Neil Garner MOT

[SAGTAFF]

Hello All,

Its service and MOT time - in the past I have used David Gerald for servicing and a number of different non-TVR specialists for the MOT however both are due at the same time this year and I've only just realised Neil Garner is a much closer drive to me than David Gerald (lets be clear, very happy with David Gerald and the only reason I'm going elsewhere this year is because Neil Garner is closer) - I am therefore taking the Sagaris to Neil Garner to get both done.

Now having read the article about Neil Garner in Sprint a few months ago and what has been posted about Neil Garner on this site, I have no worries about them at all regarding the service. HOWEVER, they outsource the MOT.

During my 9 years of TVR ownership I have needed 7 MOT's and on 3 occasions my car has been damaged - that is not a great statistic! (Can I just be clear that none of this damage was ever caused at David Gerald TVR as I have never used them for the MOT)

Despite me politely pointing out the low ground clearance, the need to warm up or the need to engage 5th before reverse - not many of these non-TVR specialist seem to listen or understand so the next thing I am hearing is the crunch of gears or the scrape of front splitters. I tell you, my heart is in my mouth every year I need an MOT.

I am therefore looking for feedback on the place that Neil Garner use as an MOT - I have the option just to leave Neil Garner get on with the service and then them looking after the MOT however I am tempted to stay with the car all day and go with it to the MOT place and watch them like a hawk. Quite frankly me being polite has not worked as my car is rarely looked after therefore I am thinking a change of tactic is the only way by being very blunt with them and insist I drive the car everywhere.

Can any Sagaris or T350 owners give me any feedback on whether I should be concerned?

Thanks a lot
Antony

[5.0ltr]

I apologise as I only have a Griff so don't meet your requirements but I have no problems with Neil's tester but , as you suggest for you to be happy if I was you , I would go elsewhere and make sure you are happy.

[ShiDevil]

My MOT chap lets me stay with the car drive the car on the ramp, on the braking machine etc. personally stick with the car

When it's on the ramp you can have a little check yourself

[TV8]

Are you sure these cars should be on the brake tester machine? My MOT man has just retired but we always went out with a sensor in the footwell.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I too am always the helper when MOT comes. (Help with where the switches & door opening etc)

My man also uses the decelerometer rather than brake roller.

[Steve_D]

An MOT bay and tester are very expensive unless you have cars going through all day long so it is no surprise they don't have one nor do we.
If they have a local tester they use all the time (as we do) they will be well used to the cars and how to handle them.
On that basis they are a better option than your local test station.

Steve
Southways

[ShiDevil]

TV8 said:

Are you sure these cars should be on the brake tester machine? My MOT man has just retired but we always went out with a sensor in the footwell.

They are only cars mate, I can't see what the issue is. Tbh these posts about issues with mot's etc only emphasise the fact that some owners barely drive or understand their cars or are too sensitive about them. My car is serviced by Matt Smith, I do some things myself, I take my car to a local MOT place that knows me, my car, my mates TVR's that are happy to let us be involved. It takes less than an hour and is zero stress.

[blueg33]

ShiDevil said:

My MOT chap lets me stay with the car drive the car on the ramp, on the braking machine etc. personally stick with the car

When it's on the ramp you can have a little check yourself

Same here, plus he uses a decellerometer rather than rollers for the brake test. He is in Tewkesbury which is sort of halfway between David Gerald and Neil Garner.

Btw. I use Neil and he is excellent especially for geo

[citizen smith]

Hi,

I have had several TVR,s MOT,d over the years and never had a single problem. My local MOT station has a PIT, rather than those ramps which can create all sorts of problems for low cars and careless MOT Testers.

My advise would be to seek an MOT Station with a PIT (OLD school type garage), don,t worry about them being a TVR Specialist.

[TV8]

ShiDevil said:

They are only cars mate, I can't see what the issue is. Tbh these posts about issues with mot's etc only emphasise the fact that some owners barely drive or understand their cars or are too sensitive about them. My car is serviced by Matt Smith, I do some things myself, I take my car to a local MOT place that knows me, my car, my mates TVR's that are happy to let us be involved. It takes less than an hour and is zero stress.

No issue for me and I know these are only cars. My comment about brake testing is due to the limited slip diff. I had my fronts checked for even breaking though.

