John Stumbles

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message
news:ZQKob.73$382.5@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> Could anyone recommend a decent, honest and reliable VW/Audi specialist
> garage who'll do a good job servicing my car, won't have rip-off labour
> rates, will do all the extra preventative bits (I'm thinking things like
> changing PAS fluid, gearbox oil etc., stuff that is considered
unneccessary
> by some) as part of a standard service, and generally won't cut corners?
>
> In the Berkshire area?

Richard Holder in Reading is an ex-VW mechanic running his own business with
2-3 employees (mechanics + admin person). I've generally had good work done
by him, sometimes he's bent over backwards to help in a crisis, all at
reasonable prices. 0118 950 4600


For parts, German & Swedish have an outlet in Reading (don't have the
number, but they're in Elgar Rd S)

--
John Stumbles
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I've got nothing against racists
- I just wouldn't want my daughter to marry one

Iain Miller

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message
news:ZmOob.204$382.187@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> > As mentioned on the other ng, I have used Wheelbase in Hersham for many
> > years. Their rates may not be half that of the main dealer but their
> hourly
> > charge is for all time spent on your car, not taken from a manufacturer
> > supplied service menu.
>
> Which can work in two ways, but it's nearly always to the benefit of the
> customer. And if a job did take a fair bit longer than normal, then
whilst
> I'd rather it wasn't more expensive(!), I wouldn't mind paying if it meant
> that they weren't underselling themselves, meaning there would be more
> chance they'd be still in business the next time I wanted a good job done.
>
> > The guys are ex VW and know the cars inside out. If it wasn't for
warranty
> > issues on new cars, I would take my cars there from new. Much better
than
> my
> > experiences with Whites and HWM.
> > www.wheelbase.uk.com
>
> Who are HWM?

Main VAG dealer in Walton on Thames they have serviced both my VW Passat and
my wife's A4 Avant in previous years. The Passat got serviced elsewhere this
year and I'm looking for somewhere else to take the A4 - 'nuff said.

I.

Martin Underwood

"AstraVanMan" <Peter@SwerveWeb.com> wrote in message
news:zcOob.198$382.185@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> > I must admit I didn't have too much success with Whites when I had a
Golf
> > (company car). It took about 4 sessions to find a windscreen leak and
> never
> > did manage to diagnose an intermittant stall.
> >
> > Better luck with TG, the specialist took the car home for the weekend (I
> had
> > a loan car) and fixed the problem. Now it may be coincidence, but about
10
> > miles later the car was making a very sick noise in 2nd gear - which
> turned
> > out to be a missing gear tooth.
> >
> > This was about 4yrs ago, mind.
>
> Are Timothy Green a main dealer as well, or an independent?

They are both authorised franchised garages, as opposed to independent ones.
I thought you wanted "proper" VW/Audi garages, given your reference to
"VW/Audi specialist garage". I think that the terms of car manufacturers'
warranties require you use authorised garages for any repairs and
servicing - I can spot a barrel when they've got me over it!!!

If the car is out of warranty, then you don't need to worry about that
restriction and can use any garage that you'd trust. I'm not sure of any,
because I always use the authorised dealers. I'm probably a mug...

AstraVanMan

> > Are Timothy Green a main dealer as well, or an independent?
>
> They are both authorised franchised garages, as opposed to independent
ones.
> I thought you wanted "proper" VW/Audi garages, given your reference to
> "VW/Audi specialist garage". I think that the terms of car manufacturers'
> warranties require you use authorised garages for any repairs and
> servicing - I can spot a barrel when they've got me over it!!!

Yes, it was an independent specialist as opposed to main dealer I was after.
One would hope to assume that it would go without saying that a main dealer
would be a specialist!!

> If the car is out of warranty, then you don't need to worry about that
> restriction and can use any garage that you'd trust. I'm not sure of any,
> because I always use the authorised dealers. I'm probably a mug...

Yes, it is out of warranty by a fair bit (96/N reg) so I'd rather a trusted
independent garage to a main dealer any day - I'd rather a VW/Audi
specialist (as has been recommended by a few on here) as opposed to any old
garage as they'd more likely be familiar with the trickier jobs on my car
(like getting the timing exactly right on the 5-cylinder engine), use the
correct OEM parts, and have the correct diagnostics equipment.

Peter

Michael Parry

In message <ZQKob.73$382.5@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>, AstraVanMan
<Peter@SwerveWeb.com> writes
>Could anyone recommend a decent, honest and reliable VW/Audi specialist
>garage who'll do a good job servicing my car, won't have rip-off labour
>rates, will do all the extra preventative bits (I'm thinking things like
>changing PAS fluid, gearbox oil etc., stuff that is considered unneccessary
>by some) as part of a standard service, and generally won't cut corners?
>
>In the Berkshire area?

We've used
Mill Road Garage 2 Mill Rd Caversham Reading RG4 8DP 0118 946 1674
for our 1992 Golf for a while.

They seem to have been fine for routine services and MOTs but didn't do
so well recently in trouble shooting some electrical problems - with the
auto-gearbox / starter interlocking and central locking.

--
Michael Parry
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