Peninsula TVR servicing
Discussion
I did promise Reeso and others that I would report on my service deal at Peninsula, so here it is....
I wanted to get my annual service & waxoyl somewhere with a good reputation for caring, loving TVRs etc but not the franchised garage fees (if I could afford them, I would probably be driving something bigger than an S3!)
Only good comments heard about Peninsula, and their website offered a 'Winter Special' service including B&B for two nights and a loan car (non-TVR
)all in for £350 (12k service).
It's a long way for me, but a couple of days in Devon can't be bad so I booked it in.
THE GRIPE
Unfortunately, due to a cascade of cock-ups, it all went wrong. The old website linked to PH (now changed!) advertised this deal, and their old address in Collumpton.... so I called from their old address and asked why they weren't there. Two motorway junctions later and I arrived mid-afternoon Friday in Exeter. Saturday I came to pick up the car. It had been waxoyled, and had a..... 'Winter Check' OOPS! I think I can manage to check the antifreeze level for myself, and would not drive 500 mile round trip for this - I pointed this out and sarcastic remarks and accusations flew.
THE PRAISE
Once I was believed, and the staff realised they had mad a 'monumental f
k up' sic, they did pull out all the stops to rectify this.
It was too late to service my car late Saturday afternoon, and there was only one mechanic and one salesman still there, so they let me keep the loan car (Pug 206
) and I returned to Hertfordshire, albeit a tad pi55ed off.
My wife was in Bristol on Wednesday, so we agreed to swap back then. She got home very late, so I couldn't take it out until last night.
THE VERDICT
I've been tearing up my exhausts on every last bump in the road, which may be explained in part with the need for changing engine mounts (bd job) - they used Transit ones as the TVR ones are a bit soft. They also welded up the down pipes and box, and changed one of the manifold gaskets (another bd job - studs sheer off) - Now the pipes pop and bang away on every overrun, now that all the drafts have been sealed - fantastic. A gaitor change, squeaky door hinge fix, leaky rear brake cylinders change, and MOT (passed), and it's all sorted for another year. The CO was out, and now I've noticed that the car runs much better, especially from cold.
I had been thinking about V8s recently, but one drive around the bypass told me I am very happy with what I have
RECOMMENDATION?
If I am happy in the end - was it necessary to tell all about the troubles? Well, yes - it happened, and more important: it's not the normal in and out servicing which matters. Things do go wrong from time to time and could be your worst nightmare, but when the garage exonerates themselves well in this situation, I think that is better recommendation than simply a good service.
The mess ups don't happen every time (or they wouldn't still be there!) But Peninsula showed that their customer service shone through.
Richard Smith MD sorted the problems personally and updatd me regularly. He also made sure I went away happy, by discounting my bill as much as he could. The extra work was time consuming, and 21 hours were logged on my car, but the bill came to £570+vat, which I think is not bad at all.
Would I go back - well if a similar garage was closer to home, I would have gone there in the first place, but I feel their reputation has possibly improved to my mind, so yes I would!
I wanted to get my annual service & waxoyl somewhere with a good reputation for caring, loving TVRs etc but not the franchised garage fees (if I could afford them, I would probably be driving something bigger than an S3!)
Only good comments heard about Peninsula, and their website offered a 'Winter Special' service including B&B for two nights and a loan car (non-TVR
)all in for £350 (12k service). It's a long way for me, but a couple of days in Devon can't be bad so I booked it in.
THE GRIPE
Unfortunately, due to a cascade of cock-ups, it all went wrong. The old website linked to PH (now changed!) advertised this deal, and their old address in Collumpton.... so I called from their old address and asked why they weren't there. Two motorway junctions later and I arrived mid-afternoon Friday in Exeter. Saturday I came to pick up the car. It had been waxoyled, and had a..... 'Winter Check' OOPS! I think I can manage to check the antifreeze level for myself, and would not drive 500 mile round trip for this - I pointed this out and sarcastic remarks and accusations flew.
THE PRAISE
Once I was believed, and the staff realised they had mad a 'monumental f
k up' sic, they did pull out all the stops to rectify this. It was too late to service my car late Saturday afternoon, and there was only one mechanic and one salesman still there, so they let me keep the loan car (Pug 206
) and I returned to Hertfordshire, albeit a tad pi55ed off. My wife was in Bristol on Wednesday, so we agreed to swap back then. She got home very late, so I couldn't take it out until last night.
THE VERDICT
I've been tearing up my exhausts on every last bump in the road, which may be explained in part with the need for changing engine mounts (b
d job) - they used Transit ones as the TVR ones are a bit soft. They also welded up the down pipes and box, and changed one of the manifold gaskets (another bd job - studs sheer off) - Now the pipes pop and bang away on every overrun, now that all the drafts have been sealed - fantastic. A gaitor change, squeaky door hinge fix, leaky rear brake cylinders change, and MOT (passed), and it's all sorted for another year. The CO was out, and now I've noticed that the car runs much better, especially from cold. I had been thinking about V8s recently, but one drive around the bypass told me I am very happy with what I have
RECOMMENDATION?
If I am happy in the end - was it necessary to tell all about the troubles? Well, yes - it happened, and more important: it's not the normal in and out servicing which matters. Things do go wrong from time to time and could be your worst nightmare, but when the garage exonerates themselves well in this situation, I think that is better recommendation than simply a good service.
The mess ups don't happen every time (or they wouldn't still be there!) But Peninsula showed that their customer service shone through.
