Servicing Indie or main dealer (JCT Leeds)

[supersport]

The car is an F430.

I bought it from DK Engineering and in an ideal world I would take it back there or even AV. However, it's a 400 mile round trip. Whilst I don't care about the mileage, it is a ball ache of a trip especially if the service can't be done in a single day. I don't want to do it twice in a week.

There is a nice pub to stay in round the corner, good food and some nice walking, but of course we are in lockdown and kids at school etc. Again if it's not done in a day or at most two.

Whilst this would be me my preference, it's going to end up adding nearly £1K to the cost, which is a lot.

JCT Leeds main dealer is 20 minutes away. But I have never been a fan of main dealers, and JCT as a group aren't all that.

It's a real dilemma and I could do with some thoughts to help me make my mind up.

[johnnyreggae]

Not that you've told us but lets assume you are in North Yorkshire

Unfortunately there's not too many indies around there - in general the suggestion seems to be to use those around Manchester JMH A&E R&D etc

Didn't JCT open a service centre in Newcastle recently which might be nearer

Edited by johnnyreggae on Thursday 25th February 15:47

[996Type]

Might be worth speaking to both you preferred options about covered transport which would probably still be lower all in than paying JCT rates?

Autoitalia are near Holmfirth or Nick Cartwright in the peaks might be an option....

[jasonwdh]

Had some work done with Mike Durham (on an F430) - "Enso Automotive" - Mike worked at JCTs and is factory trained - only found out he had gone solo through a detailer we use! He's based near Wetherby. He was very good by the way.

[supersport]

johnnyreggae said:

Not that you've told us but lets assume you are in North Yorkshire

Unfortunately there's not too many indies around there - in general the suggestion seems to be to use those around Manchester JMH A&E R&D etc

Didn't JCT open a service centre in Newcastle recently which might be nearer

"JCT is 20 minutes away" so yes.

And they did indeed open one in Newcastle.

[supersport]

jasonwdh said:

Had some work done with Mike Durham (on an F430) - "Enso Automotive" - Mike worked at JCTs and is factory trained - only found out he had gone solo through a detailer we use! He's based near Wetherby. He was very good by the way.

Didn't know about him, about time we had a specialist nearby. Thanks

[jasonwdh]

supersport said:

jasonwdh said:

Had some work done with Mike Durham (on an F430) - "Enso Automotive" - Mike worked at JCTs and is factory trained - only found out he had gone solo through a detailer we use! He's based near Wetherby. He was very good by the way.

Didn't know about him, about time we had a specialist nearby. Thanks

No problem at all, as you said, it's good to (at least) know we have these people around

[Fiammetta]

Used JCT for 9 yrs with a FFSH 360 , ok do a classic reduced rates .
Used John Pogson @ Italia auto sport for a Testarosa.A better service as they age as they know tech solutions for generic issues .

430;s are over 10 yrs old and it’s borderline, if it’s got FFSH then May as well keep it up .

JCT s was just easy to get to as well .

No experience of the guy in Weatherby who has set up .

[Rick101]

Check out Performance Autocare at Knaresborough.

https://www.performance-autocare.co.uk/ferrari-ser...

They are around the back of Redline. Johnny is a really helpful guy, worth a chat.

Edited by Rick101 on Thursday 25th February 19:59

[chippy348]

I know others have had issue with JCT600 but i have found everyone i have dealt with to be good.

Stuart went above and beyond with the purchase of my 458 and then sorting out the service with Darrel just a few weeks ago.

Both Darrel in service and also Graham who came and collected my car for service were very good to deal with.

5 stars from me for JCT600

As for my local Graypaul in B-ham best not go there !

[supersport]

I know _leg_ on here uses JCT and seems happy.

Other than two DK stamps it has full main dealer, but personally not bothered about that.

[_Leg_]

supersport said:

I know _leg_ on here uses JCT and seems happy.

Other than two DK stamps it has full main dealer, but personally not bothered about that.

