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How far away from your house is the nearest franchised dealer for your make of car? How important do you think it is to have a dealer fairly close?
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>>How far away from your house is the nearest franchised dealer for your make of car?
60 miles
>>How important do you think it is to have a dealer fairly close?
Very important - especially if you own something like a Subaru :)
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Seven miles and very important.
It would be a deciding factor in any future model change.
Pat
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We used to have a SEAT in the family despite there not having been a SEAT dealer in the Chester area for years - we saw very few others.
OTOH until recently there were two very good Honda dealers and the place is flooded with Jazz's - you can be in little convoys of the things sometimes. However Honda have forced the closure of one dealer (the best one) and moved the other out of town so it'll be interesting to see how that pans out.
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25 miles (30km). Honda dealers are spread at the rate of about one per departement (county) in France. There's loads more in Spain and I noticed there are loads in Ireland, too. Jazzes are like ants there.
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Half a dozen within 2 miles, about ten used dealers in addition, also motor factors, and almost anything else needed, motoring or not. Failing that Edinburgh is nearby.
A main dealer nearby is important if a car is under a manufacturers warranty, otherwise most parts can be delivered within 24 hours or even same day.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 09:49
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Nearest Citroen dealer is now on other side of Northampton. Both franchise holder and premises have changed several times in 23 years we've been here. Used to be a repair franchise in next village but their main business was LDV vans and they were dragged down after LDV went under.
Their used to be a SEAT dealer in village - premises now occupied by Unusual Rigging Ltd.
So no guarantee what you have now will be there at end of warranty never mind for life of vehicle.
There's a French car indy near the station which is enough for me.
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>> So no guarantee what you have now will be there at end of warranty never
>> mind for life of vehicle.
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Or even between deposit payment and delivery, but as sales are improving that may become less common.
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3 miles, and very handy if I need anything.
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Mazda: about 15 miles
Toyota: About 5 miles
Honda: about 20 miles
The only one which provides really good service is the Toyota dealer, and I'd be prepared to travel to him if he were further away. His prices are keen too, and the car still goes there despite being six years old.
The Honda now goes to a local independent, and the Mazda may well too once it is out of warranty.
I wouldn't buy a Subaru as the nearest dealer is around 30 miles away, and that's just too far.
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>> So no guarantee what you have now will be there at end of warranty never mind for life of vehicle.
Yes, that happened to us. We paid a little extra to buy the Honda from a local-ish dealer, and before the first service he now sold Citroen instead. He now sells neither, but is still authorised to service both.
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6 miles.
Only required during warranty, out of warranty no need to go near the place.
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 13:23
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13 miles for me. I've never used them though.
Last edited by: sooty123 on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 13:32
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nearest one 5 miles then next one 15 miles
I consider it very important having a dealership nearby.
I wouldn't generally buy a make where nearest dealer is more than 20 miles away.
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2 miles (it's a Ford!). Handy because I can walk/cycle there when the car is in for servicing, rather than wait ages for a courtesy car to become available.
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Thinking about it, it's not really distance which is an issue, but time.
The SEAT dealer is about 20 miles from us but at peak times, ie taking the car in the morning and picking up at nighr, it's the best part of an hour each way.
The dealerships in Chester are mainly clustered on the far side of the city from where we live - so you're faced with driving through the middle of the city or going around. Only a few miles but can take ages at peak periods (and I'm sure many places are much busier than Chester!).
When I took the Golf for service I asked if I could wait, but they really don't like you doing that!
Last edited by: Bill Payer on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 14:04
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>> When I took the Golf for service I asked if I could wait, but they
>> really don't like you doing that!
Yeah, not keen on you finding out how little time a service takes....
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>> Yeah, not keen on you finding out how little time a service takes....
>>
The dealer call centre muppet told me it was a major service and would take 3hrs. I said "rubbish" or some such similar word. It's an (IIRC) 'interval' service - ie an oil & filter change and pollen filter. Inc a wash & vac it was done in an hour.
They wouldn't give me a copy of the invoice (it's on a VW service plan) but told me the charge was there same as their fixed price service rates. They were mortified when I produced a copy of the previous service invoice and it was for exactly half their 'rack' rate.
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Took the Prius in for a service fairly recently and asked for a lift to work:
"No need sir, you can wait over there. Have a coffee."
"How long will it take?"
"About 45 minutes."
