nelsons porsche - north east specialist
Discussion
I know this forum dishes out praise and bashings to the people who look after our cars, so I thought it may be helpful to add my piece in praise of Nelsons Porsche in Stockton-on-Tees.
Having had both my own boxster and now 996 cabby, and also my father-in-law's boxster and now 996 coupes to Jamie at Nelsons - I can say without a doubt that if anyone in the north-east is looking for a decent honest guy to take your car to - he's the man.
Had a fair few jobs done with him in the past and only just got back from a standard major service including the belt, plus a brake fluid change, a coolant change requested (but advised existing was ok), plus alignment check - I've come away with a excellent price for the work done (much more realistic than Porsche prices) and as usual - a good amount of "knowledge" on my car on what to keep and eye or ear on..
All in all - I think if you want your car looking after properly - take it to Nelsons in my opinion.
Having had both my own boxster and now 996 cabby, and also my father-in-law's boxster and now 996 coupes to Jamie at Nelsons - I can say without a doubt that if anyone in the north-east is looking for a decent honest guy to take your car to - he's the man.
Had a fair few jobs done with him in the past and only just got back from a standard major service including the belt, plus a brake fluid change, a coolant change requested (but advised existing was ok), plus alignment check - I've come away with a excellent price for the work done (much more realistic than Porsche prices) and as usual - a good amount of "knowledge" on my car on what to keep and eye or ear on..
All in all - I think if you want your car looking after properly - take it to Nelsons in my opinion.
I posted last night but it didn't appear for some reason.
I can't speak highly enough about Jamie! I first started using him almost ten years ago now, when his dad John still ran it with him.
It's thanks to Jamie I can run Porsches on a sensible budget. In fact Jamie is one of the main reasons I stayed with Porsche instead of trying a Ferrari 360, as the difference in my running costs would have rocketed. He's done allsorts for me including engine rebuilds, engine swaps, etc, etc. What he doesn't know about these cars isn't worth knowing and the best bit is he always tries to keep costs down for you, rather than make as much as he can from something.
I started as a customer but we're now mates, doing trackdays etc together. I've also bought trackcars off him in the past as I know they'll be properly screwed together.
The only downside to all of this is that as word gets around about how good he is, the waiting list when booking in gets longer
, but I won't begrudge him that. It's well deserved. 
Anyone within an hour of Teesside (which is the time it takes for me to get there) is simply mad not to use Nelson Porsche.
Luckily Jamie is one or two years younger than me too, so he'll be going till I retire hopefully.
I can't speak highly enough about Jamie! I first started using him almost ten years ago now, when his dad John still ran it with him.
It's thanks to Jamie I can run Porsches on a sensible budget. In fact Jamie is one of the main reasons I stayed with Porsche instead of trying a Ferrari 360, as the difference in my running costs would have rocketed. He's done allsorts for me including engine rebuilds, engine swaps, etc, etc. What he doesn't know about these cars isn't worth knowing and the best bit is he always tries to keep costs down for you, rather than make as much as he can from something.
I started as a customer but we're now mates, doing trackdays etc together. I've also bought trackcars off him in the past as I know they'll be properly screwed together.
The only downside to all of this is that as word gets around about how good he is, the waiting list when booking in gets longer
, but I won't begrudge him that. It's well deserved. Anyone within an hour of Teesside (which is the time it takes for me to get there) is simply mad not to use Nelson Porsche.
Luckily Jamie is one or two years younger than me too, so he'll be going till I retire hopefully.
I must admit in an earlier post when I saw Nelsons Porsche I nearly choked on my tea. I am from Burnley (next to Nelson) and there is no way there would be a Porsche dealership in the town of Nelson as the place is a dump!
I am glad this shows I am not going mad and that the town of Nelson still isn't going anywhere fast (pun not intended)
I am glad this shows I am not going mad and that the town of Nelson still isn't going anywhere fast (pun not intended)
I've been deliberating where to get my boxster serviced having used Revolution in Brighouse previously but was looking for somewhere more local ideally. As I was in the vicinity of Nelson Porsche this morning I decided to call in unannounced and see what my first impressions were. Despite looking fairly busy (pretty full workshop and being in the middle of a job when I arrived) Jamie was happy to spare me some time and even though he is very booked up with work for the next month or so, managed to squeeze me in before my current MOT expires. Also when it came to arranging the drop off Jamie was very accommodating, even offering to come in specially when he wasn't planning to be open, if needs be.
