewifeandI]

not by any chance Kg in Aylesbury ?

 

 

:idea:

 

They are the best service department I have ever dealt with - completely satisfied - booked in for a service on Thursday.

[Layla_ck]

Can anyone recommend a garage in the Worcestershire/West Midlands area for servicing/repairing a 2.0 litre 16V Audi Coupe?

[MARTIN3030]

you could try this one

VWRescue Ltd.

Musk Lane Ind Est

Lower

Gornal

DY3 2UH

Tel: 01384 237900

Mobile: 07984 689753

 

They are in Dudley are all ex dealer and only fit genuine parts.

I am a qualified ex VAG parts manager and did have some dealings with these.

If its too far away then you may like to pick up a copy of vw motoring from any good newsagent it is the bible for Audi/VW owners and as well as features it gives lots of addresses and phone numbers for the specialists.Theres also mail order parts and accessories.

A gread read for All Audi VW owners

[rob_bhafc]

Can anyone recommend a garage in the Worcestershire/West Midlands area for servicing/repairing a 2.0 litre 16V Audi Coupe?

 

 

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com Good Garage Scheme - Car Service, MOT Test, Car Servicing and Repairs Directory

 

A good starting point.

[MondeoST24]

Try [EDIT]

They are a national network of quality independant garages and you can view motorist feedback reports before choosing one.

[MrTig]

Quote:

 

Visit GoodGarageScheme.com Good Garage Scheme - Car Service, MOT Test, Car Servicing and Repairs Directory

 

 

 

 

There are however serious problems with the scheme that you mention.

It was designed to sell "Forte Additives" not to serve the retail customer. Garages that sign up to this scheme have to become Forte customers and use their products when they service your car.

 

Unfortunately this is where the problem starts because there is a conflict of interest. Imagine that you run this 'garage scheme' and you get negative feedback from a retail customer for a garage you supply.

If you publish this feedback on the web, you may lose your customer. IMO this is why if you look on the G Garage scheme website you will find NO negative feedback at all!

this makes me wonder how it is that every garage that joins this scheme suddenly becomes reputable?

 

Furthermore, the company that operates this scheme tries to hide the fact that they are suppliers to the garages. There is no mention of the scheme on their main site and only in smallprint on the actual scheme site.

 

Ideally, any regulatory scheme shouldn't be swayed by any conflict of interest. There are a number of other schemes available which have OFT approval, some of which are run by local councils such as the "Quality assured schemes."

 

Furthermore, although the products this company supplies are of a good standard and worthwhile, they expensive to buy compared to similar or superior brands.

 

In no way do I wish to infer that garage memebers of this scheme are not reputable. On the contrary, I am sure that many of their members run quality businesses. However, I strongly disagree with the inference that this scheme gurantees legitimate working practice especially when there is a strong conflict of interest.

 

Finally, it is not the place of an additive company or suppliers in general to regulate the conduct of a garage, they are not equipped to do so. If a Forte agent can open up an account he will do so regardless of the reputation the garage has.

 

 

Regards,

 

MT.

[SeanT]

I'd start out by using someone that belongs to the RMIF, and after this finding a small independent for routine stuff, but maybe taking cars for an MoT yourself and just seeing what it fails on, preferably at a specialist MoT centre that has no interest in working on your vehicle, only in testing it. Then for anything that obviously isn't routine take the car to a specialist - there is no advantage to using the same garage for everything whatsoever.

[Conniff]

..