When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Not being an owner for long i did some research before leaving my blobeye STI with anyone. I use Arden Bridge in Redditch as they are based about 20 mins from where i live and cant fault their work. Prices are reasonable too =
To the OP as Shrek said only take your car to a reputable workshop In the first place or as ZANY said do your work yourself if you have the know how...If You have children you would not send them to a nursery that you did not personally trust and felt unsafe leaving your child there...same applies to most things that are important to you in life.SJ.
Living in the West Midlands I've owned two classic Imprezas in the past, a WRX STi V1 and a WRX STi V6 WRC V-Limited. For the V1 I used a garage in Hinckley which has since closed. They poorly serviced my car and I'm glad they're gone. For the V6 I initially used Foresters in Bilston, which I didn't enjoy visiting (owner smokes whilst working inside customer cars), then Scooby Clinic several times. Overall the work was done well, they were very thorough working on the car, but I had some issues with my old parts going missing following some upgrades. I was wary of test drives down the rough drive too. The issues were sorted out and I've heard of good reviews of them since. I would consider using them for various types of work and parts in the future. They've built many successful track, race and rally cars plus many projects to date, so they seem to be improving.
In the past year I bought a fully caged, track day spec WRX STi Type R V4 V-Limited from Bristol. This was mostly built by Car & Custom Garage in Bristol, so I immediately had it transported there for major upgrades (see photo). After a years work it's almost completely rebuilt to a high standard by Nik, the owner. I can highly recommend him and would trust him completely with road tests. I also have heard many good reviews of TDR, Chevron and RCM, all based in the Midlands and I'll likely be using them in the future too. I plan to work on my car myself a lot but when it comes to very technical stuff I'll surely leave it to the experts.
Alistair
Last edited by Type R Al; Oct 7, 2018 at 09:17 PM.
Living in the West Midlands I've owned two classic Imprezas in the past, a WRX STi V1 and a WRX STi V6 WRC V-Limited. For the V1 I used a garage in Hinckley which has since closed. They poorly serviced my car and I'm glad they're gone. For the V6 I initially used Foresters in Bilston, which I didn't enjoy visiting (owner smokes whilst working inside customer cars), then Scooby Clinic several times. Overall the work was done well, they were very thorough working on the car, but I had some issues with my old parts going missing following some upgrades. I was wary of test drives down the rough drive too. The issues were sorted out and I've heard of good reviews of them since. I would consider using them for various types of work and parts in the future. They've built many successful track, race and rally cars plus many projects to date, so they seem to be improving.
In the past year I bought a fully cage, track day spec WRX STi Type R V4 V-Limited from Bristol. This was mostly built by Car & Custom Garage in Bristol, so I immediately had it transported there for major upgrades (see photo). After a years work it's almost completely rebuilt to a high standard by Nik, the owner. I can highly recommend him and would trust him completely with road tests. I also have heard many good reviews of TDR, Chevron and RCM, all based in the Midlands and I'll likely be using them in the future too. I plan to work on my car myself a lot but when it comes to very technical stuff I'll surely leave it to the experts.
Alistair
was the garage in hinckley called x-spec by any chance?
My cars booked in to Scoobyclinic for next Monday been using them for a good few years now along with RCM,the only other garage I use would be Enginetuner,I’m pretty sure their is a few more good ones around but not ones I could vouch for as I have not used them.SJ.
My cars booked in to Scoobyclinic for next Monday been using them for a good few years now along with RCM,the only other garage I use would be Enginetuner,I’m pretty sure their is a few more good ones around but not ones I could vouch for as I have not used them.SJ.
i live about 1 minute from rcm, just off the triumph island if you know it. ollie is a sound chap and i use them for parts and engine bay pressure wash
i live about 1 minute from rcm, just off the triumph island if you know it. ollie is a sound chap and i use them for parts and engine bay pressure wash
Ollie and his team at RCM are quality they were the first Subaru tuners that I ever used when I purchased my STI along with TSL who’s four wheel laser alignment was the best around.SJ.
2nd time I used a 'Subaru specialist' under recommendation in West Mid's. A disgruntled customer tried to torch the place while my car was in there overnight. Had parts that are expensive to replace removed from my car during an engine build and not returned,when I confronted the owner about it I was threatened with a home visit to sort it out. Ended up with all my working parts sent back to me in shoddy packaging smashed beyond use or sale.