As it was ready when they said, I reckon a small (oil, filter and inspection) service takes about, er, 45 minutes.
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>> As it was ready when they said, I reckon a small (oil, filter and inspection) service takes about, er, 45 minutes.>>
Naw...
5 mins driving into workshop, and lifting in the air.
5 mins loo break.
10 mins reading paper.
5 mins draining oil.
5 mins inspection.
5 mins coffee break.
5 mins lowering car and driving out.
5 mins paperwork.
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>> Naw...
>> 5 mins driving into workshop, and lifting in the air.
>> 5 mins loo break.
>> 10 mins reading paper.
>> 5 mins draining oil.
>> 5 mins inspection.
>> 5 mins coffee break.
>> 5 mins lowering car and driving out.
>> 5 mins paperwork.
Then another hour trying to explain why the engine is seized up, due to lack of oil....
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>>5 mins draining oil
So they actually drain the oil do they, now there's a surprise!
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Location of nearest franchised dealer ...
About 1.5 miles for the Audi, and 2 miles for SWMBO's Merc.
It's very important to us. We get the main dealer to do everything these days - but we didn't used to. We have given up on independent workshops in London. Full of Spivs and had too many bad experiences. (Same with a good many things in London, sadly)
Last edited by: Londoner on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 14:36
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Until last yeah my local FIAT dealer was 7 miles away in Stockport. Considering I live 3 miles from one of the biggest cities in the UK that is a long way. There is now one about 3 miles away in Salford, but they are extremely hopeless. They insisted to do a 2 year 8000 miles service they would have to change the spark plugs!!
There is probaby about four or five Ford dealers within 4 miles away from me. The Hyundais nearest dealer is also about 5-6 miles away up in north Manchester border of Salford. It is the only Hyundai dealer in the area now.
Those that know central Stockport will know what the traffic can be like at peak hours. The A6 through Stockport is one of the most congested roads in the country.
Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 15:15
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In Rural Rutland area I have 4 main dealers within 15 miles (Ford) and a small franchise 5 miles away which I use. I like a busy workshop, men in oily overalls and don't need men in suits with mobiles and company cars living in a big glass palace!
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2 within 8 miles each for the Mitsi, 1x10 miles away for the MB.
Not important in the least, Mitsi dealer about as much use as the proverbial chocolate teapot, MB dealer thinks in monopoly money.
Neither car will go to the main dealer for any work whatsoever, my MB indy is far better than the MD (quite apart from price), it wouldn't be the first time that he's had to help them out with diagnoses, my LPG converter is an old school indy mechanic too, anything on the Mitsi i can't fathom he can.
The only main dealer i would use for service is the excellent local Toyota dealer situated on the same retail park as MB, so only if i get a Toyota/Lexus would i be using such.
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>> Those that know central Stockport will know what the traffic can be like at peak
>> hours. The A6 through Stockport is one of the most congested roads in the country.
>>
Not even in the top 25 according to this:
www.lbc.co.uk/15-of-the-25-most-congested-roads-in-london-30643
;-)
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Jaguar about a mile
Ford about a mile + Never used them as they were by far the most expensive Ford sevice in the whole of the UK
I always got my Ford serviced much cheaper at a main dealer 60 miles away and made it a day out near the sea.
others
Honda about a mile +
VW a mile and a half - closed down
VW nearest now 3 miles next about 5/6 miles
Renault 3 miles closed down
Fiat 5/6 miles
Vaux / SAAB about 4 miles
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Even if it was in the top 10,000 it would still be one of the most congested roads! There are probably 100,000s of roads in the country!.
Stockport is a nightmare because there is no motorway that goes over Derbyshire, so to get to the East Midlands from Manchester you get a huge amount of traffic going through Stockport, not to mention all the local traffic.
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>> have given up on independent workshops in London. Full of Spivs and had too many bad experiences.
I know a very good one Londoner. May be too far from where you live though. Big place, London.
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Ford about 8 miles, VW about 15.
There is another Ford dealer close to where SWMBO works so that is easier and with the VW being a company car they collect it from work. Both are reliable (touch wood) and have recovery cover so dealer proximity is not really an issue.
The nearest dealer is Vauxhall and they are about the same distance away as the Ford dealer - not a good enough reason to buy a Vauxhall. Within 15 miles there will be Alfa, Skoda, Kia, Ford(2) Vauxhall(2), Audi (2), Seat, Volvo, Mazda (2), Peugeot (2) Citroen(2) Toyota, Jaguar, Hyundai and probably some I have missed.
