AMG GT R - Der Tag

[Scania]

So then, Stoke Mercedes....

Yea, they won’t be touching my car. Spent 15 minutes trying to park. Cars everywhere, temper rising. Mechanics just staring at my car with that “I’m having first go” look. No greatest or signs (or ones that I could see). Little to no space and cars just dumped. I park and block in some people to be told “put your name on an envelope and post it trough the door”. Not happening.

Canned the whole idea and rebooked into Macclesfield Mercedes which looks proper. Just awful experience this morning. Come on Mercedes you must do better.

Can’t say I’m surprised, my parents used them (Stoke) for years but the service has just gone down and down, they now use Mercedes Benz Southwest (Taunton, Somerset) as both their cars were bought from them and their service is excellent so much so they have a weekend away just to get the cars serviced, well, pre Covid anyway!

Wonderful car Housey, just a shame such a premium vehicle gets such 3rd rate service from some dealers.

 

[Housey]

That is terrible, shame you did not mention you were coming to Stoke, I am in the office you could have stopped by and we could have had a socially distanced coffee.

I was dropping off mate so had someone picking me up and dropping me off etc. Next time

 

[Housey]

Can’t say I’m surprised, my parents used them (Stoke) for years but the service has just gone down and down, they now use Mercedes Benz Southwest (Taunton, Somerset) as both their cars were bought from them and their service is excellent so much so they have a weekend away just to get the cars serviced, well, pre Covid anyway!

Wonderful car Housey, just a shame such a premium vehicle gets such 3rd rate service from some dealers.

It was very poor really. Disorganised and shoddy and first impressions count. Not a single person seemed that bothered about their customers all with the WTF look ok their face. I have it 15 minutes and that was enough. I’d have been chewing my nails all day worrying so better to regroup and rebook elsewhere, which I’ve done.

 

[Gibbo]

It was very poor really. Disorganised and shoddy and first impressions count. Not a single person seemed that bothered about their customers all with the WTF look ok their face. I have it 15 minutes and that was enough. I’d have been chewing my nails all day worrying so better to regroup and rebook elsewhere, which I’ve done.

Why we are so picky about garages, problem is these kind of cars we should not work on ourselves because it can devalue them, so finding someone you can truly trust can be so difficult.

My experience with DL Ferrari was above and beyond, I'd have had zero issues leaving my car with them but as I treated it as a day I always waited with the car, first time I was fed and given test drives, second time I got to play in an 812 super fast and then got to watch and talk with the tech working on my car and ask anything I wished as Ferrari are also happy for owners to have a DIY approach too.

Then I moved to Ferrari Manchester as there was zero point me driving to DL during lock down as could not visit friends down south, so gave Manchester a try and they were also great, even though it was lock down they took great care and gave me a Mercedes for a couple of days whilst they did the service, repairs and warranty extension, very easy to communicate via email or phone and overall seemed a job well done.

My Ford experience, Bristol Street after service in Stoke was shocking and appalling, disgusting but Ford did compensate me with a 3yr service pack FOC, then my local family owned Ford dealer in Congleton (Burns) were in a different league, absolutely amazing, to the point they even let myself and a mate have free use of their alignment ramp to setup our Mustang's as we both fitted coilovers.

Lots of good dealerships, also plenty of rubbish ones too, just gotta find the good ones.

 

[Housey]

I think these sort of subjective things can be taken the wrong way by some people. It is nothing to do with kissing backsides, rolling out red carpets, special places to sit, better coffee or doing anything different to anyone else. Let me try and explain..

When I pull into a dealership that looks tatty, has cars seemingly all over the place, is badly signed, has lots of customers looking just as frustrated as me and generally chaotic it makes me ponder how well they will work on the car. Add to that an unattended table with some envelopes on it and no one to be seen, meaning I had to ask another customer "what is the process" adds to that level of uncertainty. When I was looking for a place to park and what the process is I was told by a helpful chap working on a car (genuinely nice chap) "just park it down the back and I will let them know where it is" it adds to the feeling of discomfort. Further to that there was a general sense of shuffling stuff around tight spaces and with that and customers like me looking lost it adds to the stress levels of am I going to be happy leaving my car with this lot. There were plenty of people walking around but no one approached to help and when I did ask people no one was able to help outside of "drop it somewhere and walk round". The workshop chaps ogling my car also sends strange feels as most time if they are used to such cars it's not an event, it's just another to be dealt with as you actually hope for.

