Independents......Can you comment good/bad etc?
- Thread starter day1zero
- Start date
russellbarnes
New member
I am about to look to use one in the midlands area. Do i need to be worried? And whilst we are here, any recommendations??
By reputation rather than personal use, PCT in Coventry (on the same site as Autobahn) and Porschetech in Meriden (next door to Shirleys).
Depending on what part of the Midlands you're looking for, GCR Pure Porsche in Leicester did a PPI on a 993 for me and did a thorough job. They come recommended by a couple of people who responded to an enquiry I made on the Pistonheads Porsche board for a good indie in that area.
Depending on what part of the Midlands you're looking for, GCR Pure Porsche in Leicester did a PPI on a 993 for me and did a thorough job. They come recommended by a couple of people who responded to an enquiry I made on the Pistonheads Porsche board for a good indie in that area.
Pickled Piper
New member
I'm in the Midlands. Who are you thinking of using?
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peterarcher
New member
Hi
Apologies for late reply but I have only just picked this up.
I have only experienced two third parties, Autofarm and ninemeister. Autofarm was just a small job but they seemed nice people. I have spent a considerable amount of money with Ninemeister and it has been worth every penny. They are a nightmare drive from where I live, only 200 miles but probably the worse 200 miles on the planet. ( mostly M1/M6) During a recent conversation with them I heard, what seemed to me, rather disturbing info. Apparently when your car is serviced at an OPC they work to a service sheet and tick off the jobs as they are done, and just those. Also they are not really geared up for dealing with cars that are showing over 100k miles. I am not knocking OPCs here because I have been dealt with very well by them but I do think that when it comes to high mileage 993's a good independant is probably going to check your car rather than a list. Finally, one last point, an OPC's labour rate is about £80 per hour, an independant will charge half that. So if you have a labour intensive job to be done you might like to consider that. As usual I guess it is, as always, horses for courses. Hope that is of help.
Peter
Apologies for late reply but I have only just picked this up.
I have only experienced two third parties, Autofarm and ninemeister. Autofarm was just a small job but they seemed nice people. I have spent a considerable amount of money with Ninemeister and it has been worth every penny. They are a nightmare drive from where I live, only 200 miles but probably the worse 200 miles on the planet. ( mostly M1/M6) During a recent conversation with them I heard, what seemed to me, rather disturbing info. Apparently when your car is serviced at an OPC they work to a service sheet and tick off the jobs as they are done, and just those. Also they are not really geared up for dealing with cars that are showing over 100k miles. I am not knocking OPCs here because I have been dealt with very well by them but I do think that when it comes to high mileage 993's a good independant is probably going to check your car rather than a list. Finally, one last point, an OPC's labour rate is about £80 per hour, an independant will charge half that. So if you have a labour intensive job to be done you might like to consider that. As usual I guess it is, as always, horses for courses. Hope that is of help.
Peter
ORIGINAL: MoC2S
Factual, fully documented details of service received are welcome - litigation inviting slanderous statements are not.
Amongst others, I can moderate members' posts, so just to save me the trouble, please keep within those bounds .... []
cheers, Maurice [8|][:-][
aye.....
so then shall I start by all the garages who can't do jobs right 1st time and then need the customer to help them identify the problem correctly ! [
]I have a list !!! [:-]
Alex Postan
New member
I have used Bob Watson and Francis Tuthill. Both fabulous people and excellent service. Oxfordshire is on the edge of the Midlands....
I've had mine serviced etc at PCT as I bought from Autobahn. I've had nothing major yet but been happy with everything to date.
There are 3 partners who all worked for OPC but formed their business in excess of 10 years ago I think. They were initially in Birmingham but were persuded to link up with Autobahn.
There are 3 partners who all worked for OPC but formed their business in excess of 10 years ago I think. They were initially in Birmingham but were persuded to link up with Autobahn.
Pickled Piper
New member
I've been using PCT based at Autobahn also for the last two years. I've found them to be competent but painfully expensive. Their current abour rate of £68+vat per hour is not far from the rates OPCs charge for older vehicles. My guess is that their colaboration with Autobahn means they have plenty of work servicing new 997s, Caymans and Cayennes, the end result is that they have hiked their rates because they can. They are getting too much like an OPC for my liking.
I'm on the look out for a smaller outfit (one or two man) where they live or die by their reputation. I may give Martin Brown at Porschetec a try.
I'm on the look out for a smaller outfit (one or two man) where they live or die by their reputation. I may give Martin Brown at Porschetec a try.
911addict
New member
In London the indy labour rates are as bad as OPC, £60 or more, plus vat!
Also worth shoppinmg around for parts, but then again some dealers won't guarantee their work if you don't buy the full price items from them!!
I've used several over the years. Often one dealer is good at say engines, while another is good at suspension, or a particular model. Although they may be good at one thing does not mean they won't be useless at another. In addition to their technical abilities, some might be poor at finishing jobs fully or on time (i.e. customer service).
PS: I have a VERY bad experience of a northern sales dealer who I would not wish on my worst enemy. I am not alone unfortunately... (clue: named after an Austrian town, where Porsche have a museum).
Also worth shoppinmg around for parts, but then again some dealers won't guarantee their work if you don't buy the full price items from them!!
I've used several over the years. Often one dealer is good at say engines, while another is good at suspension, or a particular model. Although they may be good at one thing does not mean they won't be useless at another. In addition to their technical abilities, some might be poor at finishing jobs fully or on time (i.e. customer service).
PS: I have a VERY bad experience of a northern sales dealer who I would not wish on my worst enemy. I am not alone unfortunately... (clue: named after an Austrian town, where Porsche have a museum).
barrysmith
PCGB Member
To the cryptic clue.......All I will say is andrew is one of the best ind dealers I know , if you are fair with him he is more than fair with you, mess him about and you get what you deserve, so tread carefully.[]
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911addict
New member
Barry, you are on dodgy ground making your comment. You know nothing of my situation or some others that I know. As an official in the PCGB you ought to remain independent, not defensive. Clearly this isn't the place to go into details. If you want, you should pm me. Personally I feel obliged to warn others of bad experiences.
RichardLW
New member
The cryptic clue is just what Henry Firman said in his column a month or two ago in Total 911. Somebody says so and so is crap or they have had really bad experiences with firm B and this all passes into 911 folklore - but they won't say who it is but email me personally and I will tell you. IMHO this is not what should be on this thread and if 911addict has a tale to tell then it should be told and we can make our own judgement - one person's bad experience may be another's "well what did you expect?" - so please no more of this peevishness.
911addict
New member
I am not looking to justify or defend my comment. I have simply posted a caveat.
I have previously posted more fully on various Porsche forums over the past few months, and apart from certain forums disallowing 'naming & shaming' and getting posts removed by the moderators or me being banned (!) you also get various unrelated parties jumping to the defence "because so-and-so is a good egg" or "has provided me with a good service". This does not alter the fact that bad sh** happens.
One of the reasons I am not keen to post details at the current time is that litigation is in process.
'Nuff said at the moment.
Thanks.
I have previously posted more fully on various Porsche forums over the past few months, and apart from certain forums disallowing 'naming & shaming' and getting posts removed by the moderators or me being banned (!) you also get various unrelated parties jumping to the defence "because so-and-so is a good egg" or "has provided me with a good service". This does not alter the fact that bad sh** happens.
One of the reasons I am not keen to post details at the current time is that litigation is in process.
'Nuff said at the moment.
Thanks.
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