Servicing costs
Discussion
Seems a bit pricey Paul, not had mine serviced in ages as tended to do it myself, last time I ended up with a total bill for close to £1500 and it broke down on the way home lol. Hence why I now do my own. You could try David Batty though, he's the only person who did all the work on my car as asked and more, he's not the closest to you but does a top job.
I just posted this on Chim page with sim question...
www.apmautomotive.co.uk/menupricin
I will say this once and once only.........
APM are as good as it gets. As far as I am aware APMs hrly rate is some 30% less than David Batty (happy to be corrected!). I havent used David and so I cant comment on his work etc - I drive past his place everyday and it is very busy with TVRs and Lotuses. , so clearly a good customer base. I go to Andy nr Liphook as he hits the spot on experience, knowledge, skill, value, customer service, friendlyness, flexibility etc.... Doesnt provide coffee though! Ring the factory and ask the engine builders about Andy!! Andy helps run Tuscan challenge cars and was also the No 1 mechanic and SHG TVR dealer for many yrs.
www.apmautomotive.co.uk/menupricin
I will say this once and once only.........
APM are as good as it gets. As far as I am aware APMs hrly rate is some 30% less than David Batty (happy to be corrected!). I havent used David and so I cant comment on his work etc - I drive past his place everyday and it is very busy with TVRs and Lotuses. , so clearly a good customer base. I go to Andy nr Liphook as he hits the spot on experience, knowledge, skill, value, customer service, friendlyness, flexibility etc.... Doesnt provide coffee though! Ring the factory and ask the engine builders about Andy!! Andy helps run Tuscan challenge cars and was also the No 1 mechanic and SHG TVR dealer for many yrs.
How crucial is it to have the service book stamped up? Will using an independant affect the re-sale value? I have my car spannered by a race car prep company who are not a TVR dealer. Should I be asking them to stamp the service book ? I suspect that most Griff owners (including me) keep a file with all bills receipt's old MOT's etc which shows every penny spent on servicing and fixing the normal 
TVR glitches. I agree with Quinny 
my view is that it is not worth spending an arm and a leg with the TVR dealers just to get the book stamped.
>> Edited by VSP90 on Thursday 4th May 09:57
TVR glitches. I agree with Quinny my view is that it is not worth spending an arm and a leg with the TVR dealers just to get the book stamped. >> Edited by VSP90 on Thursday 4th May 09:57
I know we have been here before, but …
Based on experience I would much rather buy, and place a higher value on, a car from a competent enthusiast that has mostly looked after car himself and has a pile of receipts for the bits he used, rather than one with just dealer stamps. Also based on experience I would rather drive a car I have mostly looked after. After employing someone it seems you still have to go round and check that things are tight, changed, fitted etc.
Based on experience I would much rather buy, and place a higher value on, a car from a competent enthusiast that has mostly looked after car himself and has a pile of receipts for the bits he used, rather than one with just dealer stamps. Also based on experience I would rather drive a car I have mostly looked after. After employing someone it seems you still have to go round and check that things are tight, changed, fitted etc.
Not sure David Batty is 'just another dealer'... my experience with him, and a few other independants like Ian @ Middlewich or Shane at SFR is that they actually do put effort into and care about your car, not just an oil change..
It would certainly mean more if you traded back in with a specialist at some point I think..
It would certainly mean more if you traded back in with a specialist at some point I think..
I'm sure David Batty's work is excellent, if somewhat pricier than I was expecting.
I won't go to Fernhursts as I bought the car from them and had a less than satisfactory experience. APM is a possibility
I'm leaning towards getting DB to do the bits I can't/don't fancy doing and doing the rest myself. I realise this will not gain a service stamp, but I can document all the work done (I usually do this anyway, not just with the Griff) to show the work has been carried out. Hopefully this will not detract too much from it's value, or I can find a buyer who is not so blinkered that a stamp is more important than all else.
It will also free up a few hundred quid to enjoy with the car.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Thursday 4th May 20:32
I won't go to Fernhursts as I bought the car from them and had a less than satisfactory experience. APM is a possibility
I'm leaning towards getting DB to do the bits I can't/don't fancy doing and doing the rest myself. I realise this will not gain a service stamp, but I can document all the work done (I usually do this anyway, not just with the Griff) to show the work has been carried out. Hopefully this will not detract too much from it's value, or I can find a buyer who is not so blinkered that a stamp is more important than all else.
It will also free up a few hundred quid to enjoy with the car.
Paul.
>> Edited by B16 RFF on Thursday 4th May 20:32
ring automedon,www.automedon.co.uk ex factory guys very good,worth a phone call???
nemasis said:
ring automedon,www.automedon.co.uk ex factory guys very good,worth a phone call???
