1 year on...service due, plus some jobs...who to use?
Discussion
Well I'm approaching the end of the first year of ownership of my 97' 4.0 Chimaera and boy has it flown by! I had a 12,000 service done plus some essential stuff by Leven's a year ago when I bought the car (they were the nearest to my buyer and did the inspection for me) and they made some recommendations that were not immediate but will probably need sorting out this time at the same time as the service.
These include:
Change drive belt at next service - is this a pricey job?
Brake Discs getting worn - basic stuff here
Radiator badly corroded with fins falling out, but not leaking and no cooling issues over the summer - possible replacement or leave alone?
Minor leak from sump seal - cheap enough
Nothing too serious there...maybe the radiator could be left, it seems to be working OK! Being a mechanical numpty what I need is a good recommendation to get these jobs done, including the service.
I live in the Midlands and I know costs can vary between TVR dealers and Indies but what I want to make sure is that I am going to get good value for money and good service...for that I would even consider going outside the Midlands, my OH lives in Cheshire so would consider anyone there, any recommendations?
I know David Geralds (who are the closest to me and have repaired a broken throttle linkage for me) and then you have the likes of TVR Power (pricey?), Top Gear Automotive, Neil Garner and Sportmotive. If anyone could recommend anyone else who I should consider using or could recommend one of the above it would be appreciated.
Some things I've noticed:
According to this months Sprint Automedon are still offering 10% off service prices plus an extra 10% off for TVRCC members and they'll throw in a Waxoyl - which I could probably do with!! Trouble is they're in Blackpool!
Sportmotive seem competitive for servicing and include standard brake & disc overhaul for £380, they also can do chassis treatment - both of which I need.
Thanks guys
These include:
Change drive belt at next service - is this a pricey job?
Brake Discs getting worn - basic stuff here
Radiator badly corroded with fins falling out, but not leaking and no cooling issues over the summer - possible replacement or leave alone?
Minor leak from sump seal - cheap enough
Nothing too serious there...maybe the radiator could be left, it seems to be working OK! Being a mechanical numpty what I need is a good recommendation to get these jobs done, including the service.
I live in the Midlands and I know costs can vary between TVR dealers and Indies but what I want to make sure is that I am going to get good value for money and good service...for that I would even consider going outside the Midlands, my OH lives in Cheshire so would consider anyone there, any recommendations?
I know David Geralds (who are the closest to me and have repaired a broken throttle linkage for me) and then you have the likes of TVR Power (pricey?), Top Gear Automotive, Neil Garner and Sportmotive. If anyone could recommend anyone else who I should consider using or could recommend one of the above it would be appreciated.
Some things I've noticed:
According to this months Sprint Automedon are still offering 10% off service prices plus an extra 10% off for TVRCC members and they'll throw in a Waxoyl - which I could probably do with!! Trouble is they're in Blackpool!
Sportmotive seem competitive for servicing and include standard brake & disc overhaul for £380, they also can do chassis treatment - both of which I need.
Thanks guys
mrcosmos said:
Hi,try Ian at TorqueRVT in middlewich,ex TVR main dealer.Excellent work and prices.Regards,Dave.
Thats where i would take it if i were in your position.Over the years i have tried many places,and some of them are mentioned on here.With regards to your list of jobs,i would still do the rad,prevention being far better than cure,and it doesnt sound long for this world,which could mean inconvenience at the least,particularly heading into summer.My garage would be embarassed to charge the labour for changing the drive belt by the way(2 mins).
nemasis said:
blueyonder you have mail 
Thanks for the e-mail Dave Can anyone else recommend someone nearer to me in the Midlands.....already aware of DG's, Sportmotive, Top Gear Automotive, Neil Garner & TVR Power? My problem is unless I use someone near to my girlfriends house in Northwich such as Torque RVT(so she can pick me up/drop me off to collect the car) who I only see at weekends, it needs to be someone close to me in Redditch that I can get to easily enough and who are reasonably priced i.e. reasonable taxi distance for example.
Thanks again guys for your help
How far are you from M1, Junction 13.
Allon White Sports cars have done my Lotus Elan for some years and more recently my 500 Chimaera.
I have always been impressed out by their helpfulness, knowledge and fairness on pricing.
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/
Allon White Sports cars have done my Lotus Elan for some years and more recently my 500 Chimaera.
