Main Dealers - tell me I'm wrong
Discussion
Had quite a bit of work done on my older cars recently and the services from the various garages have been pretty shocking. They include:
- Massive swirl mark on the bootlid, response was "oh it was probably there before but we've cleaned the car and now it's more noticeable"
- Piece which keeps the window seals in place was missing on one side after getting the hood replaced, response was "oh it was probably missing before but now the new hood is there it's more noticeable"
- Dirt all over the armrest and carpets
- Not printing off proper receipts and spelling my name wrong every time even though I put my name at the end of every text
- Not responding to calls/texts and no updates on progress
- Smoking in my car WHILE I WAS THERE
These aren't random backstreet garages either, they were carefully researched on the members club forums and google.
Meanwhile... my M5 goes to a main dealer - I can drop it off before work and pick it up anytime from their 24h security, I get a cup of coffee, I don't have to chase them up on progress and there's usually hot receptionists.
Prices are always ok since I always buy the OEM parts/oils and just get a quote for the labour, or used to use maindealerdiscount when they were still alive. So tell me I'm wrong?
- Massive swirl mark on the bootlid, response was "oh it was probably there before but we've cleaned the car and now it's more noticeable"
- Piece which keeps the window seals in place was missing on one side after getting the hood replaced, response was "oh it was probably missing before but now the new hood is there it's more noticeable"
- Dirt all over the armrest and carpets
- Not printing off proper receipts and spelling my name wrong every time even though I put my name at the end of every text
- Not responding to calls/texts and no updates on progress
- Smoking in my car WHILE I WAS THERE
These aren't random backstreet garages either, they were carefully researched on the members club forums and google.
Meanwhile... my M5 goes to a main dealer - I can drop it off before work and pick it up anytime from their 24h security, I get a cup of coffee, I don't have to chase them up on progress and there's usually hot receptionists.
Prices are always ok since I always buy the OEM parts/oils and just get a quote for the labour, or used to use maindealerdiscount when they were still alive. So tell me I'm wrong?
I use a great indy, he;s backstreet (in the middle of terraced houses!) but he really knows his stuff and does an excellent job.
There is always a risk my car will suffer damage since it has to be parked on the street but for the quality of work, and the price, I accept the risk (I suspect he would be very apologetic if something were to happen and I know he has a good bodyshop contact)
It is not on to smoke in other peoples cars, thats disrespectful.
There is always a risk my car will suffer damage since it has to be parked on the street but for the quality of work, and the price, I accept the risk (I suspect he would be very apologetic if something were to happen and I know he has a good bodyshop contact)
It is not on to smoke in other peoples cars, thats disrespectful.
kambites said:
My local VW main dealer told me that VW had never made a car called the Corrado...
That's astonishingly poor! 
When I ran a Cadillac BLS and Saab refused to provide parts, a dealer was stripping down his demos and offering to buy my car back off me for what I paid if they couldn't get the parts to fix a problem. There are some good guys out there.
aka_kerrly said:
kambites said:
My local VW main dealer told me that VW had never made a car called the Corrado...
Haha, it's not just you, VW Gloucester and VW Cirencester have both told me that over the phone and whilst I have had the car parked outside. 
). My Audi main dealer (must be all?) offers a £750 MOT guarantee, so as long as no more than £750 it is a paid for pass. Does cost £49.99 for the MOT. Last time broken rear spring which I hadn't noticed, but they changed it AND the other side foc. That is excellent service. The maintenance costs are reasonable as well. As said the showrooms tend to be nice places to be in, nice coffee, nice cars and nice looking girls ;-). I have also used local specialists but the prices aren't really that much different for regular work.
kambites said:
My local VW main dealer told me that VW had never made a car called the Corrado...
A Mazda main dealer tried to convince me that the MX5 I test drove had a 3.5 litre engine in it rather than the 3. When I asked him if he was sure he was talking about the engine size and not the mark he looked at the docs and said it was a 2 litre but a mk3.5. Turned out it was a mk3.Luckily it didn't make him miss out on a sale, the fact that it stalled nearly every time I managed to put it into first led to that.
To put it into some context, I have a local garage which I trust and go to for all the usual work (oil, brakes, etc). These experiences were for one-off things like dent removal/respray, replacement hood etc. and I went to places recommended by the internets. Goes to show how hard it is to find a garage which looks after your car properly.
From my experience with the BMW dealer, they actually do know their parts and cars although I think most of the time they just look on realoem!
From my experience with the BMW dealer, they actually do know their parts and cars although I think most of the time they just look on realoem!
hes.
Maybe I'm old before my time but I always cringe at the use of 'dolly birds' to sell or promote male orientated products.
However nice they might be to ogle, I'd much rather have someone behind the desk, male or female, that knows the job, understands what you're telling them and can offer useful advice.
However nice they might be to ogle, I'd much rather have someone behind the desk, male or female, that knows the job, understands what you're telling them and can offer useful advice.
Depends on the Indy when I had my pug I used Peugeot Ecosse from its first service even though it was a 70 mile round trip
Far more knowledgeable than both my local pug dealers and far more passionate about the brand. Always treated my car fantastically well.
I also have a great local Indy at the end of the street. Proper back street place but the guy lives and breathes cars as knowledgable as anyone I've met in the trade and always willing to accommodate even at short notice(great when you run a taxi business and you have a broken cash at 7 o'clock on a Saturday night
<3 my local Indy
Far more knowledgeable than both my local pug dealers and far more passionate about the brand. Always treated my car fantastically well.
I also have a great local Indy at the end of the street. Proper back street place but the guy lives and breathes cars as knowledgable as anyone I've met in the trade and always willing to accommodate even at short notice(great when you run a taxi business and you have a broken cash at 7 o'clock on a Saturday night
<3 my local Indy
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