How about we do fill the letterbox of IM and show them how much money they are missing out on by denying us servicing etc at dealers????

Also, I want to compile firstly a list of places where you can get you import serviced and secondly which places will do discount for imports.

Any help would be appreciated......

THen we can submit the list to True Grip and have a comprehensive guide of places to get your import serviced/fixed/upgraded as well as discounts.......

So lets stop moaning and start doing

(If there is a spot in the SIDC for an import representative then I'll put my name forward )

Ta,

Michelle.

 

Nice to have you back dear

 

Oi, get off my thread you're a UK owner

Nice to see you too, if only on the BBS

 

They'd all run better if you stopped putting diesel in them, I'm sure you should be using unleaded or something, they may go a touch faster eh
Losing my touch......nah, it's still there babe

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by MichelleWRX1994:
<B>Oi, get off my thread you're a UK owner[/quote]

So am I and I'm gonna post anyway, so there !!!!

One point though 'chelle. I was thinking (and I'll try and find out for sure) but if you think about it, IM may not actually make any money out of servicing, well maybe a small amount for some of the parts but hardly much....

I'm sure the majority of the price you pay goes to the dealer in labour rates, something IM does not get a cut of. So they probably wouldn't actually make much money from allowing imports to be serviced at franchised dealers anyway - not much of a loss to them (directly) so they can afford to take the stance that they do

I don't see any harm in a large number of import owners giving IM a hard time though, the more noise the market makes, the more likely it will be that they start treating their customers with the respect they deserve (which is at the moment lacking!!!)

Matt

 

IM will make something from the increased parts sales by servicing imports.

A friend who is general manager for two alfa franchises makes 85% of his companies profit from the aftersales area (warranty, parts + servicing).

That being the case lets try to get some dealers sympathetic to our cause, as im sure they would worship the extra revenue generated by extra servicing etc.

Its a turnaround from the late 80's when i was selling cars and sales made all the money. Now the sales dept is lucky to break even and is only there to increase traffic to the workshops!

 

Michelle,

Steve Breen has already done this.

Check out

 

Here's a dealership to add to the Grey servicing List...

Farmers Subaru
Matlock
Derbyshire

I'll get the full address and phone number if anyone is interested. Very friendly and reasonably priced.

 

Careful!

 

Good Idea... can we also do something to aid getting our 2nd hand imports -sold at a decent price.

But having said that I have never had a problem getting my car MY99 WRX serviced in the UK... it was first done by a main line dealer, and now I take it to Baileys in Winkfield... they are inexpensive, extremely accomodating and the guys are kinda cute as well.

I am sure Baileys would welcome more Subaru business.
Penni

 

damn, someone beat me to it as I was going to post about Steve's section on iwoc

IM, in my opinion simply just don't give a flying **** about us import owners.

Thing is, even if my local scooby dealer did start playing with imports would I take my car there? hmm, probably not. I've used an independant garage, because I've had to, and thier service is second to none, plus they are a lot closer than the scooby dealer. Plus there is the fact that my place has cheaper labour and part's prices than the scooby dealer would have.

Might be worth emailing Steve Breen and asking if he does not mind his list appearing in TG. Then see if TG wants to publish it.

 

add this garage to your list

 

What we as import owners would perhaps like to know, is what is the ratio of us to UK owners. The SIDC has this info, so would be able to provide this to (us) members I would hope. This could then aid our cause to become acknowledged Subaru owners who seek not to be kept out of the "priveleged" class.

Michelle, you have my vote as honourary representative for Import owners

Matthew

[This message has been edited by Matty B (edited 27 September 2001).]

 

Matthew,

unfortunately the SIDC doesn't have records of which members own imports. All the membership form asks is whether or not your Impreza is turbocharged, and it's registration number, so this is all the info that exists in the database (or so I believe).

 

An idea.......maybe, like the Sport owners have their own register, can we imports have our own?

Then a section on how to look after your import.......? I am perfectly happpy to research the information and be the rep for imports as long as nobody feels an objection coming up! Also start featuring different import models etc...........?

Just a start.........

Michelle.

[This message has been edited by MichelleWRX1994 (edited 28 September 2001).]

 

 

 

Chelle,

Nother one for the list, several people on here use:

Dave West
Risboro 4 Wheel Drive
Princes Risborough
Bucks

01844 274652

 

Michelle,

Friendly subaru dealerships do exist, but I cant imagine they would be too happy having an official statement printed in a magazine confirming this.

If IM, untethered by your letter writing campaign get wind of them servicing imports, then they risk losing their frachise.

 

but IM already do 'make money' from servicing imports - its just that this doesn't take place in their garages... most independents are sourcing their parts from 'friendly' IM dealers and IM are the original source for these - they also sell workshop equipment + diagnostic gear to non IM garages.
I for one would not like to have to pay the hourly rate that IM garages charge so am quite happy going to an independent - oh and I don't have to put up with a crappy justy as a courtesy car either ;-)

now if someone wants to have a crack at the ludicrous + unjustified weighting on insurance premiums for grey imports then they would get my vote!

Paul W

 

Tom does a good job for imports and modded imports, which is why I'm with him, and recommend him to any scooby owner.

Import register sounds good. Go for it Michelle! no objections from here.

James is right, GDA kicks ***! (sorry americanisms begining to seep in! )

 

Would be interested in finding out who services grey imports, and a bit more about numbers/information out there etc.

Not sure about a different register. Always wary about a them and us scenario. Sure you wouldn't mean it like that tho. Yep no problem with you as reresentative. Don't see why there'd be a problem. Go for it!!

Amanda

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Adam M:
<B>Michelle,

Friendly subaru dealerships do exist, but I cant imagine they would be too happy having an official statement printed in a magazine confirming this.
[/quote]

HI Adam,

No intention whatsoever to put down any UK Subau Dealers without consent from them.....
I realise the risk they run if any do service imports.

I am on about your local friendly import specialist or independent garage who will do a good deal on price and quality of service.

Michelle.

 

Markus
- I agree with u entirely. Why would anyone want to take their car to a Subaru dealer anyway if it was an import.

I would not trust a main dealer to even change the oil correctly! - imho they are generally crap, being serviced by some 19 year old trainee! - I mean just look at the people who used to work at them - Steve Lawson for one - puts me off! - I never ring him every day at all..........

As far as getting your import serviced there. On asking the question to a few a couple of years back, not one Scooby dealer said they would not service it - if you wanted to pay the horrendous Labour rates!

 

Don't forget to add steve lawson to the list of import friendly servicers, he's fully subaru trained (ex cheam motors), has also worked at scoobysport and now out on his own.

Cheapest and best place my scooby has ever been to.

SAS in aldershot also do imports (they also trade under the name tuning japanese), they are good, but by no means cheap.

Park lane in Alton as well, also a little steep (tho have only ordered parts there personally).

 

I get my Jap import serviced at a Subaru dealership and have been told by them that IM allow them to do so.
How come? They also sell ISUZU so are not a one make dealer. Would this make a difference?

Puzzled

Nick
Forester stb

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by JohnS:
<B>Matthew,

unfortunately the SIDC doesn't have records of which members own imports. All the membership form asks is whether or not your Impreza is turbocharged, and it's registration number, so this is all the info that exists in the database (or so I believe).[/quote]

Hi John,
Yes, you are correct, I thought about it after I posted, and realised.

Seperate registers aren't a good idea, but a lot less bias towards UK models wouldn't go amiss, and some useful info on looking after differing types of imports could be useful.

Matthew
(MY93)