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Garage /mechanic list

61K views 80 replies 54 participants last post by  Lockheed 
#1 · (Edited)
Maybe an idea to get UK members to recommend a garage /mechanic and their location in the UK. This could then make easy access for people trying to find a tried and trusted garage /mechanic in their area of the UK.

Just my penniesworth.

ubdai

1- I'd like to offer up Subaru4you in Newbury. Len and his gang have serviced my Subaru's for the past 10 years. Great service.
www.subaru4you.co.uk/

2- Speak to Andy or Simon at Richard Henry Motorsport - 01274 732508
www.richardhenrymotorsport.co.uk/

3- Autotecnica in Buxton, Ask for Adam
www.autotecnica-subaru.co.uk/

4- Paul at Extreme Scoobies in Boreham, Essex - excellent service
www.extremescoobies.co.uk/

5- Cotswold Subaru near Witney Oxfordshire.
www.cotswoldssubaru.co.uk/

6- Surrey Subaru Specialists in Camberley Surrey. GU15 2QR


7- TFS racing in Aldershot Hampshire. GU11 1TG
www.tfsracing.co.uk/

8- Carnetix in Melton Mowbray. Glen and Becky and brand new premises
www.carnetix.co.uk/

9- Steve and the gang at cotton competition
www.cotcomp.com/
 
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#6 ·
Maybe an idea to get UK members to recommend a garage /mechanic and their location in the UK. This could then make easy access for people trying to find a tried and trusted garage /mechanic in their area of the UK.

Just my penniesworth.

ubdai
If you can edit/update your first post on an ongoing basis with the contributions made in this thread, I can sticky it.
 
#11 ·
+1 for Cotswold (WURX on eBay IIRC) - I would go so far as to say their customer service is the best I've received from any garage.

I can also recommend Simpsons in Swindon and TH White in Cirencester - have used both recently and was very happy with them.

Subaru4You are also good though judging by some of the quotes I've heard they've given recently, they do seem to be getting a bit expensive... number of hours quoted for jobs going up to cover a lower hourly rate perhaps?

Other than that, my local mechanic Tim is also great when I need a hand working on mine - very experienced, self-employed and not VAT registered!!! :biggrin:
 
#19 ·
One to avoid:

Keith Price Subaru, Abergavenny.

They lied to me about my car and mis diagnosed a fault.

I was told by KP that I needed two front wheel bearings, caliper and pads which was proved to be wrong by another dealer. A few days after the KP diagnosis the clutch fingers on the pressure plate broke off. Clutch replaced by a real Subaru dealer (carstins) under warranty with no hassle. KP do not have a clue so they make it up to keep their cashflow going and not your car!
 
#61 ·
I had my Forester booked in with Keith Price Subaru, Abergavenny for next week but having read what Pindie had to say about them I've decided to cancel the booking.

However, this does now leave me with a real problem because I need to get my A/C fixed before the cold weather arrives.

My Forester has just wasted 10 days at Greens Motors Subaru, Haverfordwest with the A/C problem but they failed to diagnose nevermind correct it but in fairness to them they didn't charge me anything.

I also contacted Nathaniel's at Bridgend before booking in with Keith Price but they declined to accept my car as they didn't feel they had sufficient Subaru experience to deal with the problem. So this now leaves me with nowhere to turn as there isn't another Subaru dealership within South Wales. So if anybody has any suggestions of where I can take my motor, I'd really appreciate it because I'm desperate to get this problem sorted in case it causes further damage.
 
#24 ·
XTREME SCOOBIES = Real Life Bad Experience

I am NOT sorry to put a damper on them for everyone who thinks they are great, but I loyally used Xtreme in Boreham for years (2003 – 2006) for my modded Impreza’s as they hired out a twin catted exhaust for MOT purposes, so you could pass the emissions. I had previously used Scoobysport and had gotten to know and trust Knowlsey as a result.

Because they were a long way away (90mile round trip), I would drive there early one week day, drop the car off as they opened and get a train to the city and then collect the car on the Saturday after the MOT was completed and an appropriate annual service completed.

