The single biggest problems with Vauxhalls is their dealers. There are one or two, literally, reasonable ones but the rest employ incompetent, ex-fast fit, mechanics who fell asleep on their training courses: compounded by dealer managers who really don't care about retaining any customer base. Vauxhall would do themselves a huge sales boost if they applied a reasonable minimum level of competence for dealer performance.
The only advice I can give Dan J is to involve Vauxhall at the highest level and keep the pressure on. It took me 18 months to get a refund for a £1000+ engine rebuild after a cambelt failure, but they paid up in the end.
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If you live in or near Bucks, use Knotty Green Vauxhall in Beaconsfield. I have had nigh on three years of top service every time, and have even been squeezed in at zero notice, zero cost, and whilst I waited, for two minor niggles, one of which wasn't even 'caused' by the car (washer fluid gunged up the pump).
Knotty Green are a tiny dealership who know the meaning of customer service, and I just hope that with the Volvo I am about to buy, I am just as happy.
/Steve
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My thoughts exactly RogerL.
I've had nothing but rudeness and dreadful service from them and since I complained about them their attitude, interestingly, has actually become worse.
I am under the impression they think the problem is all mine rather than anything to do with their service. They have some interesting times ahead coming. A good friend of mine plus also a couple of family members have also received rude, bad and missold service from this garage and after chatting with me about it are making formal complaints.
What I don't understand is, when I worked at Ford, they anonymously checked out dealerships against a large checklist and would issue warnings at the slightest deviation from Ford guidelines. Do Vauxhall do this? And if so exactly how bad do they think their dealers can be to still be acceptable?
You're very right - no interest whatsoever, at both manufacturer and dealer level, in retaining any customers.
My only advice to one and all is never buy Vauxhall...
Dan J
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Hello,
I've owned various Vauxhalls over the last 10 years, including a Nova, Astra, Cavalier and now a Vectra - all except the Astra were owned out of choice (Astra was a company vehicle) - and I've had experience with a few different regional dealerships and have always found them to offer perfectly acceptable service.
Perhaps I'm just lucky.
Cheers,
Cyrill666
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I actually had very good service from Phoenix Vauxhall in South London when I lived there. This was in relation to my Cavalier at the time.
My Vectra has been exceptionally bad which is why I would not recommend anyone buy one, but the dealership experience has turned what was not a very good experience into something irrevocable.
As I mentioned on another thread, my mother's Citroens, whilst not quite as bad, have been problematic but the fantastic dealer along with their service department has resolved all issues first time every time, treats the customer as No 1 and has my mum coming back for new cars every few years. Obviously my comments only refer to that particular dealership but my experience generally has not been one I would like to repeat.
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when I worked at Ford, they anonymously checked out dealerships against a large checklist and would issue warnings at the slightest deviation from Ford guidelines. Do Vauxhall do this?
Yes. The Vaux garage I use is (according to them) one of the top 10 in the country.
And if so exactly how bad do they think their dealers can be to still be acceptable?
You only have to put on a good appearance during investigation. Rumours get around that inspectors are in the area vetting the garages. For instance - the garage I use; a couple of the salesmen previously worked for another Vaux dealership 20 miles away. They still communicate with their old workplace to source second hand cars, move dealer stock around, etc. All part of the "funny handshake" brigade. At the end of the day, it's who you know.
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