JCT have been, overall, great from the beginning of my Ferrari ownership in 2014 across my 458 Spider, F12 and Speciale. Graham comes and collects my cars and drops them back and the service is good and fair. I'm sure Graham allows extra time when he visits me as we always have a brew, a long chat and look round my garages. Nothing really but I'm a relationships guy so it matters. I wish JCT would appreciate that and look after him more tbh.

That's not to say I haven't had issues. They broke the front splitter bar thing on my F12 but replaced it without any quibbles, my 458 got damaged by an airline at the indie paint shop they use when it went in for a minor job and they paid for the panel painting and re PPFing without any faff and a couple of times I've had to put up some resistance to Marinello's response to what was clearly a re call issue that Marinello tried to make out was a warranty claim but once I did JCT argued the points successfully on my behalf.

They recently solved a buggered F12 battery issue for me for free with a replacement battery that they had had to take off a part ex F12 as it wasn't the official Ferrari battery. I wouldn't normally but as things are £750 for a new battery for a car I might not get chance to use much (again) this year seemed a daft move when a free used battery could do the laid up, or at best quiet, year. Damn you Covid!

For a period after Craig (service manager) had to leave they were all over the shop but Sean has got things organised now and service is just as good as ever.

However, my F12 has just had it's last 'free' service and my 458 Spider has it's last one in April. For the first time ever I've not renewed warranty on either car this year too. I sold the speciale to Mario at Nottingham after he made me an offer I couldn't refuse as he had a customer lined up for it and, shock horror, I didn't like the car and preferred my Spider so that's out of the equation. I partly bought that thinking it would get me into the special list but I was sadly mistaken (miles off hahaha).

So, here I am with two Fezzas that I (usually) do plenty of miles in and I feel like a free agent now the 7 free servicing is up and I'm not playing the 'relationship' thing with Maranello by renewing warranties. I'll be comparing Indie prices and JCT prices and weighing up how much main dealer stamps are worth paying extra for this time next year. They may not be any different cost wise. I've no idea.

I run all my other cars with no warranty and through Indies or specialists but for some reason it seems like a big decision with the Fezzas. Funny that.

I suspect prices wont be much different and as I dont mind paying a tad more to stay main dealer just for convenience and given the good relationship I have with JCT Brooklands, I'll probably continue using them.

My only issue with Ferrari is that they're not building cars (that I can buy) that float my boat anymore but then again, nobody is really. :-(

Edited by _Leg_ on Friday 26th February 00:10

[supersport]

Thanks.

I have not had great experience with maybe n dealers, nor JCT VW. And having seen plenty of cars damaged at Porsche FFS

At this point I have no idea I’d the car will be a keeper or only a few years. There are others I would like to try and I don’t have space to keep any more cars.

I just get the sense that if I present a service record with unknowns on, selling could be harder.

My 911 has been service by RPM in Knaresborough for 15 years. I know and trust the guys, that means a lot to me. I don’t see the same happening with a main dealer.

But the convenience of Leeds can’t be argued with.

If only I wasn’t so anal it would be so much easier. It’s almost certainly totally misplaced

At the end of the day I just want a decent quality job done for a fair price and knowing they will treat my car as I do.

[_Leg_]

JCT Mercedes haven’t been great for me tbh.

But then again I’ve recently had a bad experience with a Porsche indie and looking for a new one. I might try RPM when the time comes (thanks for the tip).

Dealers, indies, tbh they’re only as good as their internal culture and that comes from the senior people there. People change, good people have off days. I expect fk ups tbh and only have an issue with organisations that don’t care or can’t be arsed to put it right.

That applies to everything in life in my experience.

Ps. I’m a right fussy tt with my cars too.

[adamellisdj]

_Leg_ said:

supersport said:

I know _leg_ on here uses JCT and seems happy.

Other than two DK stamps it has full main dealer, but personally not bothered about that.

