Pit Stop - Park Royal

[Bish]

Saw this place on 5th Gear (what an awful programme) and thought I would give it a go.

Went up today un-announced got the Defender on the 4 post lift and drained the transfer box and Overdrive fluids out........used the supplied gearbox fluids to top back up.........1hr later I was out and only £30 out of pocket.

I am highly reccomend it if you like to tinker and have no place to do it in town.

http://www.pitstopselfservicegarage.com/info.html

[Mr.Jimbo]

thats a great idea! Really quite impressed.

Impressed moreso with the health and safety aspect... a Lift?! this could get nasty, fast!

[Bish]

Come on, they're not that tricky to use and these ones where monsters none of these half hearted ones you see in some back street garages.......but I do know what you mean if some idiot got it in there!!!!

These can only be dropped by first lifting them up whilst pressing another button then they can lower so are pretty fool-proof.

[Alfa_75_Steve]

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

[H_Kan]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

[Alfa_75_Steve]

H_Kan said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

No, but venture a little further out (near St. Albans) and you can get those rates - I know, 'cos I did.

(£25 + VAT / hour when I moved, 5 years ago)

[BrabusMog]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

H_Kan said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

No, but venture a little further out (near St. Albans) and you can get those rates - I know, 'cos I did.

(£25 + VAT / hour when I moved, 5 years ago)

It's a bit of a gimmick though, I'd rather change my oil in a nice place with the chance to meet some like minded people than trek to St. Albans to get cheaper labour. See your point though, definitely a niche market for this venture.

[Stickers]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

H_Kan said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

No, but venture a little further out (near St. Albans) and you can get those rates - I know, 'cos I did.

(£25 + VAT / hour when I moved, 5 years ago)

Yeah & do they allow you to bring your own oil/filters etc?......thought not!

Do it yourself & you'll know that it has been done properly.

[1]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

H_Kan said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

No, but venture a little further out (near St. Albans) and you can get those rates - I know, 'cos I did.

(£25 + VAT / hour when I moved, 5 years ago)

You can get a qualified mechanic with his own premises in St Albans for £25ph, please tell me where?

[Alfa_75_Steve]

1 said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

H_Kan said:

Alfa_75_Steve said:

£20+VAT / Hour...... that's uncomfortably close to what my local mechanic charges anyway!

You're in S Wales, won't see many W. London mechanics at those labour rates.

No, but venture a little further out (near St. Albans) and you can get those rates - I know, 'cos I did.

(£25 + VAT / hour when I moved, 5 years ago)

You can get a qualified mechanic with his own premises in St Albans for £25ph, please tell me where?

Just outside St. Albans - village called Markyate.

DFS Garage Services. They're in the Yellow Pages. Run by a bloke called Dale. He's very good and very cheap.

ETA: He used to look after my Alfa 33s, my 75, and my Fiat 124 Spider, as well as my Cinq. Sporting. He did belt changes on a 33 16v, which is a fairly complex job, and could swap a gearbox for £75+VAT, too. ISTR he did a service and clutch on my 75 for not much more than £200, and a 33 8v head gasket, oil change and cambelt for around £220.

Edited by Alfa_75_Steve on Saturday 11th July 01:25

[Rich_W]

Bish said:

Saw this place on 5th Gear (what an awful programme) and thought I would give it a go.

Went up today un-announced got the Defender on the 4 post lift and drained the transfer box and Overdrive fluids out........used the supplied gearbox fluids to top back up.........1hr later I was out and only £30 out of pocket.

I am highly reccomend it if you like to tinker and have no place to do it in town.

http://www.pitstopselfservicegarage.com/info.html

Love the fact you hate the programme sbut watch it anyway. But then I guess you view everything on Top Gear as great and beyond reproach. 5G is actually not a bad programme. Sure I don't like everything, but at least they do more than just let Clarkson powerslide around an empty track. He does 95% of the fast cars. And have you noticed that when the show starts you don't see May or Hammond? Or just teh numpty filler crap like that Caravan holiday

[richyb]

Its local to me and I plan on going up there soon. It is a bit of a gimmick I suppose but as someone else said it could be a good place to go meet like minded people and have a bit of a natter.

[AMG Merc]

Does anyone have any updates on these guys? Prices, service and tool quality, etc.