RE: New TVR Dealer
Monday 28th April 2003
New TVR Dealer
H.L. Gorner up and running near Wigan
Discussion
I have just tried Gorners today for a tune up and diagnostics. I suspect I may have been the first TVR service customer ? I have used them before for other cars when they where solely a mercedes dealership and they were very very good, but expensive.
I know they had to ring blackpool for a few settings today, (I had the car adjusted to run on 95 ron unleaded)
I warned them that I thought the fans had stopped working in the last couple of days. (otter switch gone) but it looks like they cooked it anyway, when tuning it ! A few small signs of steam under the bonnet, I hope they have not damaged anything.
They charged 50 pound an hour plus vat and charged me two hours. Chris neil quoted 75 plus vat for tune up/diagnostics. I did ask originally for them to do it at the same price, but they ignored me.
They rang and confirmed the fan switch was not working and asked if they could keep the car for a day or two until the switch arrived, I said no, just get it and order me some new fan belts as well. I'll pick it up and put it on. When I went to pick the car up a couple of hours later they had managed to get somebody near blackpool to call in and get one, so that was pretty good, but they had forgot the fan belts. They fitted it for free and replaced the coolant. Not hard, but a gesture at least. The car came back with quite a few dirty hand prints on it and the idle after being perfect is now all over the place and the car has stalled on me. Never done that in five years. Suspect they have been messing or cleaning the stepper motor, which didn't need doing. I disconected the ecu to reset (Thanks for advice Mav) and it seems fine now. (I'd best tell them!!, not sure if this is a standard thing to do, after tuning etc)
The car is running smooth, but they had no information at the service desk they could share with me on what had been changed or if anything had been found, that they adjusted etc. I suppose if people just drop of there mercedes they just want it back ok, with TVR enthusiasts you like to know a bit more.
Not reached any conclusions on them yet, maybe need to try them again, but an average start or am I being kind.
I even left Steve's bible on the front seat just in case they needed it. Not sure if it was used.
They do have a nice selection of cars in, but seem a bit pricey.
I know they had to ring blackpool for a few settings today, (I had the car adjusted to run on 95 ron unleaded)
I warned them that I thought the fans had stopped working in the last couple of days. (otter switch gone) but it looks like they cooked it anyway, when tuning it ! A few small signs of steam under the bonnet, I hope they have not damaged anything.
They charged 50 pound an hour plus vat and charged me two hours. Chris neil quoted 75 plus vat for tune up/diagnostics. I did ask originally for them to do it at the same price, but they ignored me.
They rang and confirmed the fan switch was not working and asked if they could keep the car for a day or two until the switch arrived, I said no, just get it and order me some new fan belts as well. I'll pick it up and put it on. When I went to pick the car up a couple of hours later they had managed to get somebody near blackpool to call in and get one, so that was pretty good, but they had forgot the fan belts. They fitted it for free and replaced the coolant. Not hard, but a gesture at least. The car came back with quite a few dirty hand prints on it and the idle after being perfect is now all over the place and the car has stalled on me. Never done that in five years. Suspect they have been messing or cleaning the stepper motor, which didn't need doing. I disconected the ecu to reset (Thanks for advice Mav) and it seems fine now. (I'd best tell them!!, not sure if this is a standard thing to do, after tuning etc)
The car is running smooth, but they had no information at the service desk they could share with me on what had been changed or if anything had been found, that they adjusted etc. I suppose if people just drop of there mercedes they just want it back ok, with TVR enthusiasts you like to know a bit more.
Not reached any conclusions on them yet, maybe need to try them again, but an average start or am I being kind.
I even left Steve's bible on the front seat just in case they needed it. Not sure if it was used.
They do have a nice selection of cars in, but seem a bit pricey.
Hello Steve just read your piece on servicing. I don't know what you were driving when you last took it to the said Merc dealer.But if I were you stick to a recomended TVR main dealer or independant to take care of your pride and joy. I live at the other end of the country to you and only take my Griff 400 to Peninsula for any servicing/repair's which the cost's are almost halve of your last per hour schedule plus they KNOW what they are doing. Contact your TVRCC RO for the best place to take your Tiv.
>> Edited by Just Trouble on Monday 28th April 19:05
>> Edited by Just Trouble on Monday 28th April 19:06
I agree with what your saying and had it been a full service I wanted, I defo would not have gone there yet. The car had been stood over winter, although started/moved regularly was sounding a bit rough. I traced it to a faulty ignition lead, but this was after I had booked it in. I decided to go ahead anyway so they could do a full diagnostics and give me peace of mind that all was ok. So I felt it was a relatively low risk albeit expensive start to give them a go.
I only live two miles away, so it is very convenient.
I am going to send it back in, the idle is still not quite right, when I'm coming to a stop with no revs, it almost stalls. I'll let everyone know what happens and hopefully this won't turn in to a disaster.
I only live two miles away, so it is very convenient.
I am going to send it back in, the idle is still not quite right, when I'm coming to a stop with no revs, it almost stalls. I'll let everyone know what happens and hopefully this won't turn in to a disaster.
