Servicing - swopping to Indies
Discussion
I know of 3 of us that have just switched to Indies for servicing due to issues over MD value and being unable to effectively discuss requirements with a call centre junior. I also failed trying to contact MD direct by phone & email. Zero responses. So, what do others think on the value and customer service you are getting based on almost £800 for just an oil and filter change + general check and £315 to change V12 air filters?
edit for oil service cost increase
Edited by Ken Figenus on Friday 25th February 18:22
Mines full AM service history and I really want to keep it that way.
However… all but two dealers (works and HWM) that I’ve spoken to have been god awful over the phone.
I’m thinking of using HWM as they seem to be pretty on it?
My most local dealer is atrocious so far.
Saying that I’ve had the odd bad dealings with independents as well…
However… all but two dealers (works and HWM) that I’ve spoken to have been god awful over the phone.
I’m thinking of using HWM as they seem to be pretty on it?
My most local dealer is atrocious so far.
Saying that I’ve had the odd bad dealings with independents as well…
I gave up on Aston main dealer servicing a while ago. Had issues with the (previous) Reading dealer and Amersham as well (no longer there). I use Chiltern Aston because i get to deal with the same service advisor every year and trust their work. Not sure how much cheaper it works out. Year 12 service on my V12V was around £650 last month.
I think it HUGELY depends on how good your local AM dealer is and how much you trust them. I find AM Leeds absolutely brilliant, never really let me down.
I also have a big issue one certain indi who makes it their business to try to destroy other peoples businesses both MD and Indi's regardless of the rights and wrongs. An Indi should just trade off your own expertise and overall value, there is absolutely no need to bad mouth other people in your line of business journey. Regardless of if its right or wrong, it is quite simply very poor form and clearly demonstrate their total lack of morales and scruples in life. For me I would avoid such people like the plague.
So in short, you really can't sum up AM MD vs Indi in a single statement. In some parts of the country where the MD is poor and Indi's are good, then it will absolutely make sense, in others where the opposite is true then it will not. Around here, the MD is excellent and decent Indi's are a very long trek away.
I also have a big issue one certain indi who makes it their business to try to destroy other peoples businesses both MD and Indi's regardless of the rights and wrongs. An Indi should just trade off your own expertise and overall value, there is absolutely no need to bad mouth other people in your line of business journey. Regardless of if its right or wrong, it is quite simply very poor form and clearly demonstrate their total lack of morales and scruples in life. For me I would avoid such people like the plague.
So in short, you really can't sum up AM MD vs Indi in a single statement. In some parts of the country where the MD is poor and Indi's are good, then it will absolutely make sense, in others where the opposite is true then it will not. Around here, the MD is excellent and decent Indi's are a very long trek away.
This is a difficult one. My long experience of the same dealer as the previous poster is the polar opposite so I never use them now. For those wanting to maximise the resale value they will almost certainly like the look of a fully stamped up MD service history booklet. You like to think that a service stamp, MD or Indie, means that the correct work has been carried out but we never really know for sure. As with most things in life, if you're happy with the previous visit/experience, be it MD or Indie, you will return.
My first port of call when sourcing AM parts is always Chiltern. Happy to explain or chase up the factory and when parts have become obsolete or unavailable have sent links to equivalent parts they've found on eBay! Just my experience but I cannot fault them.
Chiltern are 179 miles away. Leeds AM are just 12 miles. Says it all....
My first port of call when sourcing AM parts is always Chiltern. Happy to explain or chase up the factory and when parts have become obsolete or unavailable have sent links to equivalent parts they've found on eBay! Just my experience but I cannot fault them.
Chiltern are 179 miles away. Leeds AM are just 12 miles. Says it all....
My car will be 7 this year, and I’m ready to move out of the dealer network. Luckily I am quite close to Pugsley & Lewis, and have had a tour there on an open day, so plan to use them. Whether they will be cheaper than a main dealer remains to be seen - I know how much some of their down-to-the-metal restos of classic AMs run to!
AdamV12V said:
... is quite simply very poor form and clearly demonstrate their total lack of morales and scruples in life.
For me I would avoid such people like the plague.
