Service history...........
Discussion
.....is it worth it ? Just wondering, ive just had a main dealer service which i have carried out annually if its done 6k or if its done 3k.
I know a few posters on here have their cars for sale, when the punters come round do they prefer main dealer service or are they happy with indies, and would a car with an aproved tvr service record carry a higher resale value than an indies.
I know a few posters on here have their cars for sale, when the punters come round do they prefer main dealer service or are they happy with indies, and would a car with an aproved tvr service record carry a higher resale value than an indies.
gazzab said:
It all depends !!!
Very true!
If you are planning on keeping the car for a while I would think an indie would be your best bet.
However if planning on selling soon I would say go for the TVR service history as I would imagine many potential buyers would feel more comfortable withh a TVR history.
Then again I'd say most TVR enthusiasts and PHers would apreciate that an indie is just as good!
I'm actually pondering over the same question as mines due a service in a couple of months and has full TVR history so far.
mickk said:
Touching Cloth said:
Personally would probably prefer to see any of the well known indie's in the book over a lot of main dealers. 
Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 31st October 14:18
I can understand that but would a potential first time cerb owner recognise a good indie ?
First time Cerb owner might well come from within (i.e. a current TVR owner) so equally you could well get the benefit, indeed yes I suppose a fresh to TVR person might welcome the Dealer Stamp. At the end of the day I think it is easier not to choose your fettler on a perceived notion of what the next buyer might like but what you feel happy with at the time.
Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 31st October 14:38
also - dont forget the cost differential.
For example APM = £38 ph
Some dealers are closer to £90 ph?
So the extra labour costs pa could easily cost you £1K pa (if not more).
PLUS dont forget that with an indie you KNOW the persons Cerbera ability and track record. There are plenty of dealers who have not got (many or any!) long standing cerbera (or TVR!) mechanics. Then again not all the indies are 'experts'. So as well as saving on pure labour 'unit' costs you also gain on the speed at which they can do things. They can all source you parts from other suppliers etc....
I reckon APM has saved me about £5K over the yrs with my 2 cerbs.
I believe that APM is a selling point to knowledgable punters. If I was selling on Autotrader (god forbid) I would ensure that I advertised it as serviced by the top cerbera garage (or something like that).
For example APM = £38 ph
Some dealers are closer to £90 ph?
So the extra labour costs pa could easily cost you £1K pa (if not more).
PLUS dont forget that with an indie you KNOW the persons Cerbera ability and track record. There are plenty of dealers who have not got (many or any!) long standing cerbera (or TVR!) mechanics. Then again not all the indies are 'experts'. So as well as saving on pure labour 'unit' costs you also gain on the speed at which they can do things. They can all source you parts from other suppliers etc....
I reckon APM has saved me about £5K over the yrs with my 2 cerbs.
I believe that APM is a selling point to knowledgable punters. If I was selling on Autotrader (god forbid) I would ensure that I advertised it as serviced by the top cerbera garage (or something like that).
When I finally sell my car I'll let the buyer look underneath it on my ramp.
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
Julian64 said:
When I finally sell my car I'll let the buyer look underneath it on my ramp.
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
I take it that you carry out your own servicing then, if thats the case i would be intertested to know what you actually do apart from oil change, fluid levels and the like.
Also what do the garages do for their money
Depends on how many miles are on the clock and how much the car is worth. Once a car goes over 50k miles, I don't think a full dealer SH is going to make much difference on the resale value.
Again, if the car was bought as one of these cheapy specials that are popping up all over for less than £10k, is a SH going to bump the resale value up any?
For these types of cars, it's condition is what will dictate the price, not a stamp in a book.
Again, if the car was bought as one of these cheapy specials that are popping up all over for less than £10k, is a SH going to bump the resale value up any?
For these types of cars, it's condition is what will dictate the price, not a stamp in a book.
mickk said:
Julian64 said:
When I finally sell my car I'll let the buyer look underneath it on my ramp.
