It’s all approved you know…
Eric Barton takes a look at car servicing with HA Fox Jaguar in Cheltenham.
I can’t think of the last time I tried to mend my washing machine, telly or central heating system. Why would I? I haven’t got the ‘foggiest’ about what I’m supposed to be doing. The same applies to my car. It’s for this very reason that professional car servicing exists.
Although not as large as the vehicle sales market, there is still a very significant ‘aftermarket’ industry worth in excess of £4 billion per annum for the 24 million plus cars already on Britain's roads. So it’s a very important sector of the automotive industry and if you’re a car owner, ignore it at your peril.
You should always have your cherished vehicle looked after properly by the professionals who can really cut the mustard when it comes to servicing your car. It’s a moaning moment for us all when we know that the car is coming up for its service or needs a small repair. Time to start thinking about selling the children into slavery or putting your main organs up for sale in the local small ads. It’s at this point that you might be thinking of trying to save a bob or two. Don’t. There’s possibly a false economy in taking your car to ‘Mike the mechanic’ down a back street. He may be well trained, but I’ll bet a pound to a strong cup of tea that he won’t have all the very latest access to the right computer software that most modern cars now have as part of their engine management systems. It’s one of those dichotomies where you have to juggle money spent against the return on that outlay. And remember that all approved car dealerships will only use genuine parts. Once again we’re back to balancing the books on the costs for repair, but be advised you’ll be in a World of breakdown nightmares should any inferior parts ‘let go’ when you’re driving.
Talk to any decent, professional approved dealership and they’ll tell you that the whole servicing and repair milieu hinges on the personal relationships they have with their customers. The trust factor is paramount, as is the value for money that they give to their customers. Believe me; no approved dealership wants to have unhappy service customers.
Paul Holland, General Manager, HA Fox, Jaguar, Cheltenham, commented,’ we always strive to provide our customers with outstanding levels of excellence. Our service team are very professional, enthusiastic and totally genuine. They really care about servicing the vehicles always making sure that our customers leave the dealership happy and satisfied with the work completed’.
Taking HA Fox in Cheltenham as one example; they’ll supply a collection delivery service, free courtesy car, a free service valet, breakdown management (by that I mean they’ll come and get you), service payment plans to ease the wallet and extended warranties.
Ben Higgins, Service Manager HA Fox Jaguar said,’ as an approved Jaguar dealership we have all the very latest diagnostic tools enabling us to fault find or rectify any problems quickly and efficiently. It’s crucial for us to be able to meet the customers’ expectations every time. We have technicians here at HA Fox who have between them, over twenty five years experience working on Jaguar cars. They all simply love Jaguar cars’.
This chimes of real car passion. Music to my ears. When was the last time your plumber or electrician said, ‘I can’t wait to fix your sink or get to grips with your fuse box’? It doesn’t happen. Being passionate about something will always make you excel. So the next time your car needs servicing or repaired, remember that passion is everything and that there’s an old Scots adage that says’ first we try, then we trust’.
