An example of exempary service........NOT

[Ralph Hardwick]

On the 7th June I used the disco to travel to London.  Unfortunately it didn

[Disco Matt]

While this is truly dire service (

[kizz81]

am i right in thinking that land rover garages have an hourly rate of on average over 150 pounds

this is apprently to keep the london landy owners happy as they expect to pay 500 for a service and if its less they worry

[V8MoneyPit]

Hi Ralph

It must have been you I met at Dersingham the other week with 4x4 Response. I'm the one with the red caged 90.

Shocking story you have there, but sadly, not surprising. The prices are one thing, and you tend to expect it at main stealers, but the lying is disgraceful. Oh, to be a fly on their wall when you told them about the tracker.... classic  :dance:

[john656]

I always try and give main dealers the benifit of the doubt and try to see the good in them but ...... :roll:

[denviks]

well it seems their service is bad across the board then...

after a call to the land rover parts dept i didnt know weather to laugh , or cry, but i was definatly shocked.

last week i noticed that my core plug just above my starter motor on my 300 tdi discovery had a small rust hole at its base. it had a small leaking going on.

so instead of messing about with other suppliers i called my local land rover main dealer. after waiting for an hour for a call back i asked about a replacement core plug....

simple?

the chap on the end of the phone really wasnt sure what i was talking about so i took the steps of explaining where they were and what they looked like,. eventully he found them on his screen. i asked if they had any in stock. after 5 mins he came back and said they didnt and he had to order them in batches of 5 at

[Ralph Hardwick]

Many apologies guys. I have no problem in naming the garage it was Stratstone Woodford Land Rover in Hainault. I simple forgot to include it in the first post.

There are further details of the tracker http://www.overland-rovers.com/ralphs-pages/kit-a-equipment/190-gps-tracking-system.html I had it fitted on my driveway and I had a reconditioned unit which worked out at

[Disco Matt]

I often wonder if they actually want the business where older vehicles are concerned. There must be more money for them in selling and servicing a new Rangie than there is in looking after a Disco 1. It'd explain them being unwilling to order small parts for you.

I only go anywhere near the main dealer for aircon-related stuff, otherwise it's the local independent specialist.

[mike142sl]

Had a similar quote from my local dealer not so long ago.

[DoubleTop]

that looks like a cracking unit and I'm liking the fact that it's no subscription as well.

Which device have you had fitted, I'm easily confused and wouldn't mind investigating a little more.  Did having it fitted affect your insurance at all ?

Cheers,

DT.

[landroverkeith]

I had the same with our local Stealers.

I wanted the temp sender from the top of the block as the last one got cooked

the "person" on other end of the phone after about 30 mins of explaining tried to tell me I needed a whole loom to do it  :-k needless to say i didnt buy it

 

[mike142sl]

Did having it fitted affect your insurance at all ?

Cheers,

DT.

It reduced mine quite a lot.

[Ralph Hardwick]

that looks like a cracking unit and I'm liking the fact that it's no subscription as well.

Which device have you had fitted, I'm easily confused and wouldn't mind investigating a little more.  Did having it fitted affect your insurance at all ?

Cheers,

DT.

There is a link in the post for details of the unit.

I must admit I haven't informed my insurers yet :doh:  I have given them a huge list of everything else the car has and all the mods but I fitted the tracker after the renewal date.

I must get around to doing that :D

[DEANO3528]

Excellent piece of kit, thoroughly pleased with mine.
That is a nightmare story, Ralph.

And as for refusing to order parts in for a VOR...

...No bluddy wonder LR is a laughing stock!

[Range Rover Blues]

I found out a colleague of mine got stung nealry a grand for his Freebie to get mMOT'd.

[Ralph Hardwick]

My wife has a 51 plate Freelander wich we have had for 3 years.  We will part-ex it next year for an F2 or possibly a RR or D3.

We always go to Hunters maind LR dealer in Norwich and we are happy to return.  They are not cheap but they don't rip you off either.  I always get a discount on parts and service because of 4X4 Response and I have always found them friendly and helpful.

So even within the dealer network there are good and bad.

[Terranger]

Oh, good ole Stratstone, not!!

You'll find my posting, re MY dealings with their Cupar, (Scotland) branch, somewhere.

[Disco Matt]

I would wonder if part of the problem is that Stratstone position themselves as premium car dealers - I know they handle Saab amongst others as my Dad's lease car came from them (thankfully it hasn't had to go anywhere near them since!) Could it be that their target customers don't quibble when charged ridiculous sums for work as they've bought the car as a status symbol and don't have a clue about what happens underneath?

[Bishops Finger]

Trackers are useful...

[Ralph Hardwick]

I would wonder if part of the problem is that Stratstone position themselves as premium car dealers - I know they handle Saab amongst others as my Dad's lease car came from them (thankfully it hasn't had to go anywhere near them since!) Could it be that their target customers don't quibble when charged ridiculous sums for work as they've bought the car as a status symbol and don't have a clue about what happens underneath?

It doesn't really matter where they position themselves.  Even people who drive ferraris and rollers deserve honesty.

Inflated prices, I can undertstand but quoting to fix parts that aren't broken and claiming that they're critical is just plain criminal.

What makes it even worse is their inability to see that they were dealing with someone who was knowledgable about their car!

[jay2578]

Come on guys! You`ve seen the sharp suits those guys wear, and those shiny floortiles ain`t cheap either!! Stratstones wanted a ridiculous amount for a full service....... the independent guy along the road wanted less than half for the exact same service!