Dealer v Specialist
Discussion
Today i had clear indicators fitted to my tuscan by TVR specialist's Offord motor company. I received great service, free curtesy car and a price roughly half that of a dealer. Great! And they done a pukka job. They also say they can carry out all servicing requirements ie. 6000 & 12000 miles, etc. - and obviously at a greatly reduced rate compared to a main dealer.
Here lies my problem. When selling my car on will it be frowned upon, reduce the selling price,etc,etc because i have had the servicing work carried out by a specialist and therefore not have a main dealer stamp in my log book? I could save a lot of money by going the specialist route and not the dealer even though he is 90 miles away and my dealer is half that. What do you all think???
Here lies my problem. When selling my car on will it be frowned upon, reduce the selling price,etc,etc because i have had the servicing work carried out by a specialist and therefore not have a main dealer stamp in my log book? I could save a lot of money by going the specialist route and not the dealer even though he is 90 miles away and my dealer is half that. What do you all think???
! I have used both a dealer and a specialist (Offords as well as it happens). Increasingly I have used Offords for doing work to the point where I am no longer taking it back to the dealer. A good independent like Offords will do a very good, honest and competitively priced job.
Anyone buying a TVR who does their homework should not have a problem buying a car with a full history that includes work by a decent independent with a good reputation.
Anyone buying a TVR who does their homework should not have a problem buying a car with a full history that includes work by a decent independent with a good reputation.
tvrslag said:
rude girl said:
YAHOO said: Would you take your Ferrari to Halfords.
This doesn't quite answer the question that was asked. Halfords would be specialists in what exactly???
Cocking everything up, and not stocking the oil you need
And telling you that things don't exist in their universe (like 40amp fuses!)
At least you appreciate the TVR more when you get it back - there was one dealer (Main TVR Agent) who used to give you Ford Ka - with the dealership splattered all over it.
You should be more concentration on the serviced and quality of work that is done not the size of the workshop, quality of loans cars - but the bloke that is working on your car.
When looking to buy any TVR for the last five years I have always took each car on it's own merits but also checked who has serviced it. Some specialists have 8-10 years of TVR exepreince under their belts and that is why they have set up on their own. Some main dealers, and not just TVR can put a technicain with 6-12 months experience of your particular model.
So everyone is different and ...
Not all Garages are the same - whatever they look like from the outside. If your not sure always speak to people who have used them before and that is why pistonheads forums are so great.
thats' better, and yes Halfords aren't anything remotely to do with owning a TVR
>> Edited by jamer on Friday 7th March 09:33
You should be more concentration on the serviced and quality of work that is done not the size of the workshop, quality of loans cars - but the bloke that is working on your car.
When looking to buy any TVR for the last five years I have always took each car on it's own merits but also checked who has serviced it. Some specialists have 8-10 years of TVR exepreince under their belts and that is why they have set up on their own. Some main dealers, and not just TVR can put a technicain with 6-12 months experience of your particular model.
So everyone is different and ...
Not all Garages are the same - whatever they look like from the outside. If your not sure always speak to people who have used them before and that is why pistonheads forums are so great.
thats' better, and yes Halfords aren't anything remotely to do with owning a TVR
>> Edited by jamer on Friday 7th March 09:33
jamer said: At least you appreciate the TVR more when you get it back - there was one dealer (Main TVR Agent) who used to give you Ford Ka - with the dealership splattered all over it.
You should be more concentration on the serviced and quality of work that is done not the size of the workshop, quality of loans cars - but the bloke that is working on your car.
When looking to buy any TVR for the last five years I have always took each car on it's own merits but also checked who has serviced it. Some specialists have 8-10 years of TVR exepreince under their belts and that is why they have set up on their own. Some main dealers, and not just TVR can put a technicain with 6-12 months experience of your particular model.
So everyone is different and ...
Not all Garages are the same - whatever they look like from the outside. If your not sure always speak to people who have used them before and that is why pistonheads forums are so great.
thats' better, and yes Halfords aren't anything remotely to do with owning a TVR
>> Edited by jamer on Friday 7th March 09:33
Yup. Couldn't agree more.. Personally I'd rather have my hourly rate going to the garage for experienced work on my car. Ok, be nice to have a TVR as a replacement for the day, but not if it means my paying through the nose for it..
Looking for the next car I'll be more than happy with one thats got a history from a good specialist, or I've found from here or the club and is an enthusiast. I've never used a TVR dealer, but I have had problems in the past with expensive and quite frankly shoddy work with a certain delaership of a largeish Scandanavian type. Whatever, I'll almost certainly use Rob to source it, or at the very least pay Joolz for a few hours to give it the once over. Saw a lot of dogs when looking for my S and don't want to get bitten. (Daft sod that I am almost bought one to rescue it; finances and space won't allow a 2nd car though just now).
Halfords are ok, now sell Zymol I'm told..
I might have to get some before Pie5, (:tounge in cheek: and some blue neons and gaffer tape to hold my spot lights on.. :/tounge in cheek
I notice as i have said many times before none of you seem to have anything bad to say about your TVR specialists no surprise there then, as it is pointed out before we go that extra mile for in making sure your TVR is just so. Glad to hear of another specialist enjoying the good Name we have, well done Offord motor's!