Here's to an improvement in the weather so I can put some miles on it over the next 4 weeks or so before I drop it off to Nelson Porsche for a major service and MOT.
I'll report back in a month or so...
Here's to an improvement in the weather so I can put some miles on it over the next 4 weeks or so before I drop it off to Nelson Porsche for a major service and MOT.
I'll report back in a month or so...
Just another happy customer that would like to report on my experiences using Nelson’s Porsche in Stockton. I’ve used him 3 times now, and every time i’ve been really impressed and feel really lucky to have a specialist so close that I trust so much with my car. I would only ever use a main dealer on a car I had a warranty on that stipulated it, or on a car so new that to not use a dealer would affect its value. Any garage is only as good as it’s worst employee, and anywhere big like a dealer will have a couple of apprentices, one or two idiots, and maybe a few good guys. Which one you get is pot luck. Nobody there cares about your car really, I imagine if I took my 996 to a Porsche dealer, it would be one of the cheapest cars in the workshop. They’d tell me I needed parts I didn’t really need, wouldn’t care who drove my car, where they parked it, have the apprentice change the oil, who when he accidentally cross threaded a bolt would just carry on winding it in anyway. I also don’t really trust smaller none dealer garages, if they make a mistake they can’t afford to lose money, they’ll try to hide it if possible, or bodge it, have a few bolts left over, take it for a test drive for the chippy run at lunch. So for every car upto now I’ve done all my own work, or if needed maybe done it with a mechanic friend. When I got the Porsche I realised this would not really be possible. Lack of OPC or at least we’ll respected specialist service history would devalue it fairly significantly. So after a short search, I found Jamie, and couldn’t be happier. There’s 3 very good reasons I’m so happy with is service.
1. He’s happy to spend time discussing what needs doing, why, and is just as happy to talk you out of spending money you don’t need to spend as advising you do spend some money getting something sorted. He’s happy to listen to your thoughts, and is happy to take time to explain why he thinks what he does, rather than take the attitude that he’s the expert and you aren’t so you should just go with what he says. He’s very honest too. There was a job I asked him to do on my car which I thought would be pretty expensive, and was sure it needed doing, but it turns out it was something very simple, so rather than charge me anyway he sorted it free of charge as it only took him 5 minutes. I had about 12 jobs that needed doing, some of which were hard to price in case potential problems came up. He priced everything on a best case scenario, but warned that if he encountered problems then the price would go up. Of the 12 jobs he quoted me for, all 12 came in at exactly the price quoted.
2. He works alone, so the person you have so reassuringly talked to about your pride and joy, is the person who is going to do the work. Not an apprentice, or someone who doesn’t care or isn’t fully trained who could make a mistake and try to hide it
3. His rates are pretty much amazing for the knowledge, effort, skill, and love he puts into your car. His waiting lists prove this. In all honesty he should probably put his prices up a little. It’s not very often I feel like I should have paid more for something, or even just feel like someone isn’t trying to rip me off. It’s a nice feeling to come away with your car not feeling like you’ve just been robbed.
4. I know I said 3, but had to add this, he’s just a really nice bloke. The type of person you’d happily go for a beer with, very easy to chat to, never makes you feel he’s too busy. The few times I’ve been there, I’ve only eventually left because I feel like I should let him get on and do what he needs to do or because I’ve been in a rush myself.
I know there are other Porsche specialists that may know as much, or even more. May have better facilities, or build championship winning cars.....but I can’t imagine any of them making you feel as happy you used them as you feel when you pick your car up from Nelson’s. Taking your car to pay to get work done shouldn’t really be a pleasant experience. I really don’t know what else to say without making it sound like I’m his best mate, or mum, trying to big him up. I’m not sure how far away I’d have to live before I started looking for somewhere else to take my car. I think the answer is probably abroad somewhere.
Short summary. Person that trusts nobody and hates all garages with a passion (me), thinks Jamie Nelson Porsche in Stockton is the most trustworthy Porsche specialist (and mechanic in general) in at least Europe, and probably the world. I’m sure there are plenty of other great ones out there, but they are few and far between, and finding them without risking a bad experience is really hard to do.
The only way I’d ever even consider using an OPC instead, is if they were the same price or cheaper, and promised me brand new 911T, GT3, GT2, GT4, or something else really special as a loan car. And even then, I’d be worrying I’d made the right descision......and you have no idea how much I’d love to be let loose in a modern Porsche for a few hours.
