Independent garages.

[JW1]

One thing that puts me off buying an AM is the apparent lack of independent garages in the Surrey/Sussex/Kent region for general servicing and repairs. Other than the ones listed in the FAQ section can anyone recommend a garage in the areas mentioned?
Many thanks.

[V8 Animal]

What's your problem with main dealers? My last service by Stratstone was cheaper than my local indie.
Don't be embarrassed to barter it works for me and if it turns out to be slightly dearer it always looks good in the service book main dealer stamps

[JW1]

Thanks V8 Animal, I am currently driving a 3.4 Boxster and have tended to find that Porsche main dealers turn a simple service into something much larger. In your experience what is a typical service cost at Stratstone?

[V8 Animal]

My last 5 year service DBS was £300 less than I was originally quoted let's leave it that

[Neil1300R]

What's wrong with the one in the FAQ?
What's wrong with main dealers?
Astons are not sold in the numbers Porsche are, hence less independents

[steveatesh]

JW1 said:

Thanks V8 Animal, I am currently driving a 3.4 Boxster and have tended to find that Porsche main dealers turn a simple service into something much larger. In your experience what is a typical service cost at Stratstone?

They are not as bad as you may think. The cost depends on the year ie first year, second year, third year, fourth year .

The fourth year service is the most expensive, I've just had mine done and it was under a thousand, inclusive of oil and mot.

If you assume the five to six hundred Mark you will not be far wrong. Also, taking your own oil saves you a chunk, but causes a moral dilemma on here if you mention it, so just keep that to ourselves

[JW1]

Neil1300R said:

What's wrong with the one in the FAQ?
What's wrong with main dealers?
Astons are not sold in the numbers Porsche are, hence less independents

I just like a bit more choice, have you experience of the garage in Cobham?

The rates quoted in this thread seem reasonable, but it's not just the money it is also about convenience.

[burntout]

For the best servicing and care you WILL NOT better that of Trinity Engineering.... They are in Cobham, Surrey....

They really do know how to look after you.... Quality is unquestionable, After many main dealer blunders, these guys never disappoint.... Its exactly what you would expect from a company that deal with Astons.

[JW1]

burntout said:

For the best servicing and care you WILL NOT better that of Trinity Engineering.... They are in Cobham, Surrey....

They really do know how to look after you.... Quality is unquestionable, After many main dealer blunders, these guys never disappoint.... Its exactly what you would expect from a company that deal with Astons.

Thanks Burntout, that is exactly what I need to hear. At present I am spoilt for choice with Porsche independents, so it was a little concerning that AM garages seem very thin on the ground.

[burntout]

JW1 said:

burntout said:

For the best servicing and care you WILL NOT better that of Trinity Engineering.... They are in Cobham, Surrey....

They really do know how to look after you.... Quality is unquestionable, After many main dealer blunders, these guys never disappoint.... Its exactly what you would expect from a company that deal with Astons.

Thanks Burntout, that is exactly what I need to hear. At present I am spoilt for choice with Porsche independents, so it was a little concerning that AM garages seem very thin on the ground.

Your right, there are not that many..... There are some of us on here that use main dealers quite happily, but on the other hand there's more that have had atrocious service from main dealers, myself included...

What you want is complete care, attention to detail and at a reasonable price... I am one hell of a fussy sod at the best of times, I run my business the way I would expect to receive a service... And have always found this quality there.... This is why I will never hesitate to recommend them.....

[AMDBSNick]

V8 Animal said:

What's your problem with main dealers? My last service by Stratstone was cheaper than my local indie.
Don't be embarrassed to barter it works for me and if it turns out to be slightly dearer it always looks good in the service book main dealer stamps

My last main dealer service missed a very very simple job which has cost me £700 in brake pads that I don't need and now reside in my boot. After chatting with John McGurk yesterday it gave me real food for thought. I will now be going indie. Sadly for John it won't be him this year for reasons I will not go into on here.

[V8 Animal]

AMDBSNick said:

My last main dealer service missed a very very simple job which has cost me £700 in brake pads that I don't need and now reside in my boot. After chatting with John McGurk yesterday it gave me real food for thought. I will now be going indie. Sadly for John it won't be him this year for reasons I will not go into on here.

Come on Nick everyone makes mistakes so I understand you don't want to use that garage again but it's not a reason for anyone else not to use them,unless they have a history of cock ups.

[AMDBSNick]

V8 Animal said:

Come on Nick everyone makes mistakes so I understand you don't want to use that garage again but it's not a reason for anyone else not to use them,unless they have a history of cock ups.

That's the beauty of choice

[woolders]

burntout said:

Your right, there are not that many..... There are some of us on here that use main dealers quite happily, but on the other hand there's more that have had atrocious service from main dealers, myself included...

What you want is complete care, attention to detail and at a reasonable price... I am one hell of a fussy sod at the best of times, I run my business the way I would expect to receive a service... And have always found this quality there.... This is why I will never hesitate to recommend them.....

Shop around old chap. The range on my four year service was £1k over three quotes, with the main dealer being in the middle last year. For £500, I stuck with the main dealer stamp but will go with the favoured indie on Thursday.

[bogie]

I had a good experience when I lived in Brentwood with the local dealer. But then moved away in 2007. Tried a dealer since for convenience, near my UK office

went in for a 1hr job and came out with estimate of £4K of work the car "needed" LOL

took car away, got the 1hr job (fit pulley/aux belt) at an independent on my drive home....never been back...said dealer calls regularly and asks why I dont drive 200 miles to them for servicing

[PiloteAM]

Aston dealers are not like Porsche ones. Most are competent and well priced.

There are also very good indys, but often they are at least as expensive as the dealers.

Not cheap cars to run generally, especially compared to Porsches (I ran a 911 previously), but worth every penny.

[krisdelta]

burntout said:

For the best servicing and care you WILL NOT better that of Trinity Engineering.... They are in Cobham, Surrey....

They really do know how to look after you.... Quality is unquestionable, After many main dealer blunders, these guys never disappoint.... Its exactly what you would expect from a company that deal with Astons.

+1 on this, top quality work - but not cheap - but the service schedule they follow is very thorough indeed.

[MollyGTi]

Rob entrusted Pearl to our favourite local garage yesterday (for a very small cosmetic job which the dealer was going to charge a very large sum of money for). The boys posed for this photo and I love it. I'm looking forward to it appearing on their office wall very soon

[mikey k]

MollyGTi said:

Rob entrusted Pearl to our favourite local garage yesterday (for a very small cosmetic job which the dealer was going to charge a very large sum of money for). The boys posed for this photo and I love it. I'm looking forward to it appearing on their office wall very soon

Scraping "Russians" from the front wing? Or has Rob been up to other stuff?

[SS972]

very small cosmetic,large hammer..............