So I phoned up the booking centre (what happened to actually speaking to the bloody dealership!) told them to cancel and made alternate arrangements. I have asked for the service manager to call me and I will share my view, not angry, but just my POV. I use Stafford normally, part of the same Lookers group I believe and though not a big dealership they had a process that worked but can not work on the GT R so suggested Wolverhampton or Stoke and Stoke was easier for me. Let's see how Macclesfield does but having a nose there today it looks much like a dealer experience I would expect. New build, lots of space, greeter etc. Simple things...

 

[Housey]

55k miles £1987 a year

60,001 miles £4783 a year, both with £100 excess. Powertrain only to max claim limit of £5k is £2643, ridiculous isn't it.

Madness with the max claim limit at that price. Not sure I would bother. I seem to recall I paid £1200 for my old 530D few years back so BMW not really backing their products there I feel. Licence to print money.

 

[Rids]

I think you're completely within your right to walk away, you're asking for somebody to work on a (very expensive) asset that you own. In the same way that you can pick and choose tradesmen based on various factors and how they make you feel I see no reason why you're not justified in applying that same logic to a £100k car.

 

[Robbo]

(Sorry to thread hijack Housey, tremendous car) Is the BMW warranty much cheaper at renewal rather than taking it out from scratch, BMW imply it is, but I'm not clear?

 

[Housey]

(Sorry to thread hijack Housey, tremendous car) Is the BMW warranty much cheaper at renewal rather than taking it out from scratch, BMW imply it is, but I'm not clear?

How daaaaaaaare you

 

[kindai]

I think these sort of subjective things can be taken the wrong way by some people. It is nothing to do with kissing backsides, rolling out red carpets, special places to sit, better coffee or doing anything different to anyone else. Let me try and explain..

When I pull into a dealership that looks tatty, has cars seemingly all over the place, is badly signed, has lots of customers looking just as frustrated as me and generally chaotic it makes me ponder how well they will work on the car. Add to that an unattended table with some envelopes on it and no one to be seen, meaning I had to ask another customer "what is the process" adds to that level of uncertainty. When I was looking for a place to park and what the process is I was told by a helpful chap working on a car (genuinely nice chap) "just park it down the back and I will let them know where it is" it adds to the feeling of discomfort. Further to that there was a general sense of shuffling stuff around tight spaces and with that and customers like me looking lost it adds to the stress levels of am I going to be happy leaving my car with this lot. There were plenty of people walking around but no one approached to help and when I did ask people no one was able to help outside of "drop it somewhere and walk round". The workshop chaps ogling my car also sends strange feels as most time if they are used to such cars it's not an event, it's just another to be dealt with as you actually hope for.

So I phoned up the booking centre (what happened to actually speaking to the bloody dealership!) told them to cancel and made alternate arrangements. I have asked for the service manager to call me and I will share my view, not angry, but just my POV. I use Stafford normally, part of the same Lookers group I believe and though not a big dealership they had a process that worked but can not work on the GT R so suggested Wolverhampton or Stoke and Stoke was easier for me. Let's see how Macclesfield does but having a nose there today it looks much like a dealer experience I would expect. New build, lots of space, greeter etc. Simple things...

Complete opposite here.

Turned up to a big spacious car park with rows of nearly parked cars. Told to park my car in one of 3 VERY wide spots.

Greeted promptly on entering the building temperature checks, PPE offered (had my own though), offered refreshments, relieved of keys in a UV steriliser box

Checked in on me every 20-30 mins asking for refreshments or snacks, kept up to date with whats happening with the car every 30 minutes.

Tech who worked on my car came out to discuss the problem in detail, asked what my car knowledge was, said very good, spoke to him on a technical level and he showed me the issue on my car, possible problems, possible fixes. Hooked up the computer, showed me car diagnostics. Gave me options on how to proceed.

Agreed to leave car with them, they booked a taxi to take me home as they couldnt drop me off personally. Car will be delivered back to suit myself, or they will arrange for a taxi to pick me up.

But you are right, the first impressions count, and being directed to a lovely large open bay and then quickly dealt with professionally the moment I walked through the door mattered.

 

[Housey]

Complete opposite here.

Turned up to a big spacious car park with rows of nearly parked cars. Told to park my car in one of 3 VERY wide spots.

Greeted promptly on entering the building temperature checks, PPE offered (had my own though), offered refreshments, relieved of keys in a UV steriliser box

Checked in on me every 20-30 mins asking for refreshments or snacks, kept up to date with whats happening with the car every 30 minutes.