Sorry to learn of your shaky experience. I went in to see them today for a spare for my Tuscan - and I could not fault their service at all. I told them what I wanted over the phone and they put wheels into motion before I got there. Looked after me well the whole time I was there with tea and coffee. OK, I was buying a spare wheel! But they had it in stock, they charged me the right price, they took the wheel off the old rim and put it on the new rim including balancing - all free of charge. Then they even carried them out to my car and covered the rear seat up (not in my TVR you see) to keep everything clean.
Efficient, common sense, no extras to pay. I drove away slightly stunned as it rare to receive such good service from any garage.
Finally, I took my Tuscan to the factory to have it service last week, running a little rough. Came back nice and clean, but running a little rough! And that was the factory!
Hope you get the Chim sorted out - sounds like a pre-Serpentine cooling problem IMHO. Maybe get an overide switch fitted.
Efficient, common sense, no extras to pay. I drove away slightly stunned as it rare to receive such good service from any garage.
Finally, I took my Tuscan to the factory to have it service last week, running a little rough. Came back nice and clean, but running a little rough! And that was the factory!
Hope you get the Chim sorted out - sounds like a pre-Serpentine cooling problem IMHO. Maybe get an overide switch fitted.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't call the service bad, just average. They have in fact started to redeem themselves, unprompted they have rung me back with an earlier appointment time and have got the fan belts in I requested. So I was wrong to criticise them on that. If they hadn't overheated the car after warning them about it, I would have probably give them a 9/10. They did go out of their way to get a replacement otter switch quickly.
I should add that on my first visit to look at the cars, A guy who, I am sure was the manager, came over and had a very enthusiastic chat about his new venture into TVR territory.
I should add that on my first visit to look at the cars, A guy who, I am sure was the manager, came over and had a very enthusiastic chat about his new venture into TVR territory.
They do seem an enthusiastic bunch in getting the TVR franchise off of the ground. I am pleased from the point of view that there is now another alternative place to go in the North West. A bit of healthy competition is no bad thing and I think that the other 'local' dealership (in Cheshire) have some room for improvement. Given my experience at H L Gorner, I would not hesitate to go there again for TVR parts. I would also rather trust them to fit tyres (more than Kwit Fit etc) as they are used to handling £1,000 a piece Brabus alloys. (see the 200mph Brabus there for £135K!).
Good luck to them I say.
Good luck to them I say.
New Dealer - Gorners Comes Good, Very Good.
It is not the fact that someone can make a mistake, but how it is then handled and put right.
Got the car back, with idle problem fixed. It is now perfect, in fact much smoother at low revs than when I bought it. Have I really got MY car back!!
They fitted the new set of fan belts for free and put petrol in for my trouble. But to top it all, offered me the use of a T350 while mine was in for the day. Now unfortunatly it is pouring down, and that much horsepower in the wet could get silly, so I have declined until we get a nice day. But that is something too seriously look forward to.
I'd certainly give them a try and hope something goes wrong. Got a nice selection of cars and expecting to get about another five. Plus a crystal black Tuscan S arriving in about 8 week. Can I resist.?
It is not the fact that someone can make a mistake, but how it is then handled and put right.
Got the car back, with idle problem fixed. It is now perfect, in fact much smoother at low revs than when I bought it. Have I really got MY car back!!
They fitted the new set of fan belts for free and put petrol in for my trouble. But to top it all, offered me the use of a T350 while mine was in for the day. Now unfortunatly it is pouring down, and that much horsepower in the wet could get silly, so I have declined until we get a nice day. But that is something too seriously look forward to.
I'd certainly give them a try and hope something goes wrong. Got a nice selection of cars and expecting to get about another five. Plus a crystal black Tuscan S arriving in about 8 week. Can I resist.?
The service I received from them yesterday was excellent.
Whilst driving up to St.Helens from Warwickshire yesterday morning the Windscreen Wipers on my Tuscan failed completely.
I rang the Gorner Dealership in mid-afternoon and asked whether they could look at the car, to which they immediately said bring it over.
On arrival I was greeted by the Service Manager who then made me a coffee and the problem was rectified FOC within 20 minutes of my arrival. (It was a fuse)
He explained that whilst new to TVR they were very keen to provide a top quality service on a par to that already being given to their Mercedes Customers, and that they were fully aware that TVR's are very different beasts, and that they wished to talk with / listen / learn from TVR Owners in order to successfully develop the franchise providing for their wants / needs.
Whilst only a minor fault the service I received was first class and I wish them all the best. As I am often working / staying over in the NW it is highly likely that I will use them for servicing in future.
Whilst driving up to St.Helens from Warwickshire yesterday morning the Windscreen Wipers on my Tuscan failed completely.
I rang the Gorner Dealership in mid-afternoon and asked whether they could look at the car, to which they immediately said bring it over.
On arrival I was greeted by the Service Manager who then made me a coffee and the problem was rectified FOC within 20 minutes of my arrival. (It was a fuse)
He explained that whilst new to TVR they were very keen to provide a top quality service on a par to that already being given to their Mercedes Customers, and that they were fully aware that TVR's are very different beasts, and that they wished to talk with / listen / learn from TVR Owners in order to successfully develop the franchise providing for their wants / needs.
Whilst only a minor fault the service I received was first class and I wish them all the best. As I am often working / staying over in the NW it is highly likely that I will use them for servicing in future.
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