T350 - Dealer Hassles

[apex]

All,

I've had my T350 for about 10 days now and whilst the car is superb is sits in my garage unused as I am having some "difficulties" with my dealer. I can't go into more detail here for obvious legal reasons but I wondered:

Would another dealer take me under thier wing as I feel the owner/dealer relationship has been ruined. Whats the deal re costs associated with the 1000 mile service between getting the supplying dealer to do it and a new one who might not look favourably on me as I bought at an alternative dealers. With the car so new do I need to use an "official dealer" as opposed to a good independant to maintain the validity of the warrenty

I live near Winslow in North Bucks Bicester/Aylesbury/Milton Keynes area can anyone recommend a reputable dealer I could approach to discuss.

Finally would TVR Engineering be at all interested (or do they wash thier hands of this kind of thing) that a loyal and enthusiastic owner is being "shafted" over assurances made by one of its authourised dealers.

Very despondant T350 person, looking for some-one to re-affirm his faith in ownership.

[plotloss]

TVR Power are in Coventry and Henley Heritage are in umm Henley.

About equidistant from you I'd say...

1000 mile service is simply a check and replace the mineral oil with a semi synthetic and replace the gearbox oil. Should come in at around £100 regardless of which main dealer you use.

Matt.

>> Edited by plotloss on Thursday 17th April 13:06

[bennno]

no the 1,000 mile service is actually a major amount of work on the S6.

the customer only pays for the oil used, but in addition to changing the gearbox, diff and engine oil the engine has a complete service and valve clearance adjustment (which the factory gets billed for at the cost of a few hundred notes)

Bennno

[apex]

...Would I pay more for the 1000 service at a dealer other than the one I bought the car from.

[alt]

apex, I obvioulsy don't know what's happenned between you and your dealer but if at all possible you should get them to do the 1000 mile service and fix any niggles that you have.
As benno said the 1000 takes quite a few hours of labour even though you'll only get charged about £100 by the supplying dealer.
Other than that you should contact the factory and explain the problem you're having with your dealer. You could then use the factory to service your car and arrange some amicable means of getting the car to them.
At the end of the day don't let this dealer spoil the ownership experience of a superb car!
Cheers...... Andrew
PS. At some point in the future I'd be interested to hear your problems?

[pbrettle]

To be honest it is in the interest of any dealer to build up a relationship with their customers to keep them coming back - so you didnt buy the car from them - they aint going to turn you away....

If they do a good job then you keep going back - its quite simple and under no circumstances would I expect to hear that you have to go back to the problematic dealer - this would be wrong (and actually illegal and against competition / cartel / monopoly rules so it wont happen).

Cheers,

Paul

[plotloss]

bennno said:
no the 1,000 mile service is actually a major amount of work on the S6.

the customer only pays for the oil used, but in addition to changing the gearbox, diff and engine oil the engine has a complete service and valve clearance adjustment (which the factory gets billed for at the cost of a few hundred notes)

Bennno

Check the service schedules, ignore all the stuff that will be right and its basically an oil check. I was suggesting that the chap will only be billed for the oil, the factory pay for the service effectively so it still wont matter where its done.

TVR will be more concerned about keeping a long term customer rather than which dealer does which service.

Matt.

[bennno]

The tappet clearances all need checking and adjusting at 1k that is a v.big job, its not just a check over.

Mine had about 10 odd fettling points on it for attention which again all got sorted at the 1k, along with a new windscreen to replace the one a stone smashed.

The original dealer should bend over to help you as you have spent 40k

I dont know whether you can take it to another dealer, perhaps check it with the factory..

Bennno

[apex]

Thanks guys, its really lifted me to hear some positve stuff. I'll call the factory explain the situ and see if they'd introduce me to an alternative dealer.

I'm a pretty patient sort but if the dealer doesn't return my calls then its obvious when they've got you in a hole to help them out you'll get wound up. I won't name the dealer here (a la Ulrika J) but I'll be paying them a visit in person tommorrow and won't be leaving thier showroom without an explanation

[T350 Guy]

TVR dealer had my T350c in for two days for it's first service, which I believe (as Benno mentioned) is an involved and thorough one.

Just no comparison to an oil and filter change 'a la Eurobox diesel service'!

>> Edited by T350 Guy on Thursday 17th April 17:17

[mrs fish]

Fish speaking:

First service you pay for fluids only, about £130. If you are having problems with your dealer speak to Jason oxley at the factory on 01253 509000 and he should sort you out,

If you change dealers there should be no extra real fallout once they realise that you are a continuing customer

[apex]

Mrs Fish,

I've got a call in with Jason at the factory, but thanks all the same.

So would I be right in inferring from the above that the charge for the 1000 mile service shouldn't be different if done by my supplying or an alternative dealer

If so alls left are for some recommendations (I've heard some good things about TMS)- any good ???.

[bennno]

I would strongly reccomend taking it back to the supplying dealer.

They have a vested interest in resolution of any faults and should be able to offer a greater degree of good will based on the money you have spent with them.

Bennno

[andyr]

I can't see why you need to go to the original dealer for anything further. The car is under factory warranty, and any other main dealer will, I'm sure, gladly take you on. I think that is where they make most of their money, not on the actual sale itself. I wouldn't go for an independant myself this early on - it may even be a condition of the warranty that it is main dealer serviced; i can't remember from when i bought new. As for going to Henley, they wouldnt get my vote. You could always have a jolly up to the factory and get them to do it....

[apex]

Benno

I'd really like to think that possible and these drastic actions are a result of what I must believe was an honest mistake. I'm aiming to visit the dealer tommorrow (unannounced) with an aim to reconcile things

I think you yourself replyed to the subject this matter refers to about a month ago. You warned me it was dodgy, I was suspicious (hence the original post) but felt (obviously quite wrongly) that the dealer would look after me (they after all re-assured me there would be no risk involved) . Things have gone pear shaped and the dealers stance seems to for me to get over it (pretty difficult when its 3k we're talking about. In light of this I don't feel I can trust my car to them on an ongoing basis...

In hindsight it was foolish of me BUT I acted on the repeated re-assurances of the dealer and had in mind that a good dealer relationship is key to happy TVR ownership

>> Edited by apex on Thursday 17th April 22:33

[apex]

andyr

I might just look into your idea about the factory doing it.