Mark Barrett

Guys,

Help please.

MY98 Turbo bought from Bell and Colvil (only because they had a Sonic Blue one from Northern Ireland)

Coming up to the first service in my ownership and I have two choices: Bell and Colvil (on my way to work) or Sparshatts in Hampshire (quite close to home)

Previously I would have said B&C as they have quite a long history in decent cars, Lotus, Alfa, Subaru etc. but I have recently seen some negative stuff on the BBS about them

Any advice? Especially anyone with experience of Sparshatts for servicing

Cheers

Area 52 Autosport

Hi Mark

ANy negative stuff will have been on the sales side I am sure.

I find the servicing and parts department first rate. This is my experiance of course. It is always nice to have a really clean car back!!

Laters

Ben

Sheridan

Haven't used their service as the sales was so bad.

ChrisE

I have had 3 services and a warranty job done at Sparshatts.
The "price is right" 'cos its certainly a cheap place for servicing.
But beware. The service, all of it, is pretty poor.
The warranty work was as follows, which is very typical for all customers having sat in their reception for hours:
- problem with wind noise from window, can you fix it? No problem wheel it in soon. Do you want to look at it first to order parts? Nope just bring it in.
- we've found the problem, but need to order a part. Oh great, but I agree to bring it back. Can I order a paint stick? No problem pick it up when you come back.
{I then exit to find my window switch mount broken where "mechanic" couldn't get it out properly, the trim ripped and fixing cover scratched where he took the trim off with a blunt instrument. Can't go on as this got rather upsetting....}
- here's the car for the door work and the new parts where you damaged it. What damage sir? {this is all getting very predictable} Later...New parts fitted sir, all fixed. And the paint stick? What paint stick sir? (I give up at this point)
On inspection, wind noise fixed. New window switch in (they had forgotten to order one so removed one from some poor sods new car, someone out there has my broken one no doubt).
- do I need to sign something to say you did the work? No that's fine sir. {Question to anyone that knows, is this true? I really suspect that all this went down on warranty and over half of it was their fault. I was thinking about ringing Subaru to find out what was claimed?)

Its all a bit like a comedy and the same is true for my other visits.
IMHO.

Not sure where you live but if you can make it, follow the M27 a bit further down to Chaplegate at Ferndown nr Bournemouth (30 minutes extra tops and fun road when m'way ends).
The dealer there is first rate for everything, but then they are a Porche main dealer (wow, best part of 40 super cars and 20 or so super Scoobies). They have been known to do deals on service costs as well...
Always have peace of mind here and off there for my 30,000 service.

ChrisE

Oh, and I forgot to say...
After waiting for the warranty work I asked for an update. They said they couldn't find my car so I'd have to wait.
Yikes!!!
Pressed a bit further, surely you must know where my car is?
Guy told me it was out on its test drive?
Don't think so, I've been sat here all bl**dy morning and it hasn't left.
Ah. Well I'll have another look.
Great news sir. We've found your car.
Great entertainment for all present in the reception area and thanks to the Micra owner who came up and asked where his car was "because mines smaller than his and I'm worried you may have mislaid it as well". Chuckle and point made.

Mark Barrett

Thanks for the observations guys, especially Chris's Sparshatts experience.

I am in Portsmouth, so I might use Chapelgate as long as they do Courtesy Cars.

Work in Slough anyway, so I can either hit the M3 or work from home that day

andy king

YOU COULD ALWAYS USE MILL LANE AT BASINGSTOKE
ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN B AND C AND SPARSHOTS,
THEY WILL PROVIDE A LOAN CAR, AND THE CAR IS RETURNED CLEAN! HOPE THIS HELPS.

martinf

Mill Lane were efficient & friendly when I used them (why are we pleasantly surprised when people do their jobs!!)

Sparshatts never did anything specific wrong, but they never gave the impression of being that helpful either.

Chapelgate, as I recall, were a lot more expensive than both for a 30K.

Has anyone tried Park Lane? (I know they're unofficial)

Stuart Page

iTrader: (4)

Sparshatts never washed mine either! I don't like a dirty Scooby.

I'm going to try Park Lane in Alton who do imports next probably.

[This message has been edited by Stuart Page (edited 19-01-2000).]