Discussion
I will shortly be needing a service on a 996TT (bought last April). It is just three years old and 13k miles, so I need that OPC stamp for resale (rather than an independent).
Hatfield OPC is my nearest, but on the other hand Solihull OPC (an extra 60 / 70 miles away) supplied the car from new, so it would be good to have as much history as possible with a single dealer.
Rather than encourage criticism of either on the forum, does anyone have a positive recommendation for one of these centres giving good service ??
Hatfield OPC is my nearest, but on the other hand Solihull OPC (an extra 60 / 70 miles away) supplied the car from new, so it would be good to have as much history as possible with a single dealer.
Rather than encourage criticism of either on the forum, does anyone have a positive recommendation for one of these centres giving good service ??
rather than give advice on OPCs I'd rather suggest you go to an indie who will look after your car much better - many recommendations on here.
I don't understand the statement about "one single dealer" history really.
When I ran an indie Lotus outfit people used to look for my stamps in the books rather than dealers - says something!
I don't understand the statement about "one single dealer" history really.
When I ran an indie Lotus outfit people used to look for my stamps in the books rather than dealers - says something!
340ragtop said:
I don't understand the statement about "one single dealer" history really.
ah, but you may be slightly biased
I am a big fan of using good indies, they tend to be run by true enthusiasts that care a lot more about your car than possibly a much bigger organisation....
however... with a three year old car most BUYERS, would prefer to see main dealer stamps. Right or wrong, it's just human nature to want that perceived safety net.
I think that after 4 or 5 years, or 30k upwards, then all bets are off and use the best person you can find to look after your car, and most buyers probably accept this.
You don't half save a lot of money with indies too
Thanks for replies so far. Any Solihull customers out there ?
I agree a good independent is with a bit of passion is often the best, but it is really a resale thing, and unless a buyer knows that dealer themselves then it can weaken confidence, but also it is more difficult to check. OPC are known quantities and one phone call can verify as much history as most buyers want.
I agree a good independent is with a bit of passion is often the best, but it is really a resale thing, and unless a buyer knows that dealer themselves then it can weaken confidence, but also it is more difficult to check. OPC are known quantities and one phone call can verify as much history as most buyers want.
(I think they were px's) I don't think it a ridiculous thing to say at all - as an Indie I saw some of the most horrendous things done to cars by main dealers I don't even know where to begin.
It's a huge shame, but really is not that uncommon to see cars serviced by main dealers with incomplete work, rushed work or indeed unsafe work. One of the most amusing things I ever saw was the entire underneath of a Lotus elise bolted back on upside down - the car whistled very loudly as the NACA ducts pointed forwards and downwards! Anyone who has seen the underneath of a Liz will know this is simply outstanding behaviour! I also had a car in from an MD service which smoked - it had 9 litres of oil in it (they take about 4.5) - upon quizing the dealer I discovered they had "drained" the engine by removing the oil filter.....nice.
I don't know about OPCs on the whole - maybe they're better - but the one time my car went to an OPC they opened the bonnet into the upright windscreen wipers and chipped the bonnet top edge. Of course they then denied it and said "The bonnet doesn't touch the windscreen wipers even when they're up"...hmmm.
Only my experience - not saying it's fact all the time etc. etc..
It's a huge shame, but really is not that uncommon to see cars serviced by main dealers with incomplete work, rushed work or indeed unsafe work. One of the most amusing things I ever saw was the entire underneath of a Lotus elise bolted back on upside down - the car whistled very loudly as the NACA ducts pointed forwards and downwards! Anyone who has seen the underneath of a Liz will know this is simply outstanding behaviour! I also had a car in from an MD service which smoked - it had 9 litres of oil in it (they take about 4.5) - upon quizing the dealer I discovered they had "drained" the engine by removing the oil filter.....nice.