Don't know about Subaru though
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Within walking distance of my front door(4 miles)
Ford,
Vauxhall
Hyundai
Kia
Peugeot
Vauxhall
Skoda
Seat
Bentley
BMW
Jaguar
Citroen
Jeep
Landrover
Subaru
Toyota
Audi
Nissan
Volvo
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Tue 11 Jun 13 at 17:56
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Within walking distance of my front door(<4 miles)
Porsche
Ferrari
Maserati
BMW
LandRover
Audi
Honda
Toyota
Ford
Unfortunately the places I use are further afield ~ about 10 miles away, but on rural roads.
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I took one of our two VW vans for service and first MOT last Thursday. The lease company have their own workshops but farm out the ticket. The place is an old mill the other side of Stockport.They told me that, as it needed a test, it would be two or three days. That meant Monday or Tuesday with the loss of a weekend's revenue. I set off home, Bus, Pendolino, 2 trams and walk.
I got in and my office told me they'd complained and offered to do the test for them next week at the MOT station they use. An hour later, the office rang me to say the van was ready and I did the journey again in reverse...no bus this time, hopped a black cab at Stockport station !
Took it for MOT today at the Stockport Ford agents......sat and read my book for an hour and then took it back to town with a new certificate.....Job done.
Main agents for all makes within 8 miles of here. I use Ford, Fiat, Vauxhall and Toyota at the moment with Nissan for any specialist spares for the Note. My local indy will do some cars for me but 1st year and hybrids have to go to the main agent. I have a good relationship with the local National and some other local indys for glass, recovery, bodywork, etc.
Build up a good team, that's the secret to getting stuff done !
Ted
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Nearest franchised dealers are one both one mile away. Peugeot & LR.
My last Pug was a 205 Gti (B211 UCP). Never had a Pug since and don't envisage one in future. My one and only LR was an N reg Defender 90 bought a few years ago off a friend, because I think everyone should own a Landie at some point in their life. Sold after 6 months for a tasty £1300 profit. I don't envisage ever owning another LR product either for that matter.
And as I normally buy cars at 5+ years old its pretty irrelevant in my circumstances.
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There are two Mercedes dealers I could reasonably conveniently use. Both are roughly 20 miles away from where I live in completely opposite directions.
When I first needed a service I rang the one 20 miles west of here and asked if I could borrow a courtesy car or something while they serviced it.
"Ah, well, y'see...bit difficult that y'see" etc etc etc was the gist of their reply.
Then I rang the one 20 miles east of here and asked the same question.
"Of course sir, if that's what you'd like, or if it's easier for you sir, we'll come and pick it up from your house and bring it back when it's ready...no charge for that sir no, all part of us wanting our customers to be happy enough to come back to us."
Guess which one is coming to fetch it for it's 4th service next week?
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>Of course sir, if that's what you'd like, or if it's easier for you sir, we'll come and pick it up from your house..
My local Jag dealer does that.
Mine was in for a service last week and needed two new tyres so I ended up with an XF 3.0D for a few days. Miserable sods wouldn't give me the F-Type demonstrator.
Last edited by: Kevin on Wed 12 Jun 13 at 23:05
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>> Guess which one is coming to fetch it for it's 4th service next week?
>>
I guess you haven't seen the video of a Mercedes dealer's driver doing 140MPH in a customer's car then?
I used to get my company cars collected and delivered (the Ford dealer always literally picked it up on a recovery vehicle) but with my own I take them and either have a courtesy car or wait.
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If he's only doing 140 in mine he's not trying hard enough.
:-)
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>> If he's only doing 140 in mine he's not trying hard enough.
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>> :-)
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I think it was in a 30 limit. ;)
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Fair play to him then. Respect !
:-)
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I do not consider it important at all. The lease company takes care of the BMW, collecting and dropping it from whichever address is most convenient. It went to an independent for its first service, but I have had franchised dealers work on it as well. I think it's pot luck which you get. Either way it's not my responsibility to get it there.
I have never taken an out-of-warranty car that I owned to a franchised dealer, and now the EU Block Exemption regulations exist, I don't think I'd take an in-warranty one either, unless it were something exotic which would have its resale value significantly damaged by a non-dealer history.
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Location of nearest franchised dealer - Dog