1. He’s happy to spend time discussing what needs doing, why, and is just as happy to talk you out of spending money you don’t need to spend as advising you do spend some money getting something sorted. He’s happy to listen to your thoughts, and is happy to take time to explain why he thinks what he does, rather than take the attitude that he’s the expert and you aren’t so you should just go with what he says. He’s very honest too. There was a job I asked him to do on my car which I thought would be pretty expensive, and was sure it needed doing, but it turns out it was something very simple, so rather than charge me anyway he sorted it free of charge as it only took him 5 minutes. I had about 12 jobs that needed doing, some of which were hard to price in case potential problems came up. He priced everything on a best case scenario, but warned that if he encountered problems then the price would go up. Of the 12 jobs he quoted me for, all 12 came in at exactly the price quoted.
2. He works alone, so the person you have so reassuringly talked to about your pride and joy, is the person who is going to do the work. Not an apprentice, or someone who doesn’t care or isn’t fully trained who could make a mistake and try to hide it
3. His rates are pretty much amazing for the knowledge, effort, skill, and love he puts into your car. His waiting lists prove this. In all honesty he should probably put his prices up a little. It’s not very often I feel like I should have paid more for something, or even just feel like someone isn’t trying to rip me off. It’s a nice feeling to come away with your car not feeling like you’ve just been robbed.
4. I know I said 3, but had to add this, he’s just a really nice bloke. The type of person you’d happily go for a beer with, very easy to chat to, never makes you feel he’s too busy. The few times I’ve been there, I’ve only eventually left because I feel like I should let him get on and do what he needs to do or because I’ve been in a rush myself.
I know there are other Porsche specialists that may know as much, or even more. May have better facilities, or build championship winning cars.....but I can’t imagine any of them making you feel as happy you used them as you feel when you pick your car up from Nelson’s. Taking your car to pay to get work done shouldn’t really be a pleasant experience. I really don’t know what else to say without making it sound like I’m his best mate, or mum, trying to big him up. I’m not sure how far away I’d have to live before I started looking for somewhere else to take my car. I think the answer is probably abroad somewhere.
Short summary. Person that trusts nobody and hates all garages with a passion (me), thinks Jamie Nelson Porsche in Stockton is the most trustworthy Porsche specialist (and mechanic in general) in at least Europe, and probably the world. I’m sure there are plenty of other great ones out there, but they are few and far between, and finding them without risking a bad experience is really hard to do.
The only way I’d ever even consider using an OPC instead, is if they were the same price or cheaper, and promised me brand new 911T, GT3, GT2, GT4, or something else really special as a loan car. And even then, I’d be worrying I’d made the right descision......and you have no idea how much I’d love to be let loose in a modern Porsche for a few hours.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
(versus the growling crapbags I am writing strongly worded emails to at Audi Teesside ! First time I've used a main dealer and I'm hopping mad ! any contacts there anyone ?)
My best mate runs the workshop at Audi Sunderland if you can find the time to get there. What's the problem?Paddy_N_Murphy said:
The problem isn’t technical per se, thanks, but utter ineptitude and swindling to the complete opposite of the topic / Jamie at Nelson
It went in for a £200 cable replacement- after two hours the brought the keys back and said they didnt have it in stock, but managed to suggest a rake of work - unnecessary - totalling (exactly) £1,250
New wipers etc, which I had only just replaced 2 months ago, all the filters ‘just in case’ etc.
Up selling and rinsing I’ve never seen before.
And obviously not solved the actual problem.
Audi Teesside have been doing that for years. Used to take my RS4 in on monthly basis for the DRC problems, only to be told that they couldn’t find the fault but my wipers are worn. Fools.It went in for a £200 cable replacement- after two hours the brought the keys back and said they didnt have it in stock, but managed to suggest a rake of work - unnecessary - totalling (exactly) £1,250
New wipers etc, which I had only just replaced 2 months ago, all the filters ‘just in case’ etc.
Up selling and rinsing I’ve never seen before.
And obviously not solved the actual problem.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
I used Redline Racing in Thornaby and whilst not as intimate - I'd say much of what you have said applies to Darren there too.
Either way - great to have indy's you trust
+1 for Redline.Either way - great to have indy's you trust
Just had my Cayman S in for major surgery. Not all was required for an MOT pass but discussed everything with Simon the owner and I wanted everything to be correct in one go while it was in bits, rather than go in several different times for jobs to be done. Costly for one outlay but much more peace of mind for me!
For info Paddy - Darren left back in March. He's off somewhere in a totally new career, team leading people building submarines! He is certainly missed by me but the rest of the team are still competent and pleasant!
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