Independents in Wiltshire/Dorset

[caiss4]

A service and MOT is coming up for my 156v6. I was going to take it to Benalfa in Westbury for sympathetic attention. Unfortunately Alan has decided to retire and his business has been taken on by a more general (albeit specialised) classic car restorer. I can't help feeling I might need someone with that intimate knowledge of Alfas to keep the old girl on the road.

I'm based near Devizes - any recommendations of other specialists within reasonable range? I'll probably rely on my local garage for the MOT but should 'problems' arise I'd like to know where I might be able to go to get things fixed. Alternatively if anyone has had a good experience with Benalfa's successor (sorry, can't recall the name mow!)then let me know.

[1878]

Autolusso Bournemouth who despite the name are between Ferndown and Wimborne: http://www.alfamotive.co.uk/

[VinceFox]

Theres a place just outside blandford thats been there forever, name escapes me atm.

[1878]

VinceFox said:

Theres a place just outside blandford thats been there forever, name escapes me atm.

http://www.redmotori.co.uk/ ?

[VinceFox]

Thats it. Dont know what theyre like, but theyve been there a whioe. Seems like more than ten years tbh.

[caiss4]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've been past Red Motori so if anyone has used them would be good to hear.

Also Autolusso looks like an option too.

[caiss4]

Well, so far so good. MOT was started today but owing to a split in the rear silencer seam the garage couldn't get an accurate emissions reading. The recommendation was a repair to the seam rather than a complete replacement.

They also discovered a failed inlet manifold gasket on No 1 which had been causing a rough idle. Once again they decided it would be quicker and cheaper to make their own replacement gasket rather than get one from Alfa.

So fingers crossed tomorrow I should get back a fully serviced and MOT'd car ready for the next 12 months for what I trust will be a reasonable sum!

I have to say I am somewhat amazed at how this almost 13+ year old car breezes through MOT's (let's hope I'm not counting my chickens too soon)

[S10 GTA]

I use Autolusso Bournemouth quite a lot. Very highly recommended from me

[V6GTA]

All the indies mentioned above are good with great reputations...

[caiss4]

Well I won't be needing to call on the specialists this time! Exhaust repair £10, manifold gasket £6 plus labour of course which probably ran to 4-5 hours but that did include a full service including front/rear brake service. So all in including the MOT the bill was around £400, which aside from the MOT last year, is the first expense in two years. And it is now idling sweetly