[axeman332]

Neil has looked after my TVR since he first moved to Kemble.

The garage that he uses for MOT's I have dealt with for the last 18 years, both for my commercial vehicles and my TVR.
They realize that TVR's are not the average car and as a result, they only allow one of their staff to drive them. He is suitably qualified and I have never had any problems with them---quite the reverse, they are sympathetic to the idiosyncrasies of the make.

[SAGTAFF]

axeman332 said:

Neil has looked after my TVR since he first moved to Kemble.

The garage that he uses for MOT's I have dealt with for the last 18 years, both for my commercial vehicles and my TVR.
They realize that TVR's are not the average car and as a result, they only allow one of their staff to drive them. He is suitably qualified and I have never had any problems with them---quite the reverse, they are sympathetic to the idiosyncrasies of the make.

That was the answer I was looking for - thank you John. Out of interest, judging from the confidence of your post, I trust you would have no issue leaving your TVR with this garage? What TVR do you have and what's 'the' technicians name?

Cheers a load
Antony

[axeman332]

Do not know his name, but I always deal with Rob, the owner, for my day to day stuff. If you feel there is a potential problem, I am sure that Neil would give you his number and you could take it from there. ( the garage Neil uses is only a couple of miles down the road and hence, more often than not there are all sorts of TVR's there).

[axeman332]

Forgot to add-- I have rather special 5.2 litre road legal light weight chimera with a John Eales half race engine with transmission and suspension to match. It was MOT'd 10 days ago via Neil's. This was a result of a phone call and I picked up the relevant paperwork from Neil as and when. Great team.

[sgrimshaw]

axeman332 said:

Forgot to add-- I have rather special 5.2 litre road legal light weight chimera with a John Eales half race engine with transmission and suspension to match. It was MOT'd 10 days ago via Neil's. This was a result of a phone call and I picked up the relevant paperwork from Neil as and when. Great team.

Have to ask ...

”What's a lightweight Chimaera?”

I know TVR built some lightweight Cerbera's and I'm pretty sure a few T350's but never heard of a lightweight Chimaera.

[SMB]

TV8 said:

No issue for me and I know these are only cars. My comment about brake testing is due to the limited slip diff. I had my fronts checked for even breaking though.

Correct mot procedure for a car with lsd is to use a decelarometer in the footwell for both brake and handbrake tests. The brake rollers can damage the function of the mechanical lsd . The test procedure print out the tester users should highlight the car has a lsd.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

SMB said:

TV8 said:

No issue for me and I know these are only cars. My comment about brake testing is due to the limited slip diff. I had my fronts checked for even breaking though.

Correct mot procedure for a car with lsd is to use a decelarometer in the footwell for both brake and handbrake tests. The brake rollers can damage the function of the mechanical lsd . The test procedure print out the tester users should highlight the car has a lsd.

I often wonder if that should be true for 4wd cars as well?

[N7GTX]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

SMB said:

TV8 said:

No issue for me and I know these are only cars. My comment about brake testing is due to the limited slip diff. I had my fronts checked for even breaking though.

Correct mot procedure for a car with lsd is to use a decelarometer in the footwell for both brake and handbrake tests. The brake rollers can damage the function of the mechanical lsd . The test procedure print out the tester users should highlight the car has a lsd.

I often wonder if that should be true for 4wd cars as well?

As some are permanent 4wd and some not, then when the tester books the car online, he gets a print out stating any guidelines for the test. If he follows this then there should not be any problems. But it should be remembered that many TVRs are upgraded, improved etc and a previous owner may have modified the diff so sometimes best to play safe by using the decelerometer.

[Byker28i]

Neils MOT station is about a mile from his place, you'll pass it if you come past kemble airfield. It gets driven there, waited and driven back. Never had an issue passing the MOT there nor any issues with the service. Mine goes in for service and gets MOT'd afterwards.

I believe this garage services all the MOT needs and so they have a good working relationship between both businesses.

But ehy not call and discuss with Neils staff. They are happy to answer any queries.

[allanb]

+1 for Neils MOT garage.

I've had my Tamora and Tuscan done there, and they do good jobs.

The Tamora's front end was too low for the other MOT stations I have used in the past, around Bath and Bristol, but these guys are used to handling TVR's every day, so no problem for them.