For me I would avoid such people like the plague.
Wonder who they are. ~
I like to deal with businesses, where the person I speak to, knows their subject well. Unfortunately becoming rare in life these days.
Your comment Adam, made me think about of the proprietor of one indie, who went to jail for not being truthful. That firm is often complimented on here though. I couldn't make eye contact, without thinking about the criminal dishonesty incident, even though 'time served'.
AdamV12V said:
So in short, you really can't sum up AM MD vs Indi in a single statement. In some parts of the country where the MD is poor and Indi's are good, then it will absolutely make sense, in others where the opposite is true then it will not. Around here, the MD is excellent and decent Indi's are a very long trek away.
This ^^^^^^^^^My nearest MD is 80 miles away but fortunately down here in the SW we have an absolutely brilliant Indie who has looked after my last 3 Astons and I would never go anywhere else.
LordBretSinclair said:
This ^^^^^^^^^
My nearest MD is 80 miles away but fortunately down here in the SW we have an absolutely brilliant Indie who has looked after my last 3 Astons and I would never go anywhere else.
Whos that then, im in the SW and might be moving away from MD this year.My nearest MD is 80 miles away but fortunately down here in the SW we have an absolutely brilliant Indie who has looked after my last 3 Astons and I would never go anywhere else.
What seems to be more apparent is that its not so much about the costs but about the experience and rhe trust.
If an MD charges £850 for an oil change then that's fine so long as its done properly, I am treated with respect and courtesy and the rest of the car is double checked for potential issues. If I am confident the above is getting done I have no problem paying it.
If the above is questionable then happy to go indie if their reputation is of good quality even if they charged the same rates.
Trust trust trust that's probably the bottom line for most if not all of us on here and less about the so called Aston tax
If an MD charges £850 for an oil change then that's fine so long as its done properly, I am treated with respect and courtesy and the rest of the car is double checked for potential issues. If I am confident the above is getting done I have no problem paying it.
If the above is questionable then happy to go indie if their reputation is of good quality even if they charged the same rates.
Trust trust trust that's probably the bottom line for most if not all of us on here and less about the so called Aston tax
N7GTX said:
This is a difficult one. My long experience of the same dealer as the previous poster is the polar opposite so I never use them now. For those wanting to maximise the resale value they will almost certainly like the look of a fully stamped up MD service history booklet. You like to think that a service stamp, MD or Indie, means that the correct work has been carried out but we never really know for sure. As with most things in life, if you're happy with the previous visit/experience, be it MD or Indie, you will return.
My first port of call when sourcing AM parts is always Chiltern. Happy to explain or chase up the factory and when parts have become obsolete or unavailable have sent links to equivalent parts they've found on eBay! Just my experience but I cannot fault them.
Chiltern are 179 miles away. Leeds AM are just 12 miles. Says it all....
Same here unfortunately. I wonder if it something to do with if you bought your cars from them?My first port of call when sourcing AM parts is always Chiltern. Happy to explain or chase up the factory and when parts have become obsolete or unavailable have sent links to equivalent parts they've found on eBay! Just my experience but I cannot fault them.
Chiltern are 179 miles away. Leeds AM are just 12 miles. Says it all....
I have used Bamford Rose for a couple of years and they found problems completely missed by the MD, they did a great job on my car. Then Mike stopped responding to emails when I tried to book in last year so I tried AM Performance in Macclesfield, good service and good job, just a pain to get to from York. This year I have booked in to have my car serviced by Aston Workshop up near Beamish. Amazing facility and their showroom is something else, I’ve never seen so much heritage stock in one place, plus they own the pub next door so that will work nicely.
Oh yeah the Aston Workshop in Durham is certainly a feast for the eyes. Some lovely machines pass through there.
I can spend ages just looking at the inventory and of course they were an approved service centre before the new AM maindealer opened up in Newcastle.
Had a beautiful 70's V8 vantage in a couple of months back just as pretty as anything
I can spend ages just looking at the inventory and of course they were an approved service centre before the new AM maindealer opened up in Newcastle.
Had a beautiful 70's V8 vantage in a couple of months back just as pretty as anything
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