Tech who worked on my car came out to discuss the problem in detail, asked what my car knowledge was, said very good, spoke to him on a technical level and he showed me the issue on my car, possible problems, possible fixes. Hooked up the computer, showed me car diagnostics. Gave me options on how to proceed.

Agreed to leave car with them, they booked a taxi to take me home as they couldnt drop me off personally. Car will be delivered back to suit myself, or they will arrange for a taxi to pick me up.

But you are right, the first impressions count, and being directed to a lovely large open bay and then quickly dealt with professionally the moment I walked through the door mattered.

As you expect when you drive around in cars like we have and what I have seen in other places over the years.

 

[Gibbo]

Complete opposite here.

Turned up to a big spacious car park with rows of nearly parked cars. Told to park my car in one of 3 VERY wide spots.

Greeted promptly on entering the building temperature checks, PPE offered (had my own though), offered refreshments, relieved of keys in a UV steriliser box

Checked in on me every 20-30 mins asking for refreshments or snacks, kept up to date with whats happening with the car every 30 minutes.

Tech who worked on my car came out to discuss the problem in detail, asked what my car knowledge was, said very good, spoke to him on a technical level and he showed me the issue on my car, possible problems, possible fixes. Hooked up the computer, showed me car diagnostics. Gave me options on how to proceed.

Agreed to leave car with them, they booked a taxi to take me home as they couldnt drop me off personally. Car will be delivered back to suit myself, or they will arrange for a taxi to pick me up.

But you are right, the first impressions count, and being directed to a lovely large open bay and then quickly dealt with professionally the moment I walked through the door mattered.

Suits you well just get them to deliver it back when drive is finished.

 

[kindai]

Suits you well just get them to deliver it back when drive is finished.

Indeed

As you expect when you drive around in cars like we have and what I have seen in other places over the years.

Its not even the kiss-assery its just you are handing your keys over to people which, and I mean this in the nicest way, could never afford to buy these cars even though they sell and work on them. You want that first impression to relax you a bit that they are going to take care of you as a customer, and your car. Rather than backstreet bob ragging it down the local A-road for a "test drive" while nearly writing it off 6 times.

 

[Housey]

As said, kiss ass is the last thing I want. I just want people to show passion, take care and keep me informed. Simple stuff.

 

[Liquidfox]

(Sorry to thread hijack Housey, tremendous car) Is the BMW warranty much cheaper at renewal rather than taking it out from scratch, BMW imply it is, but I'm not clear?

Around 15% I believe.

 

[shadow_boxer]

Mercedes Stoke is my local and I've used them for my last 2 services on the C63 (one pre covid and one just before the 2nd wave). My experience has been fairy reasonable to be honest. I agree the location and site especially the front parking is not great, not enough room and spaces are very tight. It's certainly not the most welcoming spot. The team at the front desk and sales people weren't overly helpful or responsive on my visits. I also popped in with my brother in law when he was looking at buying something and we certainly didn't feel well attended too. Felt like they were constantly too busy to help or even ask sometimes and generally uninterested. Never had problem booking. The tech and mechanics, however, have been good from my visits (services). I made a bit of **** up of my service plan and guys were really helpful, sorted it out and updated previous service info that previous owner had had done. Both times they came out and had a good chat and feedback about work done etc. Only other occasion was when coolant light came on. Gave the service team a call and they just asked me to pop down, had a quick look and sorted it quickly I probably wouldn't be going to them for sales and can't comment on warranty work or more serious issues but the mechanics, one was possibly the senior tech have been good.

 

[Sui]

I guess the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari/Lambo, is that the AMG GT R is pretty rare for the marque and their day-to-day dealings will be with more 'standard' cars. Whereas, Ferrari/Lambo that's the only class of car they work with, and will therefore be specialists on it.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't get good service etc, I just think it'll be a lot harder finding somewhere you're happy to leave it where someone might actually know the car a bit better.

 

[Dominic-Toretto]

Housey have you considered MSL Performance in Birmingham? They are a great set of lads who really know their stuff.

 

[Housey]

Housey have you considered MSL Performance in Birmingham? They are a great set of lads who really know their stuff.

Not sure they would work for warranty work under the MB warranty?

I am not looking to modify the car or ECU tune it really, which they seem to be all about?

 

[Dominic-Toretto]

Not sure they would work for warranty work under the MB warranty?

I am not looking to modify the car or ECU tune it really, which they seem to be all about?

Oops missed the warranty part my bad.

They aren't just all about performance. They have a massive workshop where they work on cars, repairs, servicing, retrofits etc