We're not asking ppl not to do their job correctly, we're just making sure our cars are treated in the correct manner without some spanner monkey mistreating it.
Caveat emptor.
And I am saying there are more important things in life than lumps of metal.
With my mechanic he lets me work on the car with him, which is great, although he takes mick out of me when i bring in another exhaust to fit lol
Originally Posted by RobsyUK
this is exactly what I want. Are you local?
i have a mechanic that I know wouldn’t thrash the car around as he’s a family friend.
the downside is when I say things like I want neons fitting he refuses to do it.
or if I ask for gearbox oil to be changed on a 20k car he is reluctant as he says there’s no point.
hes probably right but at time I just want something done no questions.
you could always take your car on the red fuel light so they can’t ‘rag’ kt
much.
tou could also tell them you have a black box fitted for insurance purposes - it’s a bluff but you never know.
was wondering if you’re near Milton Keynes and could install for a fee?
North East unfortunately. I could maybe post a thread on how I've got it installed? Very simple to do, just purchase the correct bits and peices and spend about 20-30 mins installing. It's totally reversible aswell, no damage caused.
I dropped off the Fsti at a main dealer , instead of unscrewing the engine under tray it did unscrew , they cut a hole in the under tray , why i don’t know , i later reapaired it with a bit of aluminium sheet , hole was about 1 foot by 1 foot , plus they broke the plastic catch that holds the bonnet stay , and then they refused to do the job any way , do i trust richard at fb tuning or Len at subaru for you yes i do
I dropped off the Fsti at a main dealer , instead of unscrewing the engine under tray it did unscrew , they cut a hole in the under tray , why i don’t know , i later reapaired it with a bit of aluminium sheet , hole was about 1 foot by 1 foot , plus they broke the plastic catch that holds the bonnet stay , and then they refused to do the job any way , do i trust richard at fb tuning or Len at subaru for you yes i do
WOW that's terrible. My local Subaru Main Stealer Adams were always great with my FSTI. Never had an issue with them. I second Richard @ FB. He's brilliant.
A fair point on the under tray , i only found out some time later and my repair looked ok , they were the only people who had been near it so it was them for sure , i do the servicing myself now other than cambelts
Ah ok, I'm going down the camera route although I did just think they can remove memory card.
Then i'd be asking questions why it's been tampered with it. Not a quick and easy task removing a micro SD card. It's a bit fiddly especially when the camera is in place and you are unfamiliar with the dash cam itself. Likely hood is if you have parking monitor on it will start recording while they are fiddling about trying to remove the card. They can hardly make the micro SD card disappear and if the card gets wiped that even more bizarre (you can still recover the deleted files if you know how ) and more questions should be asked.
Then i'd be asking questions why it's been tampered with it. Not a quick and easy task removing a micro SD card. It's a bit fiddly especially when the camera is in place and you are unfamiliar with the dash cam itself. Likely hood is if you have parking monitor on it will start recording while they are fiddling about trying to remove the card. They can hardly make the micro SD card disappear and if the card gets wiped that even more bizarre (you can still recover the deleted files if you know how ) and more questions should be asked.
I don't mind, as long as the garage is trusted. MOTs are done at the place at the end of the road, so they would have to drive past my office to do anything with it.
Mine's at TDR now, although I had to trailer it there for it's service as the immobiliser has died. I'm at work. This is purely down to this forum, as that many people being happy with them generally means they're OK.
I use a local company called Stealth Racing for my VW/Audi work. I've known the owner for many years, and have no problem leaving my car with them.
Blimey. Is Vince still at stealth racing ? Used to take my MK1 to him . Lol. I use mark at TDR all the time for my work . Trust them 100 percent .
ultimately if i didn't trust a garage (or anyone else for that matter) to not treat my vehicle or possessions correctly then it wouldn't grace there premises at all............
Even one mechanic I know, top guy and completely trust, but he's not very careful. Eg fitted one brand new exhaust for me. While looking at one end of exhaust let's the end of the tail pipe rub on the garage floor. Wasn't too happy, just does lots of things like that abit slap dash.
So wouldn't leave my Subaru with him.
Originally Posted by stockcar
ultimately if i didn't trust a garage (or anyone else for that matter) to not treat my vehicle or possessions correctly then it wouldn't grace there premises at all............
) and more questions should be asked.
