Servicing - Ford v.s. TVR v.s. DIY

[M@H]

I have an S2 (well 1.5) which has not been serviced for some time and with 38,000 on the clock could do with one.

a TVR specialist such as Fenhurst will charge over £300 for a service (see other posts), which I assume is on the same lines as most cars.. oil and filter change, sparkplugs, airfilter, valve adjustment.

I have a long established local Ford garage who maintain my Puma, and as the servicable parts of the S are the Ford Engine etc. I'm thinking that it would be more cost efficient to have them service the car (and convenient). It will cost me more like £100-£150 and they are used to dealing with that engine anyway, so is this going to be detrimental to my Serice History, I don't think so but I'd like some opinions.

My other concern is that there may be some "characteristics" of the TVR setup of the engine that a seasoned Ford mechanic might not know about and that there may be some major thing I haven't thought of..

DIY is what I'm used to, but I think if I was a future buyer of an S I would want to see something on paper rather than ust be told by the seller that its been cherished like a member of the family.. honest. (not that I'm thinking of selling)

(Also, that Oil filter looks like a right git to get off )

Any thoughts all.
Cheers
Matt.

[M@H]

Have Bible, Have spanners, have ability, but also have got basically fsh.. so am in two minds. As a future buyer wouldn't you want to see a stamp though....???

P.S. this isn't just your bog standard "monkeys with spanners" ford dealer I've got in mind, it is a family firm with a background in ford motorsport who happen to be a Ford maindealer..

oooo.. can't decide..

Matt

[M@H]

So basically the votes are a NO to the TVR Service and a mixed bag on the Ford v.s. DIY theory depending on quality of Ford garage, and perceived risk to Service History on 13 year old car...

all good stuff, thanks all for the comments so far..
Cheers
Matt.

[M@H]

What a fantastic range of answers, thanks loads to all of you for posting...

So now we are in the ralms of:

Preffered: Use a Specialist. (once you've found a good one)
Other option: DIY
Last Chance if your lazy: Ford Garage

I think one of the interesting points, and one that I hadn't realy thought of was "..the low cost has meant that they have become available to a group of owners that are willing to DIY". Because, we (people like me) have bought a "cheap" car, and are then striving to give it value (a.k.a make sure it doesn't loose any), and if that is our secondary goal (after driving it ) then the formula is a simple one.

What is the perceived loss in value to the car if it doesn't have a TVR specialist history v.s increased cost spent in servicing from the specialist.

So, lets say services every 6 months at a specialist £300 a go.. £600 p.a
Against, DIY service parts £ 80 a go (please correct me if I'm off the mark).. £160 p.a

So, if I own the car for 3 years it's cost (excluding tyres, and miscelaneous) £1800 for the specialist, or £480 for DIY. Saving £1320.

So 15 year old S1.5 for sale 2004.. am I going to get £1300 less for the car cos' its got DIY history..?
(and perhaps the answer is yes..???)

Cheers
Matt.




Edited by M@H on Monday 14th January 11:52

[M@H]

oo.. I think thats been done elsewhere anyway.. what about the perceived de-valuation of £1300 though.. any thoughts.

Cheers
Mat.