Dealer Commendation

[mystery machine]

Car has generated a faint odour of petrol at idle since I bought it a few months back. Had my local dealership look at it, but they couldn't diagnose the fault.

Took the car down to Noble's servicing outfit today (first time I've used them) and they traced the fault to a badly connected (or disconnected) breather hose on/near the inlet manifold (I'd be more specific about the details, but I never got to speak to the mechanic post-repair). They also took some slack out of my handbrake, and gave me a nice Impreza hatch courtesy car to take away for the day. All covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and no money had to change hands - either for the servicing or for the courtesy car.

Rare these days that I come away from a car servicing centre feeling in any way pleased, but hats off to the guys at Noble's for doing a good job. I'm considering using them for servicing now too, despite the trek.

Keep it up.

[paul555sti]

When i bought my wagon from them and it had to go back in they had a salesman that lived in Alloa, he met me in the morning on his way to work and took my car whilst leaving me his and then we swopped back in the evening.

This might be an option for you if he still works there.

[bigbird]

I've had mine serviced at Nobles since i got it and had a few warranty issues sorted without problem. Not exactly cheap, but what dealer is nowadays??

[mystery machine]

When i bought my wagon from them and it had to go back in they had a salesman that lived in Alloa, he met me in the morning on his way to work and took my car whilst leaving me his and then we swopped back in the evening.

This might be an option for you if he still works there.

Cheers Paul.

I had a chat with the guy at reception about the options for bringing the car in and, as you say, they seem quite flexible (as are the local main dealership), but taking their courtesy car on a day off work seems like the way to go.

Shame the last few miles of the journey wasn't a bit nicer (i.e. Edinburgh sh|tty bypass + a bunch of busy wee connecting roads). Hey ho, ye cannae huv it aw .

[mystery machine]

Not exactly cheap, but what dealer is nowadays??

True, I think that servicing is the bread & butter of the modern main dealership - especially since the profit margins on car sales are so much tighter than they used to be...

Seems to be the thing these days, manufacturers like to snare you with tempting deals on the core product, and then bleed you dry with the servicing costs - my favourite example being the 'practically giving it away' inkjet printer that costs £50 to buy and then, every couple of months, £80 to replace the ink cartridges

I'm just glad that some place was interested in looking at a problem that wasn't necessarily going to amount to a straightforward or profitable job..... a job that some places might view as a bit of a risk and not worth pursuing (that comment isn't directed toward any place in particular - I've found that with a few outfits in recent years).