Independent AM Garages

[55V8Vantage]

With these feet said:

What do you all see as the main reasons for not going to the main dealers?

What do you expect from an indie to let them work on your car?

The problem I have had with main dealers has been poor customer service. All but one did top quality work but for the money they charge, I expect better treatment. The dealers I have used seem to have an attitude that the customer is doing them a favour.

From an independent garage, I expect good knowledge of the marque and some mechanical ingenuity. A prime example was DMS earlier this year. The main dealer wanted £1650 + VAT to replace a headlight unit with a broken bracket. Instead I went to Rick who fabricated and fitted a new bracket for £100 + VAT. QED.

[With these feet]

55V8Vantage said:

The problem I have had with main dealers has been poor customer service. All but one did top quality work but for the money they charge, I expect better treatment. The dealers I have used seem to have an attitude that the customer is doing them a favour.

From an independent garage, I expect good knowledge of the marque and some mechanical ingenuity. A prime example was DMS earlier this year. The main dealer wanted £1650 + VAT to replace a headlight unit with a broken bracket. Instead I went to Rick who fabricated and fitted a new bracket for £100 + VAT. QED.

Ive run around 5 or 6 N24/GT4 cars since 2007 and in that time acquired a little mechanical ingenuity . This last year Ive probably saved the owner the same amount of money he's paid me for the season.

The race cars are mechanically very similar, its getting to know the little "issues" the road cars have!

[Neil1300R]

GoldenDrummer said:

Hi all,

can I suggest a sticky? I was planning on taking my V8V to DMS in January, but it looks as though sadly I'll be searching elsewhere (I'm in Surrey).

Could we put together a list of independents across the UK? I'm sure it would help a lot of us out.

Theoretically sounds a good idea, but I've not seen many recommendations for other indies on here excepting DMS. It could turn into a naming and shaming sticky if we are not careful. What do other people think? If it seen as a good idea I can add it to the Frequently Asked Questions sticky


For Surrey - Trinity Engineering in Cobham have been recommended by someone on here (only 5 minutes from me - must pop in sometime)

[alxce]

Neil1300R said:

Theoretically sounds a good idea, but I've not seen many recommendations for other indies on here excepting DMS. It could turn into a naming and shaming sticky if we are not careful. What do other people think? If it seen as a good idea I can add it to the Frequently Asked Questions sticky


For Surrey - Trinity Engineering in Cobham have been recommended by someone on here (only 5 minutes from me - must pop in sometime)

I think the sticky is a good idea because if we can give them some positive exposure it could lead to a thread like they have on the Porsche forum for Specialists Sales & Servicing.
I would be interested in what you find at Trinity as they are first on my list for a call next year as they are only about 30 minutes from me.

[Slarti]

I'd be very keen to know of any Indies that might be out there and in my area. I live in Lancashire and the only place that I'm aware of is Stratstone Wilmslow - but they're a main dealer.

[burntout]

alxce said:

Neil1300R said:

Theoretically sounds a good idea, but I've not seen many recommendations for other indies on here excepting DMS. It could turn into a naming and shaming sticky if we are not careful. What do other people think? If it seen as a good idea I can add it to the Frequently Asked Questions sticky


For Surrey - Trinity Engineering in Cobham have been recommended by someone on here (only 5 minutes from me - must pop in sometime)

I think the sticky is a good idea because if we can give them some positive exposure it could lead to a thread like they have on the Porsche forum for Specialists Sales & Servicing.
I would be interested in what you find at Trinity as they are first on my list for a call next year as they are only about 30 minutes from me.

Mines booked in there week after next for suspension lowering springs, they sorted my breaks for me and supplied and fitted my Quicksilver exhaust..

No complaints at all... Good personal service,very friendly with no nonsense... They have my money from now on....

[Jockman]

burntout said:

Mines booked in there week after next for suspension lowering springs,....

Can dry-sump V8Vs really be lowered that much ??

I witnessed Mr K's V8VS actually flicking up fag butts it was that low

[burntout]

Jockman said:

burntout said:

Mines booked in there week after next for suspension lowering springs,....

Can dry-sump V8Vs really be lowered that much ??

I witnessed Mr K's V8VS actually flicking up fag butts it was that low

I hope it will be ok, 20mm drop all round onto the new 20" wheels

Have been assured all will fit and work without a problem..

Just gonna have to be careful of speed humps... and cigar ends!!

