Service - Berkshire
Discussion
Hi all -
I'm looking for some recommendations - I've an 2007 Aston Vantage. I bought it nearly 6 years ago and for the first couple of years I had it serviced at Aston Martin main dealers.
I then decided to opt for independent servicing, firstly Chiltern Aston and more recently Spellbound in Farnham. Sadly they have gone into liquidation so I'm looking for an alternative - I live in Ascot, Berkshire so any recommendations would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking for some recommendations - I've an 2007 Aston Vantage. I bought it nearly 6 years ago and for the first couple of years I had it serviced at Aston Martin main dealers.
I then decided to opt for independent servicing, firstly Chiltern Aston and more recently Spellbound in Farnham. Sadly they have gone into liquidation so I'm looking for an alternative - I live in Ascot, Berkshire so any recommendations would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
I would recommend John Watson at Chicane, they look after my DB6 - 1st class http://www.chicane.am
Spellbound were replaced by Katz auto services. When I spoke to them last summer, it seemed to be the same people working there, which I thought was a positive.
I dropped my car off to them a couple of hours ago - and it is definitely not the same people now. I will reserve judgement - but the guy who took my keys looked at them like he'd never see a keyfob before, let alone an Aston Martin (Volvo) one.
I will reserve judgement until I collect the car - but didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling leaving it there so they need to impress me..... I think from now on I will be using AHM next to Hartley Wintney (they do Alfa too, so planning to take that there in Sept).
I dropped my car off to them a couple of hours ago - and it is definitely not the same people now. I will reserve judgement - but the guy who took my keys looked at them like he'd never see a keyfob before, let alone an Aston Martin (Volvo) one.
I will reserve judgement until I collect the car - but didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling leaving it there so they need to impress me..... I think from now on I will be using AHM next to Hartley Wintney (they do Alfa too, so planning to take that there in Sept).
Thanks for the replies.
The guys at Spellbound were always great with their responses and I always got the feeling that they knew what they were doing. I'd be interested to hear how your experience was with Katz.
I've message John before for a quote a couple of years ago so I'll drop him another email.
The guys at Spellbound were always great with their responses and I always got the feeling that they knew what they were doing. I'd be interested to hear how your experience was with Katz.
I've message John before for a quote a couple of years ago so I'll drop him another email.
I don't plan to collect the car until tomorrow afternoon, but I've had a mail from Katz saying it's ready - however, I'm not wildly impressed so far.
The original quote was £412.44.
Spellbound would always email me before doing any additional work - most of which I'd say no to. The email from Katz says that the total is more than quoted - £472.66 because :
"We needed to fit a bulb, and it took another 30 minutes to complete the checks as per the service schedule".
The car passed an MOT a week ago - and most of the exterior bulbs are LED anyway - so I'm curious what bulb they thought I should pay them labour to change. And I can't help thinking that the quote they gave me for the service should have included the time it took to perform the scheduled checks!
The original quote was £412.44.
Spellbound would always email me before doing any additional work - most of which I'd say no to. The email from Katz says that the total is more than quoted - £472.66 because :
"We needed to fit a bulb, and it took another 30 minutes to complete the checks as per the service schedule".
The car passed an MOT a week ago - and most of the exterior bulbs are LED anyway - so I'm curious what bulb they thought I should pay them labour to change. And I can't help thinking that the quote they gave me for the service should have included the time it took to perform the scheduled checks!
Just collected the car.
Apparently, they do have one person from Spellbound who 'performed the service check' on the car, and he did pick up some things spellbound always did (e.g tyre inflation stuff is out of date). But....
Apparently, my brake pads are 50% worn - front and rear.
Really? That's surprising, given that I changed them in August 2017 and - according to the MOT histories - I've done a max of 3,500 miles since then. So frankly, that's not true.
I asked why the quote didn't include the checks stated in the service schedule. I was told they went way over time because there are so many checks, they went over at least an hour but only charged me for half that. And that they were 'very competitive'.
I feel he didn't really get my point, but I've had a bad week and frankly just wanted to get home so paid and left.
My car won't be going back there in my ownership.
Apparently, they do have one person from Spellbound who 'performed the service check' on the car, and he did pick up some things spellbound always did (e.g tyre inflation stuff is out of date). But....
Apparently, my brake pads are 50% worn - front and rear.
Really? That's surprising, given that I changed them in August 2017 and - according to the MOT histories - I've done a max of 3,500 miles since then. So frankly, that's not true.
I asked why the quote didn't include the checks stated in the service schedule. I was told they went way over time because there are so many checks, they went over at least an hour but only charged me for half that. And that they were 'very competitive'.
I feel he didn't really get my point, but I've had a bad week and frankly just wanted to get home so paid and left.
My car won't be going back there in my ownership.
davek_964 said:
Just collected the car.
Apparently, they do have one person from Spellbound who 'performed the service check' on the car, and he did pick up some things spellbound always did (e.g tyre inflation stuff is out of date). But....
Apparently, my brake pads are 50% worn - front and rear.
Really? That's surprising, given that I changed them in August 2017 and - according to the MOT histories - I've done a max of 3,500 miles since then. So frankly, that's not true.
I asked why the quote didn't include the checks stated in the service schedule. I was told they went way over time because there are so many checks, they went over at least an hour but only charged me for half that. And that they were 'very competitive'.
I feel he didn't really get my point, but I've had a bad week and frankly just wanted to get home so paid and left.
My car won't be going back there in my ownership.
Thanks for the comprehensive summary - it doesn't really sound like they have any real Aston Martin expertise anymore apart from the one Spellbound person.Apparently, they do have one person from Spellbound who 'performed the service check' on the car, and he did pick up some things spellbound always did (e.g tyre inflation stuff is out of date). But....
Apparently, my brake pads are 50% worn - front and rear.
Really? That's surprising, given that I changed them in August 2017 and - according to the MOT histories - I've done a max of 3,500 miles since then. So frankly, that's not true.
I asked why the quote didn't include the checks stated in the service schedule. I was told they went way over time because there are so many checks, they went over at least an hour but only charged me for half that. And that they were 'very competitive'.
I feel he didn't really get my point, but I've had a bad week and frankly just wanted to get home so paid and left.
My car won't be going back there in my ownership.
I assume they should know the number of checks and quote accordingly?? Very odd.
Where else do you think you would go next time?
I have visited AHM many times now, they are Aston enthusiasts, Aston owners, have committed to Astons AMDS system and have a level of Aston Martin in depth knowledge that always wows me.
I guess looking through this posting, the most important asset they have may be simply the culture to treat you fairly and honestly.
I guess looking through this posting, the most important asset they have may be simply the culture to treat you fairly and honestly.
I was stuck in the car waiting for somebody on Friday - although I specifically asked if the service book was filled in (and was told it was) - I thought I may as well finally check while I was sitting there with nothing to do.
Well, it's true - kind of. It's dated, and signed. But there is no mileage written in, and no stamp - so anybody could have filled it in at any time.
Guess where I'm going after work....
Muppets.
Well, it's true - kind of. It's dated, and signed. But there is no mileage written in, and no stamp - so anybody could have filled it in at any time.
Guess where I'm going after work....
Muppets.
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