JCT have been, overall, great from the beginning of my Ferrari ownership in 2014 across my 458 Spider, F12 and Speciale. Graham comes and collects my cars and drops them back and the service is good and fair. I'm sure Graham allows extra time when he visits me as we always have a brew, a long chat and look round my garages. Nothing really but I'm a relationships guy so it matters. I wish JCT would appreciate that and look after him more tbh.

That's not to say I haven't had issues. They broke the front splitter bar thing on my F12 but replaced it without any quibbles, my 458 got damaged by an airline at the indie paint shop they use when it went in for a minor job and they paid for the panel painting and re PPFing without any faff and a couple of times I've had to put up some resistance to Marinello's response to what was clearly a re call issue that Marinello tried to make out was a warranty claim but once I did JCT argued the points successfully on my behalf.

They recently solved a buggered F12 battery issue for me for free with a replacement battery that they had had to take off a part ex F12 as it wasn't the official Ferrari battery. I wouldn't normally but as things are £750 for a new battery for a car I might not get chance to use much (again) this year seemed a daft move when a free used battery could do the laid up, or at best quiet, year. Damn you Covid!

For a period after Craig (service manager) had to leave they were all over the shop but Sean has got things organised now and service is just as good as ever.

However, my F12 has just had it's last 'free' service and my 458 Spider has it's last one in April. For the first time ever I've not renewed warranty on either car this year too. I sold the speciale to Mario at Nottingham after he made me an offer I couldn't refuse as he had a customer lined up for it and, shock horror, I didn't like the car and preferred my Spider so that's out of the equation. I partly bought that thinking it would get me into the special list but I was sadly mistaken (miles off hahaha).

So, here I am with two Fezzas that I (usually) do plenty of miles in and I feel like a free agent now the 7 free servicing is up and I'm not playing the 'relationship' thing with Maranello by renewing warranties. I'll be comparing Indie prices and JCT prices and weighing up how much main dealer stamps are worth paying extra for this time next year. They may not be any different cost wise. I've no idea.

I run all my other cars with no warranty and through Indies or specialists but for some reason it seems like a big decision with the Fezzas. Funny that.

I suspect prices wont be much different and as I dont mind paying a tad more to stay main dealer just for convenience and given the good relationship I have with JCT Brooklands, I'll probably continue using them.

My only issue with Ferrari is that they're not building cars (that I can buy) that float my boat anymore but then again, nobody is really. :-(

Edited by _Leg_ on Friday 26th February 00:10

Which models do you like that you cannot buy?

[_Leg_]

adamellisdj said:

Which models do you like that you cannot buy?

Nothing now. Nothing in the current range interests me.

Tbh nothing new from any manufacturer interests me
atm. I’m much more likely to add more classics to my collection going forwards.

[andyman_2006]

OP - you could have a chat with John Pogson at Italia Autosport

https://italiaautosport.com/services/

They are out towards Huddersfield, not sure exactly where you are in North Yorks so could be 40 mins away, but another alternative to JCT Leeds.

[supersport]

Just to report back in case anyone else in the North and Yorkshire in particular is asking the same question,

I went with Enso Automotive in the end. Went and had a chat with Michael and his approach fits with me and a nice knowledgeable chap to talk to.

He was exactly what I was looking for in a specialist and the bonus of being in cycling distance too.

I had two further recommendations for Enso and one whilst the car was with them. So very happy to recommend them.

[DumDum]

_Leg_ said:

Nothing now. Nothing in the current range interests me.

Tbh nothing new from any manufacturer interests me
atm. I’m much more likely to add more classics to my collection going forwards.

I'm the same, keep hold of what we've got!
Dealers are pestering me to sell my 458 back to them, they just can't get stock.

[R8Reece]

DumDum said:

I'm the same, keep hold of what we've got!
Dealers are pestering me to sell my 458 back to them, they just can't get stock.

...or alternatively they're not offering enough ££££ to owners to sell.