main dealer

[mowgli]

I posted on this topic a while back, will NOT have any work done there anymore, go independant now: Volkservice or Motortune, both in Blackpool:

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=3274.0

[Fielder5757]

Ive been the once to ask if i could have my dials fixed, They scratched there heads and told me it would cost ?100 just for them to come up with an idea on what to do

[gibby]

Hey fielder, I'd have only charged you ?75 to think about it 

[Overseer]

the problem is... they're only really interested in fleecing new car owners for servicing money and add-ons plus the local market for VAG spares.

they often hire younger mechanics who wont have been there long enough to have worked on mk3s, let alone anything older!

[gibby]

Does anyone really believe that stealerships know more and do a better job that other mechanics, cos I don't. As overseer says they'll just put the YTS (Youth Training Scheme for all you youngsters  ) boy in to do some of the menial tasks 

[Overseer]

i guess you have to go through the (bad) experience of using a stealership a few times.. i like using a specialist because you dont go through 4 different layers of staff to get things sorted..

i know for my specialist of choice ( http://www.performancedriven.co.uk/ ) that i can go there and talk to either of the 2 guys and they know whats up..  i give my keys to the guy thats working on the car, i pick it up from the same guy, get a rundown of the work done from that guy, give my visa to that guy.. and I know the money goes direct to them.

[topher]

Stealers are only any good for parts in my opinion. I'm sure some of you remember how they killed my turbo by dropping a nut in it, then saying there was no fault.. then denying responsibility completely.

Must get round to paying their forecourt a visit late one night 

[gibby]

Agree entirely with you top, I've never taken any car to a main dealer but I will always go there for parts etc. 

[AdamB]

I bought the Corrado with a full dealer service history, so I'm inclined to have the servicing done there purely for the stamp, but any other work will be going to a specialist. However, the dealership up here have offered to give me a reduced rate on the hourly charge, because it is an older car, and because I have two dubs. Probably not a bad idea to keep me sweet, as I could put a bit of business their way over the year, running a couple of older cars.

[...joe]

I bought the Corrado with a full dealer service history, so I'm inclined to have the servicing done there purely for the stamp,

not always a good idea mate. a friend and local tuner was a vw technician for 15 years and although he's still friends with the parts department, he says a vw stamp on a corrado is worth feck all nowadays. he specialises in corrado's and from his experience in fixing main dealer cock ups on corrado's its mainly the age and rarity of them. this is because many of the technicians nowadays have never worked on one so don't know the common faults, habits etc. and because the relative rarity of them, it means that when you take yours into a dealer you run the risk of the guy working on it scratching his head and picking up a manual because he's never worked on one before!

i'd say reputable specialist for work and main dealer for some parts.