Richard Smith MD sorted the problems personally and updatd me regularly. He also made sure I went away happy, by discounting my bill as much as he could. The extra work was time consuming, and 21 hours were logged on my car, but the bill came to £570+vat, which I think is not bad at all.
Would I go back - well if a similar garage was closer to home, I would have gone there in the first place, but I feel their reputation has possibly improved to my mind, so yes I would!
206 your lucky last time i had a 3 cylinder corsa !!!
You often only find out how good a place is when somthing goes tits up, and i guess your story kind of proves it.
They helped me out quite a lot in my hour of need.
I had a mtg in north devon, but the chimaera blew a water pump gasket on the way and left me stranded at a service station. i called peninsula who were busy as usual. they sent out the recover truck, picked me up. lent me the corsa, and i went down to newton abbot to stay with a business partner and returned at lunch time the following day to pick the car up with a new water pump. Excellent considering they were already flat out with cars...
the cost was good to, the parts a few hours labour and the cost of the fuel to pick me up...
not bad expecially when you can pay a few hundred quid for motorway recovery....
G
You often only find out how good a place is when somthing goes tits up, and i guess your story kind of proves it.
They helped me out quite a lot in my hour of need.
I had a mtg in north devon, but the chimaera blew a water pump gasket on the way and left me stranded at a service station. i called peninsula who were busy as usual. they sent out the recover truck, picked me up. lent me the corsa, and i went down to newton abbot to stay with a business partner and returned at lunch time the following day to pick the car up with a new water pump. Excellent considering they were already flat out with cars...
the cost was good to, the parts a few hours labour and the cost of the fuel to pick me up...
not bad expecially when you can pay a few hundred quid for motorway recovery....
G
...and more - not a good start, but they sorted it well, and transformed the car (also adjusted steering bushes). It handles better, goes better, stops better, and SOUNDS better. I really feel that my money was well spent, rather than just an annual chore.
And I've literally just had a call from the MD to check I'm happy - told him to read the thread - If that's not customer service, what is?
And I've literally just had a call from the MD to check I'm happy - told him to read the thread - If that's not customer service, what is?
S3 Kieran said:
...and more - not a good start, but they sorted it well, and transformed the car (also adjusted steering bushes). It handles better, goes better, stops better, and SOUNDS better. I really feel that my money was well spent, rather than just an annual chore.
And I've literally just had a call from the MD to check I'm happy - told him to read the thread - If that's not customer service, what is?
IMHO they've pretty much done all they can to rectify what happened. Good on 'em!
....//P//I had a similar experience with them - and I've had TVR's long enought to know that unexpected problems do happen on TVR's that sometimes take longer to fix.
I was and am still very happy with their levels of service / enthusiasm etc.. I do however think that
being cheaper than most means that they get some
older cars (like mine) that can leave they open to
the unexpected problems that we both saw.
But as others have said here - a real test of a good
garage is how they handle the situation.
They did very well in my book.
I think I learnt that perhaps it pays not to go to far
from home - as when the unexpected does happen then it
will be less inconvienient.
The above is not meant to be a bitch - Peninsular - Top marks !!!
I was and am still very happy with their levels of service / enthusiasm etc.. I do however think that
being cheaper than most means that they get some
older cars (like mine) that can leave they open to
the unexpected problems that we both saw.
But as others have said here - a real test of a good
garage is how they handle the situation.
They did very well in my book.
I think I learnt that perhaps it pays not to go to far
from home - as when the unexpected does happen then it
will be less inconvienient.
The above is not meant to be a bitch - Peninsular - Top marks !!!
Just to add my 10p's worth . Peninsula restored Mrs H's 400 , and bailed me out of trouble with the SEAC , and prior to that looked after the Chimaera for 18mths . Top bunch of guys , and when there are problems ,they go out of their way to put them right . They have often stayed outside normal hours to get me back on the road to Cheshire .
Although Mrs H and I have other reasons to be in that part of the world , would still go there regardless .
............ and no Mr Smith , that doesn't mean you can put your prices up !!!!
Although Mrs H and I have other reasons to be in that part of the world , would still go there regardless .
............ and no Mr Smith , that doesn't mean you can put your prices up !!!!
After reading this thread and various others over the last 3 months. I am decided on bringing my Griff 500 over from Jersey this winter to get Peninsula to upgrade suspension/shocks (Nitrons),brakes,de cat and some ACT kit for the engine along with a service and waxoyled. Only emailed them this morning and have already had a prompt response.
So far so good.
So far so good.
I can't compare them to any other TVR shop, coz i took my car there for check up after i bought it and its never been anywhere else since!
in 3 years they have serviced it (twice a year), modified it (shocks, cams, wheels) and fixed it (afore mentioned cam, some niggles) and have NEVER given anything other than superb service.
I'd recommend them to anyone as they seem to be able to do just about anything.
in 3 years they have serviced it (twice a year), modified it (shocks, cams, wheels) and fixed it (afore mentioned cam, some niggles) and have NEVER given anything other than superb service.
I'd recommend them to anyone as they seem to be able to do just about anything.
gary judd said:
they have all ways serviced my cerb with no problems.they once stayed till 10.30 pm to sort out a missfire . they have put a new engine in . I can only recomend them they are very good even with any after sales problems not like some .
gary judd
F*** me Gary thats dedication, must be a 5-6 hour drive from Kent
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