Noel V8 sports and classics
Noel V8 sports and classics
These debates never seem to include negotiation on price
Why not share the dilema with the main dealer and suggest you really want the main dealer stamp but at a price closer to the specialist.
I get the impression that one or two main dealers are struggling for routine work, indeed one who shall be nameless was asking some of the mechanics to take holiday at the back end of last year rather than be idle in the workshop.If that was my business I know I would prefer my staff working on specialist prices rather than idle on dealer prices.
Timing is of course everything, and as all the summer cars start to reappear so your negotiation position weakens.
Why not share the dilema with the main dealer and suggest you really want the main dealer stamp but at a price closer to the specialist.
I get the impression that one or two main dealers are struggling for routine work, indeed one who shall be nameless was asking some of the mechanics to take holiday at the back end of last year rather than be idle in the workshop.If that was my business I know I would prefer my staff working on specialist prices rather than idle on dealer prices.
Timing is of course everything, and as all the summer cars start to reappear so your negotiation position weakens.
specialists of the world unite .. YAY!!
One word for the SP6 members out there .. the factory still seem to look favourably on cars which are TVR dealer serviced when it comes to engine rebuild time .. for that reason I would recommend any owners still in warranty or even just out of warranty period to have the basic servicing done at a dealer so you get the all-important stamp. By all means get everything else done at your local friendly independant, but when it comes to that engine, better safe than sorry ...
One word for the SP6 members out there .. the factory still seem to look favourably on cars which are TVR dealer serviced when it comes to engine rebuild time .. for that reason I would recommend any owners still in warranty or even just out of warranty period to have the basic servicing done at a dealer so you get the all-important stamp. By all means get everything else done at your local friendly independant, but when it comes to that engine, better safe than sorry ...
Just had first service on my 98 Griff By specialists Top Cats Racing, Westcott near Aylesbury. They collected and delivered car, checked the whole car over for any faults etc which they will do on the first service FOC,
I had rough price from a local TVR dealer 700.00ish, Top Cats 186.00 incl. need I say more. Also given me some realy sensible prices on brake upgrades etc, they've got my vote... if you ring them, tell em Graham sent you||
>> Edited by graham 500 on Friday 7th March 19:42
>> Edited by graham 500 on Friday 7th March 19:43
I had rough price from a local TVR dealer 700.00ish, Top Cats 186.00 incl. need I say more. Also given me some realy sensible prices on brake upgrades etc, they've got my vote... if you ring them, tell em Graham sent you||
>> Edited by graham 500 on Friday 7th March 19:42
>> Edited by graham 500 on Friday 7th March 19:43
I'm leaning toward the specialist service idea too. My Chimaera is on 73500 miles now and I'm sure I'm going to have it way past 100k miles. At that age as long as it has a FSH (TVR or not) then it shouldn't be a problem I'd imagine. My last service was £600, but I'm sure that could be halved.
Dealers vs independant
Well, we have been all over the country with our car trying a large proportion of the dealer and independant network.
Overall the independants are alot better for prices/service but again there are some who arent so good (not going into names here).
Dealers on the whole were awful for us, over priced, often not doing the work/ not doing it properly and even telling us that they dont want to see the car ever again.
We have now found an independant who is not only by far the best for quality of service and price but is also a good friend. We have saved ALOT of money through using Joospeed for all sorts of issues and have never had any problems.
I cannot stress how much better the car runs now. Before we met Joolz the cerb was unreliable, we had a second car so it didnt matter much, but it was frustrating anyway. Now however, the Cerb is dads only car. Something that couldnt have happened in its previous state.
I will get all of dads costs together and put them up on here soon, that should give you an idea on the costs involved. In the first year or two we were VERY close to selling it because the costs were too high considering the time it spent in the dealers.
Certainly though, getting it serviced at Joospeed has meant that the cerbera is staying forever. Superb car, running brilliantly and alot more reliable.
Of course the problem with this is he wont sell it to me now and he doesnt know what to replace it with eventually. A Bentley GT continental (the new one, dunno if the names right) is next on the list, but thats a good ten years away at the moment (money wise).
Well, we have been all over the country with our car trying a large proportion of the dealer and independant network.
Overall the independants are alot better for prices/service but again there are some who arent so good (not going into names here).
Dealers on the whole were awful for us, over priced, often not doing the work/ not doing it properly and even telling us that they dont want to see the car ever again.
We have now found an independant who is not only by far the best for quality of service and price but is also a good friend. We have saved ALOT of money through using Joospeed for all sorts of issues and have never had any problems.
I cannot stress how much better the car runs now. Before we met Joolz the cerb was unreliable, we had a second car so it didnt matter much, but it was frustrating anyway. Now however, the Cerb is dads only car. Something that couldnt have happened in its previous state.
I will get all of dads costs together and put them up on here soon, that should give you an idea on the costs involved. In the first year or two we were VERY close to selling it because the costs were too high considering the time it spent in the dealers.
Certainly though, getting it serviced at Joospeed has meant that the cerbera is staying forever. Superb car, running brilliantly and alot more reliable.
Of course the problem with this is he wont sell it to me now and he doesnt know what to replace it with eventually. A Bentley GT continental (the new one, dunno if the names right) is next on the list, but thats a good ten years away at the moment (money wise).
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