[GoldenDrummer]

Neil1300R said:

GoldenDrummer said:

Hi all,

can I suggest a sticky? I was planning on taking my V8V to DMS in January, but it looks as though sadly I'll be searching elsewhere (I'm in Surrey).

Could we put together a list of independents across the UK? I'm sure it would help a lot of us out.

Theoretically sounds a good idea, but I've not seen many recommendations for other indies on here excepting DMS. It could turn into a naming and shaming sticky if we are not careful. What do other people think? If it seen as a good idea I can add it to the Frequently Asked Questions sticky


For Surrey - Trinity Engineering in Cobham have been recommended by someone on here (only 5 minutes from me - must pop in sometime)

Hi Neil,

I was thinking more along the lines of a simple directory of indies, perhaps including the extent of work they do and the models they cover, with contact & website details - rather than including comments (although that would be helpful too!).

Cheers

[JohnG1]

burntout said:

Jockman said:

burntout said:

Mines booked in there week after next for suspension lowering springs,....

Can dry-sump V8Vs really be lowered that much ??

I witnessed Mr K's V8VS actually flicking up fag butts it was that low

I hope it will be ok, 20mm drop all round onto the new 20" wheels

Have been assured all will fit and work without a problem..

Just gonna have to be careful of speed humps... and cigar ends!!

And fast corners under suspension compression. And warp over uneven surfaces. They might fit when the car is parked but what about under dynamic load?

[hartley]

GoldenDrummer said:

Hi Neil,

I was thinking more along the lines of a simple directory of indies, perhaps including the extent of work they do and the models they cover, with contact & website details - rather than including comments (although that would be helpful too!).

Cheers

Good idea especially for those of us in the North with few options I visited Rick from Edinburgh

However can we stick to outlets people have actually used not just heard about

[mcm66]

hartley said:

Good idea especially for those of us in the North with few options I visited Rick from Edinburgh

From the far North, would be interested to know who is Rick from Edinburgh?

[Lunablack]

55V8Vantage said:

From an independent garage, I expect good knowledge of the marque and some mechanical ingenuity. A prime example was DMS earlier this year. The main dealer wanted £1650 + VAT to replace a headlight unit with a broken bracket. Instead I went to Rick who fabricated and fitted a new bracket for £100 + VAT. QED.

There was a fella on here that got slated recently, when he suggested that these high flying dealers can't repair stuff anymore, and just want to replace parts.... Any fool can remove a part and replace it....... It takes a bit of nous to look at a job and think "how can we fix this"

Give me "old school" any day of the week

[yeti]

mcm66 said:

hartley said:

Good idea especially for those of us in the North with few options I visited Rick from Edinburgh

From the far North, would be interested to know who is Rick from Edinburgh?

I *think* he means he travelled from Edinburgh to see Rick at DMS.

[burntout]

JohnG1 said:

burntout said:

Jockman said:

burntout said:

Mines booked in there week after next for suspension lowering springs,....

Can dry-sump V8Vs really be lowered that much ??

I witnessed Mr K's V8VS actually flicking up fag butts it was that low

I hope it will be ok, 20mm drop all round onto the new 20" wheels

Have been assured all will fit and work without a problem..

Just gonna have to be careful of speed humps... and cigar ends!!

And fast corners under suspension compression. And warp over uneven surfaces. They might fit when the car is parked but what about under dynamic load?

Well John, I dont drive very fast and come to think of it 90% of the time parked up is all it does... So ok on those issues..

I have been chatting with to Vorsteiner & Projex design who have tried and tested 20" wheels and the same suspension set up on the V8 Vantage and no issues... Apparently...

The wheels turned up today... Bloody gorgeous!! cant wait to get it back all complete, ready to park up on the drive..

[hartley]

yeti said:

I *think* he means he travelled from Edinburgh to see Rick at DMS.

Correct

[tuscrv8]

bridge mill motors
not used them butwith dms gone i may have a look

[tonyarmitstead]

Anyone used these people?

http://www.drivestyleautoservicecentre.co.uk/aston...

Harrogate is not too far from Lancashire, so is very interesting!

[tonyhall38]

Pugsley and Lewis...Beckenham.....

[yeti]

burntout said:

The wheels turned up today... Bloody gorgeous!! cant wait to get it back all complete, ready to park up on the drive..

Very much looking forward to seeing the results! I assume you'll start a nice thread full of pictures