RG or DM for servicing?
RG or DM for servicing?
Author
Discussion

Leadfoot

Original Poster:

1,918 posts

311 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
As the title says, I'm after recomendations for either Racing Green or Dream Machines for servicing now that Gatwick have gone. I'd be especially interested to hear from anyone who's used both.

Both are a fair drive from me (near Purley), but DM is a much easier & enjoyable journey.

I'm aware of the Indies nearby but need to stay with main dealers for warranty reasons.

luca brazzi

3,983 posts

295 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
Difficult because I guess most respondents will have only been to one of them. You know my position, I tell it often enough, so without wanting to sound biased...I'd take a trip to both of them and have a friendly chat, a look round the servicing area, what facilities they have, and try to form an opinion.

I'm thrilled with the service Racing Green give to me...its always so much more than just the work they do on my car, which is ALWAYS first class. They have a fantastic sales floor, and an impressive service area, with my favourite bit being the laser geometry set up. When I say its more than just the work they do, its the experience they have in the industry, plus you get to hear about Phil Keen's exploits on the race track.

I'm sure there will be someone along to give the same praise for Dream Machines, and someone who has been to both....so this is just my twopenny's worth.

Let us know what you do.

LB

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
you dont need to stay with maindealer for wtty. If Gatwick is easy then why not Austec. I use APM and cant recommeny highly enough.

FUBAR

17,065 posts

268 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
gazzab said:
. If Gatwick is easy then why not Austec.


I was just going to say that

Austec gets my vote, straight down the M23

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
DM and RG are both excellent - they are a class apart from the local specalists.

billynomates

2,101 posts

266 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
rev-erend said:
DM and RG are both excellent - they are a class apart from the local specalists.



That's true.......... DM do a damn fine job on WC as well hehe


Saved me bucket loads thumbup

TON70

531 posts

262 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
FUBAR said:
gazzab said:
. If Gatwick is easy then why not Austec.


I was just going to say that

Austec gets my vote, straight down the M23


thumbup

zippee

14,128 posts

264 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
FUBAR said:

Austec gets my vote, straight down the M23


And you get to meet Alex cloud9

vixpy1

42,699 posts

294 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
zippee said:
FUBAR said:

Austec gets my vote, straight down the M23


And you get to meet Alex cloud9


cloud9

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
And the indies have the most TVR experience, skill, value etc.....

TT Tim

4,168 posts

277 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
Can't see the point of using 'main' dealers when a) TVR is uncertain to have any future, b) Noone is that worried about it all being main dealer stamps and c) the indis' have more experience and most of the time more dedication to what they're doing.

Andy at APM gets my vote - in my experience he's been straight down the middle, knowledgable, honest, good value for money and the jobs done when he says it is, you can't ask for more than that. clap

Tim

FUBAR

17,065 posts

268 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
vixpy1 said:
zippee said:
FUBAR said:

Austec gets my vote, straight down the M23


And you get to meet Alex cloud9


cloud9


Whilst driving up Whitehall on LT this female form bounced, I mean bounded from the pavement and flagged me down. Was only the lovely Alex who asked me to drive her dad round the 'route' as a favour. Of course I duly obliged

As I know she watches these pages...you owe me one Alex

hehe


Oh, yeah cloud9 too

Leadfoot

Original Poster:

1,918 posts

311 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
I've got the Autoprotect (TVR approved used) "wear & tear" warranty. This stipulates that you must use a TVR main dealer. As the warranty is with Autoprotect rather than TVR themsevles, the uncertaintity over TVRs future is not a concern in this case - but abiding by the condtions of the warranty is, therefore I won't be using an indie (for servicing & warranty work).

I've been to both RG & DM in the past for a looksee, RG have the more impressive facilities but that's no indicator of a garages capabilites really. hence the request for recomendations.



Edited by Leadfoot on Saturday 2nd December 01:34

0to60

736 posts

251 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
RACING GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN ARE TOP....always help, even when i just turn up out of the blue, lol, ...i just recently had my tuscan 2 convertible serviced from them, the car feels and sounds even better than when i got it from the factory...and even small finishing touches like new valve caps and wheel centre caps etc, ...i dont even get that from my lexus and audi dealer.

Martin is the top bloke there, always helps out when needed.



FUBAR, long time no see bro, didnt see you at London Thunder dudeeee

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
Leadfoot said:
I've got the Autoprotect (TVR approved used) "wear & tear" warranty. This stipulates that you must use a TVR main dealer. As the warranty is with Autoprotect rather than TVR themsevles, the uncertaintity over TVRs future is not a concern in this case - but abiding by the condtions of the warranty is, therefore I won't be using an indie (for servicing & warranty work).

Edited by Leadfoot on Saturday 2nd December 01:34


I thought that practice was illegal now.

pblake

399 posts

252 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
I have only ever use RG and can not praise them highly enough.
The car has alwasys come back feeling just that bit better after a service. I have used the bodyshop as well and got great service.

FUBAR

17,065 posts

268 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
0to60 said:
RACING GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN ARE TOP....always help, even when i just turn up out of the blue, lol, ...i just recently had my tuscan 2 convertible serviced from them, the car feels and sounds even better than when i got it from the factory...and even small finishing touches like new valve caps and wheel centre caps etc, ...i dont even get that from my lexus and audi dealer.

Martin is the top bloke there, always helps out when needed.



FUBAR, long time no see bro, didnt see you at London Thunder dudeeee


Yo bruv wavey

Got there last at the Ace and early to Whitehall so I bailed when all those nutters in TVRs turned up and caused traffic problems rofl

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all
gazzab said:
Leadfoot said:
I've got the Autoprotect (TVR approved used) "wear & tear" warranty. This stipulates that you must use a TVR main dealer. As the warranty is with Autoprotect rather than TVR themsevles, the uncertaintity over TVRs future is not a concern in this case - but abiding by the condtions of the warranty is, therefore I won't be using an indie (for servicing & warranty work).

Edited by Leadfoot on Saturday 2nd December 01:34


I thought that practice was illegal now.


Many indies that I have used have had no interest in warranty work.

They have to spend a lot of time on admin to recover they costs and they don't want that work.

Main dealers often bent over backwards to help get the customer the best they can because they know when you pay very little and get stuff for free off the warrenty that you may well return and buy a car from them. They like to look after you. Servicing may cost a little more but sometimes with TVR CC discounts thrown in - it actually is cheaper than an indies prices.

Just call then and ask their price.

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Sunday 3rd December 2006
quotequote all
How can £90 per hour be discounted to match £38 ph ? I dont think that will happen !
My indie (APM) will do warranty work, I am sure hates the paperwork BUT I am aure there is plenty that he hates doing. That is business and hey you got to keep the customer happy. APM certainly does that for me.

rev-erend

21,622 posts

314 months

Monday 4th December 2006
quotequote all
I could be wrong here but the dealers were charging £60 / hr and some indies were also charging £60 / hr.

The dealers also would give a discount to TVR CC members - which in my mind makes them very competitive.

OK - the dealers servicing prices are higher but then again - perhaps we should be asking 'what the indies are not doing in the service that perhaps the dealers are ..'

But lets face it - if you have an older TVR then none of this matters as most indies are better for you than a main dealer but if you have a newer car then a main dealer stamp is essential.