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
I'll also invite him to bring along any other car he's interested in and also look at the underneath of that on my ramp.
If he's interested in buying a Cerb I think he'll be interested to do that. If he is that'll pretty much sell my car, especially when he sees what a normal dealer history is worth in terms of the underneath of a car.
If he wants to buy a car on the basis of a service history then pretty much he won't need to even come and see me. Cos I don't have one, so it'll be a quick telephone call to sort him out
I take it that you carry out your own servicing then, if thats the case i would be intertested to know what you actually do apart from oil change, fluid levels and the like.
Also what do the garages do for their money
Last service was oil change, plugs, fluids (brake and steering inc), cams off, tappets reshiming, cam timing, throttles rebalanced. A/C belt, coolant pipework removed de gunked, repainted and replaced. No pads needed but pistons reworked and greased, adjusted steering rack tension. Rear exhaust box rewelded, and hanging readjusted with new bolts. POR15 the underside.
Mainly though it was just checking all the rubber joints, putting grease in the CV's etc.
Took about a week on and off. I tend to build up a list every so often. Keeps me happy.
There is a list in the manual of service shedule but most is common sense, wheel not falling off 'tick'
mickk said:
Touching Cloth said:
Personally would probably prefer to see any of the well known indie's in the book over a lot of main dealers.
Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 31st October 14:18
I can understand that but would a potential first time cerb owner recognise a good indie ?
I would argue that if a first time Cerb owner had'nt done enough previous research to understand who out there is a recogniseable good indie, they don't deserve such a well looked after car.
Basically a Cerb is a pretty straight forward car, so I cant see the point going to a main dealer, a good indie is half the price, and they probably know twice as much about the Cerb. My car is getting the clutch done right now, gearbox out, pretty sarightforward stuff, why pay £90 an hour!
Open the bonnet of my Cerb and I can see an engine, and all its components. Open the bonnet of my 12 year old Honda (3.2 V6) and you cant see anything, it's crammed in, my old mans 1.4 jazz is even worse ! I wouldnt know where to start, and its the same with all new cars, they are the ones that should go to a manin dealers because they full of electo-trickery and computers!
Like a previous poster said - Anyone who is looking into cerns should have researched them, so they will know a good Indie is better than a TVR dealership - it's not as though the Dealership has excellent factory back up either is it?
Open the bonnet of my Cerb and I can see an engine, and all its components. Open the bonnet of my 12 year old Honda (3.2 V6) and you cant see anything, it's crammed in, my old mans 1.4 jazz is even worse ! I wouldnt know where to start, and its the same with all new cars, they are the ones that should go to a manin dealers because they full of electo-trickery and computers!
Like a previous poster said - Anyone who is looking into cerns should have researched them, so they will know a good Indie is better than a TVR dealership - it's not as though the Dealership has excellent factory back up either is it?
What I have been doing is taking photos of the chassis as I have stripped and recoated it so that in the event I ever have to sell it i can show exaclty what was done.
IMO a full package of information, including receipts etc on a car backed up with photos will give a prospective purchaser much more comfort than a main dealer history
IMO a full package of information, including receipts etc on a car backed up with photos will give a prospective purchaser much more comfort than a main dealer history
Touching Cloth said:
Personally would probably prefer to see any of the well known indie's in the book over a lot of main dealers.
Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 31st October 14:18
Same here, but i'd even go as far as saying, if certain 'stealers' stamps were the most current and none of my 'prefered' indies I'd leave well alone. There are also some not so good indies. Before you even go and view a car I'd ask about the service history and whos stamps were in the book.
That said there are some superb and very well respected main dealers, the hard bit is knowing which ones.
cooky said:
Touching Cloth said:
Personally would probably prefer to see any of the well known indie's in the book over a lot of main dealers.
Edited by Touching Cloth on Tuesday 31st October 14:18
Same here, but i'd even go as far as saying, if certain 'stealers' stamps were the most current and none of my 'prefered' indies I'd leave well alone. There are also some not so good indies. Before you even go and view a car I'd ask about the service history and whos stamps were in the book.
