Abarth specialist recommendations - London/Essex/Herts

Abarth specialist recommendations - London/Essex/Herts

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Discussion

Roman Moroni

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

124 months

Saturday 26th December 2020
quotequote all
I've got to the point where I'm thinking of taking my MY2016 595 out of the main Dealership network following some hefty quotes for the replacement of the front discs & pads. The next service includes the cam belt replacement circa £750.

Anyone got a recommendation for a Specialist

TIA

EJH

934 posts

210 months

Monday 11th January 2021
quotequote all
That does feel like enough - mind had the cambelt service done a few years ago for just over £600 at my local dealer.

I carried on using a main dealer until the car's last service as we had a good one and it was easier than finding anywhere else (they weren't expensive so savings wouldn't have been too great). Unfortunately, their service has deteriorated over the years as they centralised more and more into their regional group's central office, so I now can't call the service desk (all calls go to a central call centre), it's the same for parts and you never get to speak to the same person.

The coup de grâce for the dealer relationship was the fall-out from its visit for discs and pads. Their valeting team managed to souse the car in something that marked all the plastic trim from the front of the car to the B pillar (which also meant it needed a new front bumper to be fitted as some of the damaged parts were bonded to it.

As such, if anyone has a recommendation for a Fiat / Abarth specialist in SE London or Kent (in Greenwich but accept I'll have to take it somewhere) it would be much appreciated.

Roman Moroni

Original Poster:

1,004 posts

124 months

Monday 1st February 2021
quotequote all
EJH said:
That does feel like enough - mind had the cambelt service done a few years ago for just over £600 at my local dealer.

I carried on using a main dealer until the car's last service as we had a good one and it was easier than finding anywhere else (they weren't expensive so savings wouldn't have been too great). Unfortunately, their service has deteriorated over the years as they centralised more and more into their regional group's central office, so I now can't call the service desk (all calls go to a central call centre), it's the same for parts and you never get to speak to the same person.

The coup de grâce for the dealer relationship was the fall-out from its visit for discs and pads. Their valeting team managed to souse the car in something that marked all the plastic trim from the front of the car to the B pillar (which also meant it needed a new front bumper to be fitted as some of the damaged parts were bonded to it.

As such, if anyone has a recommendation for a Fiat / Abarth specialist in SE London or Kent (in Greenwich but accept I'll have to take it somewhere) it would be much appreciated.
Well, after much research I went to this place http://www.abarthworkshop.co.uk/about.shtml. Got excellent service, could not fault them, the car was in an out in just over an hour. The bill was £300 less then Fiat/Abarth had quoted me for the same job.

Thoroughly recommend them although they are probably a bit too far for you

EJH

934 posts

210 months

Monday 1st February 2021
quotequote all
They're not that close...but they're not *that* inconvenient (another car gets taken 64 miles to be serviced...)

I shall give them a call - thank you!

_Superleggera_

2,004 posts

198 months

Friday 5th February 2021
quotequote all
Auto Alfa in Basildon. Look after loads of Abarths. Good guys and well priced.

EJH

934 posts

210 months

Monday 15th March 2021
quotequote all
Roman Moroni said:
Well, after much research I went to this place http://www.abarthworkshop.co.uk/about.shtml. Got excellent service, could not fault them, the car was in an out in just over an hour. The bill was £300 less then Fiat/Abarth had quoted me for the same job.

Thoroughly recommend them although they are probably a bit too far for you
Not the most convenient for me...but not too inconvenient. Car was done the other week and very happy with the work and pricing. also not too far from the station (10 minute walk) for getting the train up to collect.

FatManJim

90 posts

38 months

Tuesday 23rd March 2021
quotequote all
Roman Moroni said:
EJH said:
That does feel like enough - mind had the cambelt service done a few years ago for just over £600 at my local dealer.

I carried on using a main dealer until the car's last service as we had a good one and it was easier than finding anywhere else (they weren't expensive so savings wouldn't have been too great). Unfortunately, their service has deteriorated over the years as they centralised more and more into their regional group's central office, so I now can't call the service desk (all calls go to a central call centre), it's the same for parts and you never get to speak to the same person.

The coup de grâce for the dealer relationship was the fall-out from its visit for discs and pads. Their valeting team managed to souse the car in something that marked all the plastic trim from the front of the car to the B pillar (which also meant it needed a new front bumper to be fitted as some of the damaged parts were bonded to it.

As such, if anyone has a recommendation for a Fiat / Abarth specialist in SE London or Kent (in Greenwich but accept I'll have to take it somewhere) it would be much appreciated.
Well, after much research I went to this place http://www.abarthworkshop.co.uk/about.shtml. Got excellent service, could not fault them, the car was in an out in just over an hour. The bill was £300 less then Fiat/Abarth had quoted me for the same job.

Thoroughly recommend them although they are probably a bit too far for you
Looks like a great company, love all the how to’s on the site - I will bare them in mind for any future work, it’s hard to find a decent garages