Thanks, but I'm in Kent.
Paul.
I've trundled round since we bought Wol, I was perfectly happy to leave him in Joolz' capable hands, but then he decided that track prep was what he wanted to do, so off I went again. After a couple of visits to "others", I've decided that Wol will now be looked after by Paul and Mick at Prestige Performance Cars at Melton Mowbray, the former TMS lads. He's even booked in already for his next service, complete with other work, for October. We're not going to part with Wol, so we want him looked after. I've built enough vehicles to not want to have to do routine stuff on them any more, and I appreciate people with the knowledge and interest in the job entrusted to them. Everybody has to make a living, even mechanics, 
do you really have to screw the final £20 out of them?
If I'm happy with the work that has been done, I'll go back. If not, I'll keep looking.
This is not meant as a criticism of any of the people that have worked on Wol in the past, as I have had generally great service from all of them, but distance away and travelling time does come into it.
I really can't be arsed to spend £100 searching to save a tenner, and then worry about something being missed.
Just my 2p.
>> Edited by mrmaggit on Saturday 6th May 07:24
do you really have to screw the final £20 out of them? If I'm happy with the work that has been done, I'll go back. If not, I'll keep looking.
This is not meant as a criticism of any of the people that have worked on Wol in the past, as I have had generally great service from all of them, but distance away and travelling time does come into it.
I really can't be arsed to spend £100 searching to save a tenner, and then worry about something being missed.
Just my 2p.
>> Edited by mrmaggit on Saturday 6th May 07:24
[quote=Quinny]Lets not forget some of these cars are getting quite old now, is a full dealer or specialist history that important?
My view is, if your not competent, or don't have the time or inclination to do any work yourself, then fine, use the dealers or specialists, most of whome are excellent and have built up reputations over years.
But if you can do it yourself why not?
Personally I get a lot of stisfaction from looking after the car myself, and I can put in the extra effort and time into keep on top of things.
With Quinny on this. The stamp in the book is only as good as the bloke who's done the service. If you find a good'n and you can't do the work yourself then stick with him. But, from the experiences I've had with dealer [and factory] servicing, all for the sake of warranties, I will never be trusting my cars with anyone else again. If it's done by an experienced and enthusiastic owner, I think there is none better. Especially if it's backed up with receipts etc. Even photos [of which I do].
>> Edited by macdeb on Saturday 6th May 18:07
>> Edited by macdeb on Saturday 6th May 18:09
My view is, if your not competent, or don't have the time or inclination to do any work yourself, then fine, use the dealers or specialists, most of whome are excellent and have built up reputations over years.
But if you can do it yourself why not?
Personally I get a lot of stisfaction from looking after the car myself, and I can put in the extra effort and time into keep on top of things.
With Quinny on this. The stamp in the book is only as good as the bloke who's done the service. If you find a good'n and you can't do the work yourself then stick with him. But, from the experiences I've had with dealer [and factory] servicing, all for the sake of warranties, I will never be trusting my cars with anyone else again. If it's done by an experienced and enthusiastic owner, I think there is none better. Especially if it's backed up with receipts etc. Even photos [of which I do].
>> Edited by macdeb on Saturday 6th May 18:07
>> Edited by macdeb on Saturday 6th May 18:09
I can see some really good points on this thread about the benefits/disadvantages between who services the car,and its particularly interesing to me,as i always struggled for years,to find someone i could trust 100%.Just for the record,i now use my local garage,whom i've always trusted implicitly,but are not a TVR specialist,and they follow the std TVR schedule.
As far as i see,theres only one problem with self servicing come re-sale time-how does the prospective buyer know how capable the owner was to service the car?The owner could be the best enthusiast in the world,but could be a mechanicaly inept bafoon,who just thinks he's doing it well and also saving money.People who arent mechanically capable can overtighten or undertighten things,chaff wiring,choose wrong type lubricants or fluids etc etc.This is the problem the prospective buyer faces,he just doesnt know if you are any good.For this reason i still value a garage stamp in the book myself.
As far as i see,theres only one problem with self servicing come re-sale time-how does the prospective buyer know how capable the owner was to service the car?The owner could be the best enthusiast in the world,but could be a mechanicaly inept bafoon,who just thinks he's doing it well and also saving money.People who arent mechanically capable can overtighten or undertighten things,chaff wiring,choose wrong type lubricants or fluids etc etc.This is the problem the prospective buyer faces,he just doesnt know if you are any good.For this reason i still value a garage stamp in the book myself.
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