There are good and bad main dealers and there are good and bad independants.

Finding someone you can trust is important.

Smaller family owned main dealers are in my experience vey good, its the big national chains that let the side down sometimes.

Sites with mutiple brands are best avoided at all costs. Experience shows that getting the correct grade oil is a lottery, they tend to use the biggest seller in all the cars. Putting the incorrect spec oil in some modern cars (especially diesels) is a certain way to shorten the life of the DPF and Cat.

Stay with a local independant for sales and servicing. Much better and friendlier.

And cheaper - unless you are very unlucky. And possibly more conveniently located.

I can't offer many horror stories about main dealers, though I am pretty sure that there are examples of unnecessary work being done for profit. A Pug dealer I used to patronise fitted two new lower suspension arms to a 306 with only 25K on the clock. When I asked to see the old ones they were produced, but I suspect they came off some other car. Maybe they were overstocked in spares?

Edited by Andrew-T on 12/08/2013 at 18:31

Outside warranty I use my own independent. He's a lazy so and so, only carries out work when absolutley needed, uses the bare minimum of tools - no hoist, just a pit - and carries no stock so any parts needed mean a wait until delivered.

He takes at least twice the allowed time for a job, his work needs checking and he works in filthy overalls.. Looks like a tramp on a bad day. If the job is complicated he takes hours checking his work as he is usually unskilled in what he is doing.

But he is thorough - changes things he says he will. As he grows older, he becomes slower and lazier.He drinks and sometimes is hungover. I suppose I should fire him but as he is free, I cannot be bothered.

He's me.

Edited by madf on 12/08/2013 at 21:50

My local Nissan dealer is good - a smaller independant dealership, perhaps that's why.

Help me out here - I thought 'independent' meant not attached to any brand or franchise? That's what I mean when I say 'indie', anyway.

I have used both main dealers and independents over the years. After years of buying cheap cars privately I brought a second hand one at a Renault main dealer. There were a number of issues with the car which I had to fix myself as the dealer did not want to know. Their parts department was also very poor. I have brought three cars from independents since. The first two were in excellent condition and totally reliable. Both sadly went prematurely – one was stolen and trashed and the other was side swiped by a “hit and run” driver. The next car I brought from an independent was a pile of carp (the dealer is still trading somehow). My current car was a private purchase.

As regards servicing both main dealers and independents are very variable. Only one main dealer has impressed me and that was a Ford main dealer outside Wadebridge when I was on holiday over twenty years ago. They started work immediately and the car was ready when they said. I think it was family run. Another Ford dealer had asked for the car to be delivered early and did not even start work that day! A major problem with many main dealers (bar the Renault experience I have only used Ford and Vauxhall ones) seems to be job creation and unnecessary replacement of parts. Generally I now use independents. I was very happy with one for over a decade but following a change of management it went downhill. The labour rate went up and the workmanship went down. On one occasion I was chased aggressively for payment when I had already paid. The last time I used them the wheel nuts had not been tightened on one wheel! I still have to find someone I am totally happy with.