Club Arnage

Apologies if this has already been talked about, but someone just told me about a site that I think is a really good idea. You can go on and review the performances of Garages. For me it is great for two reasons:

1) I can sing the praises of my local village Garage who I would trust with everything (with the possible exception of Mrs Monkey) ;D

2) It has given me a chance to have a pop at my local Alfa dealer who frankly are villains

Go here if you want to have your say

http://www.autoadvisor.co.uk/

All Alfa dealerships are villains in my experience, my local Alfa independent specialist is excellent though.

In my experience, I think I have to agree I'm afraid.

Definately second that sentiment. Last time I took mine to an official dealer was for the 72K service (timing/cam belt change). Had to phone them late afternoon to check on progress only to find out they hadn't even started, so 2 days without a car & having to scrounge lifts >:(
When I eventually picked it up they told me the crankshaft seal was on the way out as there was some oil weeping from the bell housing, and that they would do the job and while they were at it they would change the clutch aswell. Now considering that its an engine out job to change anything like that I could just imagine what that bill would be @ £70ph labour :o. I told them where to go on that one. Oh, and they also added that they were unable to fit a new air filter as the bolts to the housing had rusted (why they hadn't had them soaking in WD40 overnight I have no idea) something my local tyre place did for me no problem.
Well the old motor is coming up to its 108K service soon, still on the same clutch and using less than 1ltr of oil between service intervals. So that £1000+ job was really necessary wasn't it!!
Bunch of crooks the lot of them, should be locked up and the keys thrown away. Better still, send them all off to Iraq and bring our boys home instead, see how they like being shafted for a change ;D

Agreed and they can take the theiving swines from Gatwick Subaru with them on the flight from Brize Norton too.

You will insist on buying tempremental Italian crap.........
What you need is quality German engineering!!

Will the reviews be moderated I ask?   

If not how long before the site gets sued for some slanderous comments written by a disgruntled customer?

You will insist on buying tempremental Italian crap.........
What you need is quality German engineering!!
[/quote]

Thing is I have never really had a problem with the cars and I am on my fourth Alfa, its the dealers I really struggle with.

I also have a Mercedes (that's German) and it has been a bit of a nightmare, suspension, gear box, air con (actually easily the worst car I have ever owned) – never again I’m afraid, and the dealers are every bit as bad. I don't know how many times I have called before a service and told them specifically that a bulb needs replacing or the tailgate washer is leaking and then you pick the car up and they say 'your tailgate washer is leaking if you bring it back next week we can fix it' drives you nuts. All my cars go to the local independent garage now where I get a service I can trust and depend on. ;D

I think so, I was told that the comments I had sent would be read and if considered suitable would be posted, or words to that effect.

Thanks monkey. I have indeed added some comments to the site. The 'CrownHill' vauxhaul garage in Milton Keynes has been reviewed. I was not impressed.

I now stick with independants without question.

Sounds like a good idea, there is however maybe a fatal flaw.

What is there to stop, say the theiving swines from Gatwick Subaru ( ;D) posting glowing reviews about their own service?

This could throw into doubt any good reviews a garage gets, and maybe Gatwick Subaru will be reviewing other garage's in the area in less than glowing, but incorrect terms?

Just a thought.

Without wishing to appear sensitive or overly politically correct, your attention is drawn to geoffd's important point about moderation of slanderous comments. The web site owners, moderators, Uncle Tom C and all can be taken to the cleaners for that kind of thing.

So, please feel free to express your views on other sites but not here. Naming and shaming is a no-no, and posts may be edited without notice.

Thanks
 :police: :police: :police:

hmm a commer and a subaru, a man of taste like myself, rootes and a subaru power.
scooby wise JCT 3000 in twickers have been pretty good and bulldog twyford are also good.

Oi...my Italian crap has never been tempremental...desperately reaching for some real wood ;D. Its the dealers I have a problem with, they seem to think they can pull the same tricks and charge the same sort of prices as your 'quality German engineering' dealers, when all they are selling is tempremental Italian crap  :laugh:

I was once charged £75.00 to change a headlight bulb on an Alfa 75 ???

Like a mug I paid it. The dealer that ripped me off went out of business, that or they retired to the Bahamas

They tried that trick on me once, however I work for an automotive lighting company and always carry a complete set of bulbs in the car. I made them remove the charge from my bill and presented them with a bulb in place of the one they fitted. Also tried to charge me a fortune for refilling my washer bottle that I had filled a few days before (knowing they would charge me if it was empty). They refused to accept that it was already full and a mexican standoff ensued. It was at this point I called their bluff and asked what colour fluid they use...'blue' they said...over to the car, pop the bonnet, look into washer bottle to see a lovely fluorescent greeny yellow. Nuff said  ;D

There was a write up in he press a year or so ago, when they were interviewing one of the top men at Fiat UK, whole also own Alfa,  discussing how they were going to revamp fiat dealers and get more cars sold by better prices and improved dealer services.