That said there are some superb and very well respected main dealers, the hard bit is knowing which ones.
But it is impossible to work out who the bad ones are!
Every indie has a fan base.
I honestly don't see how a service history even from an indie tells you what you want to know.
You tell the indie what to do. I've seen MANY cerbs with a full service history even from an indie with rust holes in the frame underneath the car! exhaust hanging on by a bit of bent rust, leak this that and everything else onto the floor.
I've seen a speed six after a rebuild leak oil from the sump plug and the sump plug loose!
Its not the indie's fault he's there to make a living and do the service you tell him to do. For stuff like the sump plug possibly who'll get upset with the dealer, but the dealer could easily say its worked loose since being tightened. You don't expect the dealer indie or anyone else to do preventative stuff you havn't even asked them to do and then to present you a bill? I mean I ask you all before the oil spring problem came to light on this forum how many of you were actually getting them changed in a routine service?
Also the indie might say, hey your undercoats pitted, exhausts hanging off or diff's leaking by the way, or your tappets probably need doing but the tappet service is in six months and its not on this service, but just cos he says that and stamps your book doesn't mean you're going to get it done does it?
I WOULD NEVER BUY A CAR NOW WITHOUT FIRST PUTTING IT ON A RAMP AFTER ITS BEEN DRIVEN.
I rekon these rob ingleby types who check the cars out must do this or at least take a portable ramp with them. The service history for me rates on a par with the shineyness of the paintwork. Fun to look at and possibly to be used to beat the price down but not a serious indictation of the cars worth.
You tell the indie what to do. I've seen MANY cerbs with a full service history even from an indie with rust holes in the frame underneath the car! exhaust hanging on by a bit of bent rust, leak this that and everything else onto the floor.
I've seen a speed six after a rebuild leak oil from the sump plug and the sump plug loose!
Its not the indie's fault he's there to make a living and do the service you tell him to do. For stuff like the sump plug possibly who'll get upset with the dealer, but the dealer could easily say its worked loose since being tightened. You don't expect the dealer indie or anyone else to do preventative stuff you havn't even asked them to do and then to present you a bill? I mean I ask you all before the oil spring problem came to light on this forum how many of you were actually getting them changed in a routine service?
Also the indie might say, hey your undercoats pitted, exhausts hanging off or diff's leaking by the way, or your tappets probably need doing but the tappet service is in six months and its not on this service, but just cos he says that and stamps your book doesn't mean you're going to get it done does it?
I WOULD NEVER BUY A CAR NOW WITHOUT FIRST PUTTING IT ON A RAMP AFTER ITS BEEN DRIVEN.
I rekon these rob ingleby types who check the cars out must do this or at least take a portable ramp with them. The service history for me rates on a par with the shineyness of the paintwork. Fun to look at and possibly to be used to beat the price down but not a serious indictation of the cars worth.
Julian64 said:
I honestly don't see how a service history even from an indie tells you what you want to know.
You tell the indie what to do. I've seen MANY cerbs with a full service history even from an indie with rust holes in the frame underneath the car! exhaust hanging on by a bit of bent rust, leak this that and everything else onto the floor.
You tell the indie what to do. I've seen MANY cerbs with a full service history even from an indie with rust holes in the frame underneath the car! exhaust hanging on by a bit of bent rust, leak this that and everything else onto the floor.
Mate, if the Indie or Dealer is worth his/there salt, they will advise what is required and when. If they don't then you have gone to the wrong place, if they do and you ignore, then it's down to you.
There is of course customer loyalty but in most cases any buisness is only as good as it's last job, if you are treated fairly and honestly you will return if you think not then it's time to look around.
That said though if it were my signiture that was to be applied to a certificate or such, and the customer had ignored the previous advisories, I wouldn't do the work in the first place. Quality costs, but nothing compared to the concequences that can arrise from running a false budget.
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