Nationwide Autocentre And Aa Service Centre

[Guest p1948040]

does anyone have any comments about either Nationwide Autocentre or AA service centres in terms of quality of service / cost etc ?

 

thanx in advance

[seatkid]

see http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/Forum/index.p...pic=1310&st=0

 

that would put me off...

[pj_andrew]

On previous cars, once the warranty period has expired, I have used the AA centre at the local Halfords for services.

I've found it pretty good and never had any problems.

[Guest Andyjflet]

I was once in Northampton waiting for my wife who was in a meeting in my old W Zetec TDI and decided that I needed an oil change and to kill some time.

 

They provided a great service and let me watch the proceedings in the bay, they removed the engine tray carefully etc and fitted a new filter and refilled with good quality oil which was free.

 

I paid about

[seatkid]

my old W Zetec TDI

 

PD engine (115bhp) or old TDi engine?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Here are my comments, usual disclaimers apply.

Used Lex/Nationwide auto centres since moving to present address from Wiltshire, 8 years ago. No problems, they seem very helpful and are usually managed and run by keen car enthusiasts, previous manager at my local centre worked for Turdo-Technics in the past. I have asked them about what oils they use, and they say that they use a variety to suit differing engines etc. Asked them about a cambelt change for my scenic and they told me price, just a few quid cheaper than main Renault dealer - they even told me that they would probably take longer than they should as they don't do many of these changes, and that I really ought to consider paying the extra and letting the main dealer do the work. As a result- I continue to use them for almost everything that needs doing when I can't do it myself; just got the Gal MOT'd by them today for

[Guest Andyjflet]

It was 115bhp TDI

[seatkid]

:o In that case they've used the wrong oil matey :o

 

PD engines require oil to VW 505.01 spec which even at trade costs more than you paid for the entire service!

 

Cheap but not so cheerful :rolleyes:

 

No doubt they used a champion filter as well! :unsure:

[Guest Andy]

I WOULD STEAR CLEAR OF ANY FAST FIT/SERVICE CENTRES,IM SURE IF YOU ASK FRIENDS ETC SOMEONE WILL BE USING A SMALLER GARAGE WITH A GOOD REPUTATION AND REASONABLE COSTS.

:rolleyes: :unsure: :o :o

[Guest p1948040]

thank you all for taking the time to respond, some interesting observations.

 

Sounds like the AA ex-Halfords are one to avoid like the proverbial...

 

thanx

[Guest SA Intruder]

Did a quick ringround...

 

Halfords Oil and filter change - don't recognise 130PD! "Is it an import?" Crawl back under your stone sonny.

 

Lex/Nationwide Oil and Filter change -

[seatkid]

SA, I agree wholeheartedly - ignorance is bliss? B)

 

Dealers are another matter - they should know what they're doing?????... :rolleyes:

 

Of course, those that don't keep their cars very long aren't too bothered. Maybe thats why I would think long and hard before buying second hand... :lol:

[SirToppamHat]

Shopping around for tyres today and the first place I went to was a local garage that does only tyres. I had always used them for my Espace, so wondered what they would make of the Galaxy. Removed a nail from one of the tyres for no charge as it hadn't punctured, even though they had to remove the wheel.

 

Without prompting, the boss man saw the Gal and explained that I needed a 'reinforced' tyre, which limited the choice somewhat. All he had in were 2 Dunlop 2020 215/55 95R 16s (as currently fitted). Price

[Ivor_E_Tower]

I wouldn't trust Matador tyres - they may encourage a bull to put its horns through the rubber!

Were the AA prices for a pair of tyres or each?

[seatkid]

If you look at http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/Forum/index.php?showtopic=1521 you will see that considerably lower prices are acheivable.

 

There is some confusion as to whether a 215 tyre needs to be reinforced. According to my user manual and my original tyres it doesn't. Check your manual to make sure.

[SirToppamHat]

Ivor

 

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear, the AA/Halfords prices were EACH!

 

Seatkid

 

Thanx for the pointer!

[Guest Hacksaw]

Hello,

 

My local AA service centre in Chingford advised me that the brake pads only had 1000 miles left to go and quoted on changing them. A few hundred miles later, a private mechanic scoffed at this when I got him to do the work and said that I was wasting my time changing them, certainly at that stage.

 

I had bought the parts by then so got him to go ahead anyway at about the quarter of the AA quotation. I am sure that some garages are a bit "previous" so as to generate a bit of revenue.

 

 

 

Ritchie

[SharanTDICarat]

If you look at http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/Forum/index.php?showtopic=1521 you will see that considerably lower prices are acheivable.

 

There is some confusion as to whether a 215 tyre needs to be reinforced. According to my user manual and my original tyres it doesn't. Check your manual to make sure.

I to had this dilemma when changing my wheels and tyres , but the owners book and the inside of the fuel cap both , state when you goto the 215/ size of tyre the is no recomendation for reinforced. But it does stipulate that the 195/ and 205 are reinforced( this is on a 1998 Sharan BTW)

[shefki]

When I lived in Mansfield my wife had a Fiesta GhiaX 1.4 (99 S plate).

 

When that came out of warrenty I took it to our local LEX service centre who also looked after ALL Nottinghamshires LEX lease / hire stock.

 

I booked the car in for it's 2nd year scheduled service and even got a FORD schedule as to what would be done in the price.

 

When I came to pay it was

[Guest funkmiester]

With the weight of the Galaxy I would always use reinforced tyres - spose youve got kiddies in the back ? not worth risking. I got 2 firestones (division of Bridgestone I believe?) on the front for