I don't know about OPCs on the whole - maybe they're better - but the one time my car went to an OPC they opened the bonnet into the upright windscreen wipers and chipped the bonnet top edge. Of course they then denied it and said "The bonnet doesn't touch the windscreen wipers even when they're up"...hmmm.
Only my experience - not saying it's fact all the time etc. etc..
dmcrobin said:
If I saw an "OPC" stamp in a service book, I'd think it hadn't really had a service. Would prefer specialist stamp even in a car that is 2-3 years old.
What a ridiculous thing to say
Why is that ridiculous? That's been my experience from buying a new car to getting it serviced. I would however restrict my view to UK OPCs since in Germany I've never had a problem. Maybe it's a UK cultural thing with general feeling of being ripped-off whereever you go
POORCARDEALER said:
Problem is if he has the car serviced at an Indie, it excludes him selling the car back to the OPC network if he needs or wants to.........
...and be offered 20% less than a private sale? no thank you
When I've taken my car to an OPC in Germany, they invite me to follow them to my car and then drive it onto a ramp. They hoist the car up and go through anything they find wrong with the underneath of the car. It includes going through all the tyres, missing bits of deflectors etc. They ALWAYS call back if anything needs replacing beyond the normal service list. Any parts needed that are not at the OPC are always there by 08:30 the next day. Always get a detailed bodywork check and completed form showing it's been done. You get allocated a service technican who understands your model of car in detail.
OPC in the UK - hand keys over and collect when ready, no official bodywork check, followed by arguments over why this and that have been replaced and why I have to wait unspecified times for parts etc. No technicians to interface with the customer, only staff with generic knowledge.
silver993tt said:
When I've taken my car to an OPC in Germany, they invite me to follow them to my car and then drive it onto a ramp. They hoist the car up and go through anything they find wrong with the underneath of the car. It includes going through all the tyres, missing bits of deflectors etc. They ALWAYS call back if anything needs replacing beyond the normal service list. Any parts needed that are not at the OPC are always there by 08:30 the next day. Always get a detailed bodywork check and completed form showing it's been done. You get allocated a service technican who understands your model of car in detail.
This is the kind of service I get from my OPC, ok they charge a little more but for me it's also a matter of convenience, my local OPC is a lot closer than any independent. But all the same I have never had reason to complain. Don't think you should tar all OPC's with the same brush.
Although I do agree with what's been said regarding their buying and selling pratices, far from realistic.
also - if you really want to sell a car to an OPC it's perfectly do-able even with specialist stamps in the book.
They rarely sell cars older than 2-3 years anyway, and anything with a non OPC stamp in will be underwritten and sold out - just like most trade ins.
Just like if you take a BMW or a merc into a porsche dealer as a p-ex - they don't say "NO" do they!?
They rarely sell cars older than 2-3 years anyway, and anything with a non OPC stamp in will be underwritten and sold out - just like most trade ins.
Just like if you take a BMW or a merc into a porsche dealer as a p-ex - they don't say "NO" do they!?
Steve_M said:
When I've taken my car to an OPC in Germany, they invite me to follow them to my car and then drive it onto a ramp. They hoist the car up and go through anything they find wrong with the underneath of the car. It includes going through all the tyres, missing bits of deflectors etc. They ALWAYS call back if anything needs replacing beyond the normal service list. Any parts needed that are not at the OPC are always there by 08:30 the next day. Always get a detailed bodywork check and completed form showing it's been done. You get allocated a service technican who understands your model of car in detail.
This is the kind of service I get from my OPC, ok they charge a little more but for me it's also a matter of convenience, my local OPC is a lot closer than any independent. But all the same I have never had reason to complain. Don't think you should tar all OPC's with the same brush.
Although I do agree with what's been said regarding their buying and selling pratices, far from realistic.
What's a little more? Most OPCs charge between 100-120 pounds per hour for labour. My independent charges 45 pounds per hour and I get alot more for my hour at the independent.
To me that is massively more.
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