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Servicing dilema?!

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:44 pm
by ed
A Service is due in 400 miles, so will need to get i done straight after MT.
I have a day off on monday but f1 cant do it then so would have to drive down and leave it there and pick her up at the weekend. if i go the falkland route it aint lotus approved, but cheep, like the budgie!, and mmc are quite pricey to say the least!! :roll:
What should i do?

cheers Ed :D

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:52 pm
by DDtB
For the sake of £100 between F1 and MMC, I'd go MMC.

Think about it.... take off the hassle factor of driving down and leaving the car, combined with the petrol costs, tyre wear and mileage on the car etc.... and MMC is probably more sensible. Call me cynical but I wouldn't be surprised if some smart bod at MMC worked out that it would cost a punter about £100+service to go the F1 route so they just add it on to their service cost !!!

If you ain't bothered about the lotus stamps and it doesn't affect any warranties you may have ... go the falkland route.

Personally I'm getting my car serviced and MOTd today at an independant since I cant justify spending the sort of money MMC want on a <10k car / p****ty w**gon.... :wink: My C service cost about £350 going that route as opposed to the £1k ish MMC would have wanted.... no way I would have got £650 extra back if I sold the car now due to having an extra lotus stamp so it was a no brainer for me!

Anyway... you're loaded so what's the problem.... :P

/2p

DDtB.

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:01 pm
by Tom
Ed, think about it. Brand new car still in warranty. Unless you're planning on keeping it for ever I'd still try and keep it to Official Lotus only stamps. What about that other official dealer that just opened between carlisle and newcastle??

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:08 pm
by ed
just spoke with hexham and they dont have any gaps until the end of june! :( looking like it might have to be mmc :(

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:20 pm
by rossybee
For the record - have had lots of dealings with Hexham in the past (had a Griffith 500 for 5 years 8) ) and they are most excellent - contact is Tony Abrams (boss) or Richard Bright (service mgr) :wink:

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:45 pm
by Andy G
With Dave on this one.

My 9k service cost about £200 from memory?????

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:11 pm
by Shug
F1 Newcastle are official. MMC are in Edinburgh (therefore the Edin comedy price machine applies) :lol:

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:47 pm
by The_Rossatron
If you go Falkland, Lotus will still legally have to honour the warranty as long as genuine parts are used and Falkland stick to the service schedule. Which they do!

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:03 pm
by jj
Spot on Ross, madness in my mind paying so much more just to have a lotus stamp in the book. Its not like Falkland dont know what they are on about. Definately where the yellow weapon will be going (if I have it that long!).

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:40 pm
by Lawrence
The manufacturer can no longer insist that their dealer network alone can carry out servicing.

However IMHO I would use MMC on a car in warranty. There are recalls that may need looking at and not all the recalls are advertised.

There are good guys working there and MMC do look after you if you look after them.

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:59 pm
by simon
Any recalls can be found on the Lotus website by entering your chassis number. I'd go Falkland if I were you and not be stung for £350.

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:08 pm
by ed
cheers for the advice guys.

Have decided to take the hit and get it done by MMC.
I hope i will never trade it in but if i do i reckon its a better proposition for the dealer, plus private buyers would be happier with full lotus approved history.

hopefully if im good to her she will be good to me back! :wink: :D

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:25 pm
by simon
pussy!

:lol:

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:21 pm
by mac
I'm with Lawrence - I know Pauline is away but have always had great service and more than a few times have helped out with items that have been of warrenty etc.


Mac

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:48 pm
by Stephen
As far as i know MMC charge more than Lotus for their labour could you not cut a stamp from a potato?

Be artistic