Service advice needed, ind. question

[mojorider]

I have just booked my TVR (chim 450 with 42k) to an independant, Steve Howard. He is so much cheaper than the dealer and from what I read is very good. I am having the clutch, 42k service and a starter motor done.

I want want to be sure I am not shooting myself in the foot by moving away from the dealer.

Comments and words of wisdom please!

[swilly]

A known specialist is as good as the dealer (if not better in some cases) in my book.

[trefor]

FWIW, Main TVR dealers will see your car as high mileage and won't be as interested in it now anyway. Indies are def the way to go, Steve's a good guy too.

[chim_knee]

Also, someone posted on a thread similar to this a short while ago that independents tend to be set up by people who have years of experience. There is a possibility that dealers could have an apprentice/relative novice working on your car.

Not necessarily the case but something I considered when I sent mine to an independent.

Cheers,
Phil

[EdT]

I have just booked my TVR (chim 450 with 42k) to an independant, Steve Howard. He is so much cheaper than the dealer and from what I read is very good. I am having the clutch, 42k service and a starter motor done.

I want want to be sure I am not shooting myself in the foot by moving away from the dealer.

Comments and words of wisdom please!

Steve's very good

Ed

[dylanp]

Can't go wrong with Steve... Been to see him many times with two different TVRs and never been disappointed with his work or his prices...

By the way, where is he now? Still with Thames Racetech or have you booked into his new 'solo' setup?
Can you let me have his phone numbers please?

Cheers,
Dylan

[mojorider]

I have booked with Steve in his new solo setup in Hurst.

The number I have for him is 07732 863 625.

I have also asked him to install some new Nitrons, seems to be a good idea. Any thoughts?

[K3NJW]

I had nitrons put on a few weeks ago ..... fantastic. I also moved from dealer to independent servicing, but my car's a 94 so figurred it wouldn't devalue it by getting away from dealers. What it did do was save me a fortune and improve the standard of work done. The other thing was the dealer had the car for a number of days, not just the one day the independent took.

[Graham B]

mojorider said: I have booked with Steve in his new solo setup in Hurst.

The number I have for him is 07732 863 625.

I have also asked him to install some new Nitrons, seems to be a good idea. Any thoughts?

Mojorider, if you don't mind me asking what's he quoting for the Nitrons? Mail me offline if you wish...

Thanks,
Graham
Ps. Been using Steve for years now, very good.

[mojorider]

Feeling much better about switching now, big step moving from the dealers. The money saved will pay for alot of mods!!

[julianhj]

I posted this question a couple of months back - very pleased that I went to an indie (CastleSPORT, nr Gatwick). I got a far better standard of service, plenty of time was taken to explain what needed doing and why (a good 1/2 hour being shown round the car following initial inspection). Honest answers about the benefits of upgrades I was curious about.

As Ted posted at the time, quality of servicing matters far more than a blue main dealer stamp.