When discussing Alfa dealers, they knew they had problems and the agreement with their dealers was odd. They knew that customers liked the cars but not there dealers. But at time it was not a top priority. I think this could be true, because from what I could see, once an official dealer closes down, there seems no rush to open another one.

I know they are going to bring Lanica cars back to the UK in the next year or two, I wonder if they will do something about Alfa then?

Hmmm, not so sure. Most of the Fiat group dealers around here are only service centres for Alfa, they no longer have Alfa sales. Seems as though they aren't really interested in the profit margins on selling Alfas opting for the huge profits on servicing them instead. If pushed to do someting about improving their service/costs they will probably opt to drop Alfa alltogether.
On the other hand, there are a number of pretty good independant specialist Alfa service places starting to appear. One near me (WAD Alfa Romeo in Wolverhampton) is very good, and very competitive on price. Long live the independants ;D

I spoke to Alfa Uk as recently as a month ago when I received a letter from my dealer advising me that they had effectively doubled the number of times that I needed to change my timing belt (they now recommend it is changed every 36Kmiles!) I told them in no uncertain terms that I was not using my local dealer who tried to rip me off to the tune of £1500.00 for a suspension repair (I kid you not) My nearest other dealer is nearly 60 miles away. And I live near a fairly large city. They did tell me then that they were looking to expand the network but were really struggling. They want quality and value, but because the 'market' is limited the volume simply does not make it viable. I think they need to establish partnerships with quality independents, there is one in Newbury for example and then work with them to try to re establish some sort of dependable reputation.

I love Alfa’s, but they don’t make it easy sometimes
 :'(

Same sentiment here, gorgeous cars but the only thing stopping buying another one is the ludicrous cost of running them. Am on my 3rd now, but first 2 were on an employee lease scheme whilst I was working for Magneti Marelli Lighting, and this one I bought when I left for a healthy 33% off list...kind of makes up for some of the pain of servicing it :)

Crikey, are they still going? Willy Dick of WAD help rally prepare my Sud1.5ti in 1985. There's little he doesn't know about Alfas. Glad to see they're still going.

Out of idle curiosity yesterady I looked at the Dealer Locator page on the official Alfa UK website. It's npt working as it's "currently being updated". FFS, if you want to buy an Alfa need to find the nearest dealer... :(. Are Bouts in Wolverhampton still going? And what about Mario Dellotti in Brum?

Hi Andy,
Yep the guys at WAD are still going strong, from what I see they are getting stronger. Maybe something to do with the general feeling of dissatisfaction with the main dealers ::)
Bouts were certainly there a few years ago however I haven't been passed them in a while, so not sure if they are still there, think Brindley may have taken over the franchise tho. Can't remember Alfa having a dealership in Brum for a while now, nearest ones are Oldbury, Dudley & Solihul.

This is indeed a very good point. Tripadvisor has been operating for many years now, with reviews of hotels, operators and destinations. There are frequently very strongly worded reviews on there.

Small point, but it would be libelous, as opposed to slanderous. But yes, I agree with your concern.

Andy, Mario Delotti on the Stratford Rd?

Hmm I think they'e been gone for quite a long time. It might even have been taken over by an importer of decidedly odd Eastern European machinery, Skodas Ladas and such under a different name. May have been run by a famous ex TV wrestler (No no no, not THAT kind of  TV) as a business plan. Funny how the old mind plays tricks.

I grew up lazing around the old Statford Rd, dammit its a different planet there now.

Ah mate, but wasn't the Lada/FSO garage run by Dennis Futrell of that ilk. Indeed Pat Roach was his enforcer until Auf Weidersein Pet came and tempted him away. Strat Road has changed but some changes are for the better. Like the Jester closing. The curry and balti is better these days too.

Ah, yes, Mrs Big G nursed Pat Roach when he was undergoing treatment on the Neuro Unit at the QE. He asked that it was all kept very quiet as he didn't want it getting out and himself and his family being harrased by the paps. He was in for treatment not more than a week before he sadly passed on. A top bloke. Bumped into him once in a pub at the Notting Hill carnival, and he couldn't have been nicer to a bunch of pissed up lads asking him about his previous exploits in wrestling, Auf Weidersein, Indiana Jones etc. He almost seemed embarassed by his celebrity and the fact that people recognised him.

Ah the Lada place, wasn't that down by the Mermaid before they moved to Mario's old place. Weatheroak Rd area?

Of course being so much more ancient than your good self sah, I remember when the Sparkhill landscape was Irish ethnic rather than Balti flavoured. As a kid (16 ish anyway) we had the new coffee bar byOakwood Rd, to waste our time in. Nothing spicier than the watered down Tomato Sauce on the burgers. Never could get used to "curries"...

Big Pat, a sorely missed gentleman. What a guy.

Funnily enough I didn't think it was Pat that I had in mind either, I wonder who.

Old brain power fading rapidly in my dotage! :(

Oh arr, who's got King Kong now then?