I have always been impressed out by their helpfulness, knowledge and fairness on pricing.
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/
s5tuart said:
How far are you from M1, Junction 13.
Allon White Sports cars have done my Lotus Elan for some years and more recently my 500 Chimaera.
I have always been impressed out by their helpfulness, knowledge and fairness on pricing.
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/
Too far...but thanks anyway Allon White Sports cars have done my Lotus Elan for some years and more recently my 500 Chimaera.
I have always been impressed out by their helpfulness, knowledge and fairness on pricing.
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/
If you want good proper servicing, you have to face up to the fact that you may have to travel. Having said that, Sportmotive will collect and deliver, or will collect/drop you at the station. I travel from Bristol to have my car serviced there and highly recommend Ian at Sportmotive.
Thanks again guys....I'm beginning to narrow it down to 2 or 3 and am going to have to call them all and decide how much travelling/train journeys I want to do 
An added factor will be who can offer the best value on additional stuff over the service. I am considering having the following done before the summer such as brakes (new pads & discs), poss new radiator and the chassis might ready to be treated (prevention cheaper in the long run than cure).
I notice that Sportmotive seem to offer a thorough 'body on' chassis treatment. Anyone had it done by them and is it pricey?
Also is it worth getting upgraded brake pads/discs over standard ones (Sportmotive are offering £380 plus VAT for standard discs/pads all round) if I don't plan to take the car on the track - apart from on my Ride Drive course. I'll mainly be hooning around on public roads so I'm not sure of the benefit of spending shed loads on these upgraded anchors, apart from the fact they can look good?
Finally, does anyone know how much a standard radiator would cost fitted?
Cheers
An added factor will be who can offer the best value on additional stuff over the service. I am considering having the following done before the summer such as brakes (new pads & discs), poss new radiator and the chassis might ready to be treated (prevention cheaper in the long run than cure).
I notice that Sportmotive seem to offer a thorough 'body on' chassis treatment. Anyone had it done by them and is it pricey?
Also is it worth getting upgraded brake pads/discs over standard ones (Sportmotive are offering £380 plus VAT for standard discs/pads all round) if I don't plan to take the car on the track - apart from on my Ride Drive course. I'll mainly be hooning around on public roads so I'm not sure of the benefit of spending shed loads on these upgraded anchors, apart from the fact they can look good?
Finally, does anyone know how much a standard radiator would cost fitted?
Cheers
A lot of people have said good things to me about Horizon Motorspot in the past who are reasonably close to you (Cradley Heath, J3 M5) but I've not used them myself. Top Gear Automotive had nice & tidy new facilities when I popped in whilst passing and they had a lad cleaning the inside of a Cerbs wheels that were off whilst it was being serviced. If they're as thorough with the rest of the car it could be a good sign?
Personally I'll give Neil Garner a massive thumbs up for his service, but he's slightly further for you to travel I guess? Hope this helps?
Personally I'll give Neil Garner a massive thumbs up for his service, but he's slightly further for you to travel I guess? Hope this helps?
blueyonder said:
Can anyone else recommend someone nearer to me in the Midlands.....already aware of DG's, Sportmotive, Top Gear Automotive, Neil Garner & TVR Power?
I've not used him before, but I'm having the discs & pads on my car replaced by Neil Garner next month.The chaps in the TVR Car Club Cotswold Three Counties region http://www.tvrcc-c3c.co.uk/ have used (and recommended) Mr Garner many times in the past - if you're a TVRCC member, he gives a discount on his labour charges.
Edited by chim666 on Thursday 17th January 19:25
chim666 said:
blueyonder said:
Can anyone else recommend someone nearer to me in the Midlands.....already aware of DG's, Sportmotive, Top Gear Automotive, Neil Garner & TVR Power?
I've not used him before, but I'm having the discs & pads on my car replaced by Neil Garner next month.The chaps in the TVR Car Club Cotswold Three Counties region http://www.tvrcc-c3c.co.uk/ have used (and recommended) Mr Garner many times in the past - if you're a TVRCC member, he gives a discount on his labour charges.
Edited by chim666 on Thursday 17th January 19:25
If you don't mind me asking what did Neil quote you for the brakes and are you having standard discs/pad or are you upgrading? PM me of you prefer.
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