My car always seemed to have more road-test miles and less petrol than I had expected on its return though. This bugged me, but I never pushed it. (Other people have since mentioned the same observation - so this was never a one-off).


One workday, the day after dropping it off, I get a panicked call from Paul himself saying that my car is stuck on his driveway (or the roadside) at home with the engine running and doors locked - as he had ‘left it running to clear the windows’ and the Blackjax had automatically locked the doors with the keys inside (it has to be left running and unlocked a fair while for BJx to do that!). He had then left it there at home and driven all the way to work in another car (his wife’s I assume) to get my phone number.



Would I mind going over there and giving them a spare key??, otherwise my car would be sat on their drive all day until the petrol runs out?
Guess how I felt about Xtreme Scoobies after that?????


I was actually lucky (due to my own personal forsight, not their stupidity), as I had an un-chipped door key blade hidden within the exterior car bodywork, otherwise my normally garaged car which had already be left at risk overnight would have then been subjected to a prolonged bore-wash exercise.

The conclusion was therefore, that the nicer and more powerful Scoobs get used for personal fun if left with them.

I'll never trust them or recommend them as a result.


**
I now use Larkins Automotive Services, a mobile mechanic and Subaru specialist who covers Kent and surrounding area for my cars.
Mobile Mechanic Kent Maidstone Sittingbourne | Larkins Automotive Services
Dean Larkins – 07950 953 824

Alternatively, Craig at Sabre Vehicle Services in Gillingham is a popular choice for people who need full workshop services.
Sabre Vehicle Services
Craig – 01634 360693
 
#72 ·
Mobile Mechanic, Tim Farmer (Ex Zen Performance). Good guy and cheap


He is based in Cambridgeshire but will travel (Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex etc)

07880661866
Just wanted to say +1.

Tim knows the cars inside out. He's a real good guy, he does thorough work and doesn't mess about. He's worked on my last 3 Subaru's and I wouldn't go anywhere else. He does everything on Subaru's including engine rebuilds. Give him a try if you're around Cambs, Northants, Beds etc.
 
#27 ·
I can recommend Martin, who heads up Sheffield Subaru Service , based in Attercliffe, South Yorks.

Martin's a top bloke, ex-Montys/Europa, and he comes with all the diagnostic kit as well :)))

I have only experienced honesty, trustworthyness, and happy vibes from him and his right-hand-man. They don't make you spend money on unnecessary crap, they give an honest opinion and will also sort you out a treat come MOT time (if you have a de-cat as I do / as most of Sheffield Scooby boys do!).

Extra Bonus: meets take place here on the first Monday of the month, 7pm onwards. Result!

cheers

Mike
 
#28 ·
One to avoid:

Ed's treads in Watford (They also have a garage in Ayelsbury and Hemel Hempstead)
I had used them a few times before for MOT's and a belt change. But they did a shocking job trying to replace a few valves. I managed to get my monies back off them and have since heard so many bad stories about them ripping people off, pretending to do work and their workmanship is very very poor. They manage to cause more damage then they fix.
 
#29 ·
Thought that I'd added my 2p's worth to this but don't seem to have:

I have used :

Scoobyclinic in Chesterfield, work quality has always seemed very good, but their phone answering can be a bit hit and miss in my experience. However a lot of the Midland Scoobies guys swear by this place, and my recent experiences have been much improved over my historical frustrations. So it seems they have now sorted this out, which is a definite plus.

Scoobyworld in Loughborough, have been looking after my FSTI since I got it, Neil, Wendy and Scott, very knowledgeable and friendly. It may well go there for the STI suspension fit and geometry when it turns up depending upon how the mapping options pan out at:

Scooby Projects in Ledbury. Keith is a top no nonsense block, a Lancashire lad originally (but I try not to hold that against him :biggrin: ) who will give it to you striaght, provide you with a list of options for any given situation, and provide a recommendation as well based on his experience. They did the rebuild on my STI V5 wagon engine, and I was very pleased with the result. He's is also partnered up with Bob Rawle for providing engine mapping.
 
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