Hi guys, not sure where to put this, I had a look in the dealer section but cant really ask questions there.

Anyway, I live in Nairn and the nearest Skoda dealer is Arnold Clark Inverness, of which I have had a few problems on every occasion my car has been in their capable hands.

So looking to get it serviced elsewhere. Looks like Aberdeen is the next nearest but I have read feedback of Specialist Cars and tbh didnt like the sound of them either.

The car is just coming up to 48k and had all its variable services at the appropriate intervals all at Skoda dealers. I would like to keep the service history strictly Skoda for resale value and warranty inclusion, can turn around and say you didnt have genuine parts fitted if something goes wrong with some other component... ESP light for example.

Its a shame because of the distance I feel I will have to travel to avoid Arnold Clark, but I will make a weekend of it.

Anyone offer their opinion on what garages I should look into, or even another dealer up here, VW or Seat? Again not ideal but if you all think it would be OK to go with another dealer I would check them out.

Also im thinking I should just leave it on variable and change out the oil at the one year mark myself.

There are others that have recommended the Garage in Maud.

I have not googled it, but check yourself.

I would avoid the ones you have mentioned.

I will let you know tomorrow of a good one in Elgin unless someone local can tell you which independent it is.

george

EDIT.

http://www.victoriagaragemaud.co.uk

Id reccomend wallace performance in aberdeen, their a revo dealer and certianly know their stuff

Your more likly to get a better job done at a place like this as opossed to a dealer as the staff are generally more passionate about their job

Strangely VW and Seat don't seem to like servicing other cars even from the same group. I tried the Perth VW and they wouldn't do the same deals for a Skoda as they had for VW.

I can recommend an indy, G Murray and Son in Forfar.

My car went to Thompson and Potter in Burrelton near Perth for the first 3 years but both of these places are a long way from you.

I bought mine last August from specialist cars in ABerdeen and the sales staff and finanace woman were amazing. Havent been for a service yet so am now a bit concerned if, as you say, they get back reviews. Mine is under warranty anyway so probably not much to really worry about.

The only other garage ive used is an independant called "leylodge". Were very good and my mate uses them also.

Father-in-law swears by Specialist Aberdeen but that's for Audi. No experience of the Skoda side other than a test drive of a superb a long time ago (they were very nice).

I use the skoda dealership in dunfermline, used them twice now with no problems. It's fit's in well with me as im from dunfermline so when im down visiting family i book the car in then.

'Specialst Cars;, Skoda, Aberdeen or Dundee part of the John Clark Group the same as Thompson & Potter Burrelton have no problem Servicing a car, that is their trade after all.

It is the 'Pick a Price any price', no rhyme or reason to what they tell you that can be the problem.

They give one price to some and quote another to others.

You should be able to get a price for a service and clear and accurate advice on when the Brake Fluid

needs changed, Plugs, Filters, etc, but often the Service Desk appears to be the ones at fault.

You would hope that the VAG/Skoda computers might keep them on track, but sadly not even that does.

I have given them a Registration Number and then been told that can not be an Automatic when the car only comes as an automatic.

Then Warranty work which should be no problem, they can just be difficult or non helpful.

eg

Fabia Twin Chargers with Oil Usage problems should be well known to them, but they come over all,

No problemo, no heary youe, 'Are you stupid'.

Obviously you should be able to go to Arnold Clark or anyplace else and get simple Service and Warranty work done.

Sad that sometimes it all becomes a problem.

People that live in or near Dundee going to Aberdeen to get their car serviced & Aberdeen people trusting Dundee......

No one trusting Arnold Clark anywhere.

george

remember you don't have to use a Skoda garage to keep your warranty valid.

Actually you do not. Open market thanks to the EU.

(but then there will be the Original parts and VAT registered garage bits to comply with.)

But to get goodwill from Skoda/VAG it can be best to, and then it will possibly be better to be at a Skoda Garage to know that any upgrades or recall work is done.

& the warranty work.

george

So other than Arnold Clark it looks like I will be travelling, might even consider my local motorsport garage, they have worked on the car in the past but not serviced it.

Ill have a look at Wallace performance, would they use genuine parts?

Yes the whole Skoda stamp in the service book is primarly s big up yours to Skoda if they have the cheek to decline any warranty work or some other problem, its also I feel its a plus point when it comes to resale, it counts for me anyway when buying a car.

No one has given a **** about dealer stamps when I've gone to trade in. As long as it's stamped. Made no difference on value at all to have indy stamps after year 3. I've probably save a grand by going to an indy.

Also serviced previous clio totally at an indy and had no issues with warranty claims at all.

No one has given a **** about dealer stamps when I've gone to trade in. As long as it's stamped. Made no difference on value at all to have indy stamps after year 3. I've probably save a grand by going to an indy.

Also serviced previous clio totally at an indy and had no issues with warranty claims at all.

It can affect you if you are trading in though. Astle BMW in Grimsby wouldnt touch my golf if it wasnt full VW service history. Luckily it was and they took it in trade in for my last beemer. They stated this to me before i even started discussing the deal.

Not sure if all garages do this but i'll wager this one wasnt an isolated incident.

It can affect you if you are trading in though. Astle BMW in Grimsby wouldnt touch my golf if it wasnt full VW service history. Luckily it was and they took it in trade in for my last beemer. They stated this to me before i even started discussing the deal.

Not sure if all garages do this but i'll wager this one wasnt an isolated incident.

Not something I ran into. They were all happy that the car had full service history and not bothered about who had done it. They all just walked to the computer and dialed up Glasses and CAP before giving a crap offer.

What about Jim at star performance...http://www.starperformance.co.uk/

He might be a wee bit far though at Kircaldy!!

Kit