Getting a garage to take my money!!

Y

YorkshireSam

New member
Is anyone else finding it hard to part with money?

I don't have any problem spending it on the F-Type, but the problem is nobody seems to want to take my cash!

I've been trying to arrange diff oil change... nothing complicated. One local Jaguar dealership's workshop has closed (Wakefield). One has had a workshop fire (York) and can't book it in till December at the earliest. A couple apparently can't even be arsed to call me back with a price (Leeds x2) and one nearby and reputable independent's mechanic was on holiday and never got back to me (also in Leeds).

I can't believe I'm chasing up my own custom! Can anyone recommend anyone decent near Leeds who might want my money?

And is anyone else struggling when it comes to booking in routine maintenance?
 
Depends on your definition of local, I guess, but I've heard good things and had good experience with these guys just outside York:

https://bigcatgarage.co.uk/

They quoted a good price for the 6 year service on my SVR, responded promptly to emails and phone calls when I got in touch with them and were really good when I cancelled said service after realising I had a main dealer service pack to use that made it free.

To that end I booked it in with Vertu Leeds and was mostly happy. No courtesy car as I work in Leeds and therefore got an appointment within two weeks, if I had needed one the wait would have been two months.

Annoyingly the one day job ended up being two due to how busy they were but they let me know with plenty of notice and immediately offered to cover the cost of my additional train ticket by way of apology.

I also got to speak to the workshop manager easily and he shared my desire not to apply the sound-ruining latest ECU software that my car has managed to avoid... ;) So an overall decent experience, if not perfect, although I appreciate they may be one of the two Leeds dealers who have ignored you.

Lloyd York had a stupidly long waitlist even before their fire, I was told I'd need to book two months in advance just to have an EML light diagnosed.
 
Thanks for the recommendation. I wasn't aware of Big Cat Garage in York but they look good.

Tasker Lacey is near me but they haven't come back to me with a price, so I'll give Big Cat a call today.
 
Hi Sam

I have used Big Cat Garage aka Simon March for a couple of years now and always had a good service from them.

Previously used Inchcape who then became then Lloyds in York who were OK but not very responsive and had longer wait times.
 
Not commenting on your case or specific garages, but I'm sure many garages see no money in doing small part jobs Vs full servicing, Just too much hassle and it takes labour and workshop/ramp time that can be earning much more.
 
I have used an indy called Harrogate Jagwar who were very good and did a diff oil change for me - reasonably riced too

https://harrogatejagwar.co.uk/
 
Hi Ian and Blackberry. Thanks for those recommendations - appreciated. I'm in the process of ringing round and think a good indi is the way to go. Big Cat came back with a fair price and I'll add Jagwar to the list.

Billy, yep there's a recorded message when you try to call Hatfields saying the workshop is no longer open. Although they never seemed to want to take work on when it was!
 
YorkshireSam said:
Hi Ian and Blackberry. Thanks for those recommendations - appreciated. I'm in the process of ringing round and think a good indi is the way to go. Big Cat came back with a fair price and I'll add Jagwar to the list.

Billy, yep there's a recorded message when you try to call Hatfields saying the workshop is no longer open. Although they never seemed to want to take work on when it was!
Click to expand...

Apparently they sell loads of Jaguars as well, couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch (not) 😉
 
YorkshireSam said:
Is anyone else finding it hard to part with money?

I don't have any problem spending it on the F-Type, but the problem is nobody seems to want to take my cash!

I've been trying to arrange diff oil change... nothing complicated. One local Jaguar dealership's workshop has closed (Wakefield). One has had a workshop fire (York) and can't book it in till December at the earliest. A couple apparently can't even be arsed to call me back with a price (Leeds x2) and one nearby and reputable independent's mechanic was on holiday and never got back to me (also in Leeds).

I can't believe I'm chasing up my own custom! Can anyone recommend anyone decent near Leeds who might want my money?

And is anyone else struggling when it comes to booking in routine maintenance?
Click to expand...

A bit out of your way perhaps but consider giving Parkside Garage (JLR specialist in Huddersfield) a ring. They're very good.

Parkside Garage Ltd Jaguar & Land Rover Specialists
01484 767126
https://g.co/kgs/Zk4eojU
 
Seems to be a common thing wherever you are. My local specialist, AJTECH in Devon is rushed off his feet at the moment. Have to book in well in advance to get things done, he deserves all the work though, he's an excellent mechanic!
 
I use both jagwar Harrogate for several years (f type and Range Rover L450 servicing) and big cat York (RR service yesterday having moved). Fair price, well run and knowledgeable both.
 
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