Conference terri::cars_uk

has anyone had any experience using the Halfords Car Service centres? 
(especially the one in Reading). What are their hourly rates, quality
of service etc like? Do they come and collect the car to repair it?

thanks for any info

	Craig

Can anyone recommend a "good" Renault garage in the Reading area ?

Cheers,
David

    
    Well the time I used Weldale I had no complaints, but then everyone
    else has! :^)
    
    Mark

    Wheelers in Newbury have proven to be the more capable dealer of those
    that I've used in this area over the last 4 years. I cannot recommend
    the Reading dealer whose name fortunately my fingers have forgotten how
    to type......

    
    Wheelers don't have a very good record when it comes to the security of
    customer's cars though! :^|
    
    Mark

	Theale moters, they did some work on our kit-car after we were 
	rear-ended, the paint-respray was ace.

	Heather

I recommend Ralphs, close to the Crescent.

They're not a Renault Garage, but they did the last service of my car
(and the car was still there afterwards!). They seemed to do everything.

Mark.

    Ralph Motors details are in VTX somewhere... They are a recommended
    repairer of company cars...
    
    For a garage that is recommended by a large company like Digital to also
    be a good garage that you would recommend to your friends shows that a
    garage can be good if the rest only tried a little.... (or a lot!).
    

    
    Can anyone comment on the Vauxhall dealerships in Reading, Newbury
    and Oxford (is there one in Abingdon?), with regards to servicing
    an Astra 1.6L?
    
    All I'm after is a competent service, from a conveniently placed
    dealer...
    
    William.

    
    Newbury Instant Motors seem ok.
    
    Mark

    
    - Newbury Instant Motors 
    
    Always been good for my Novas....
    
    pleasant and helpful as well.
    
    
    - Wessex Motors, Winchester
    
    Excellent.
    
    Provide a pickup service.....*very* helpful and always pleasant 

    
    	Wadham Kenning,just off the oxford road in reading.
    	
    	Very good parts service,but i'm not sure about there mechanics.
    	Also A.C Barnes  in Wokingham are very good,but it may be out of
    your way.If you need directions just ask.I bought my car from them
    (Astra SR)good after sales service as i had a few quircs,they gave me a
    lease car,and the work got done.
    
    
    	Hope this has been helpful.
    
    	ANDY...MUFC.
    

Wadham Kenning (formerly Great Western Motors) NOT recommended. I prefer to use
the services of Spratleys of Mortimer.

/Dave.

    
    
    Yup. Avoid Wadham Kenning. Spratleys don't do what you tell 'em
    but at least they admit their mistakes. 
    
    Richard.
    

    
    Thanks for the advice. I think Wadham are probably symptomatic of
    the malaise affecting most of Reading's dealerships - too many
    company car customers. With that in mind, I'm using a smaller
    dealership in Abingdon for a service on Monday. Will let you know...
    
    William.

I've been poking about in various places looking for recommendations on 
mechanics. It does not need to be an approved dealership, as I have an A reg 
Triumph Acclaim. The clutch and driver's window need seeing to. Anyone have a
person they trust to work on their machine at a reasonable rate? Also, getting
into the clutch, I would be throwing myself on their mercy. (I can just about
figure how the window mechanism works, though!)

Thanks,
Tim

    HELP!!!
    
    
    I had a prang with an Escort causing only minor damage to it and
    absolutely none to mine, I want to settle it out of insurance as it is
    so niggly and dont want to lose my NCB.
    
    Can anybody recommend a relatively cheap bodywork outfit in the Reading
    area??....I guess the other party will go to a Ford dealership and come
    back with a ridiculous quote.!!
    
    Anybody out there give me an idea of how much a NS doorwould cost to
    bash out and respray????
    
    Thanks Dieter.

�    Can anybody recommend a relatively cheap bodywork outfit in the Reading
�    area??....I guess the other party will go to a Ford dealership and come
�    back with a ridiculous quote.!!
    
    Think of it from their point of view.
    
    If someone damaged your car, admitted liability and then offered to
    pay directly for it to be fixed - at the cheapest place they could
    find - what would you say ?  I'd say "Main Dealer, please"...
    
    J.R.

    
    RE-2
    
    	I had a prang with an Escort earlier this year (it was my fault,I
    hit him up the back).I decided that I was going to pay as not to
    disturb my NCB,but he had other ideas,he decided to claim for wiplash
    B!@#ar*.I was not happy as I felt that it was a minor prang.
    
    	Anyway back to business,I got a quote for an entire boot unit,
    	the quoted price from a Fraud dealer was  150 squidlies.
    
    	I know it's not the panel your on about,but if a boot is 150
    (without spray)then I wouldn't imagine this panel would be any more.
    
    	Andy...I-know-it hurts.

    
    Seems as good as place as any...
    
    As I'm now in DECPark, and I need my company car serviced,
     what garage's ( VAUXHALL ) are around that take a HERTZ card ?
    Do they pickup etc ??
    
    All details gratefully recieved. 

I have a C Reg Cavalier SRi and I'm going to need
some welding doing and a new clutch at some point.


Can anyone recommend some decent, cheap garages
to get the work done???



Cheers



StEvE

    I can recommend the guy who works on my car.  His names Fred Escott, he
    lives at Spencers Wood (just over Junction 11), the number's 0734
    883228 and his prices are v. reasonable.  I couldn't afford to own a
    car if I didn't know of him.
    
    If you work at Deck Park he will collect your car and deliver it back
    here for you!  Can't ger more convenient than that!

Thanks!!!

I'll keep the number for when I need it!

My Landrover needs a brake fluid change. Apparently
Halfords on the Oxford Rd charge an all in price of
about �17.00  As I am down the Oxford Rd this weekend
I thought I would book it in. During the telephone
conversation I was asked the reg. no. I replied,
WVL455S. "S Reg" the man equired, "Yes" I replied.
"Oh we can't do that Sir." A bit bemused I asked why not,
"The vehicle is over 12 years old, it is our policy not 
to work on vehicles over this age". His 'worry' was that 
something might break, like a bleed nipple and that they 
wouldn't have the spare parts.

Simon

    I can recommend L & M Autos in Basingstoke (Kimbell Rd near B & Q)
    
    I've just had an MoT done there for 15 pounds and they even fixed
    the faulty fog light free.
    
    I'm very dissappointed in Ralphs. I had new points fitted there a
    couple of months ago on my private car (2CV) and recently it was
    running very rough indeed. I had it checked by another garage as I 
    was in Southampton at the time and they said the trouble was the points
    were burnt out. I explained I'd only done 2000 miles since new ones
    were fitted and they said that the plastic lobe had worn out as a
    result of it not being greased.
    
    I phoned Ralphs and they just weren't interested. A bit of good will
    wouldn't have gone a miss as I have used Ralphs for nearly all my
    company and private car needs for nearly 8 years. I eventually got him 
    to agree to look at the old set of points and send them back to Lucas
    if necessary.
    
    Royston