Research garage Nuneaton

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Research garage Nuneaton

jimbob1979

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Dec 24, 2005
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Coventry
Extremely dissatisfying visit to Fiat Research garage Nuneaton. I purchased my 2017 tipo 1.6mjet last July, 20k on the clock, clutch was slipping by last november after just 23k! They replaced the clutch under the 3 year warranty, now the clutch bearing is on its way out at just 34k, grinding noise when pressing the clutch and high pitch whirring noise when travelling at speed.
Took it in yesterday to be looked at, was told they need to strip the car down to see exactly what it was at a cost of over £600. Then was told that the part replaced under warranty doesnt come with a further 12 month warranty as i didnt pay for the new part myself! What a joke, was told i might be given some discount as a gesture of goodwill from Fiat but its a risk i take after i pay for all of the work to be done. After this experience i will never be buying a used car from there ever again. I can get an entire clutch kit fitted elsewhere for around £350 so why would i risk paying over £600 for the work???
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UPDATE ****
Having the above experience i thought i would get rid of the car. Called my gap insurer up to check and cancel the policy. They said i dont exist!! Called Research garage apparantly someone has forgotten to send the paperwork off!! 16 months driving around with a product i paid £350 for without being insured! I advise anyone who brought their car from there to check they have what they paid for by contacting the GAP insurers if they have it!
 
It sounds like something to do with how the previous owner drove the car that's caused the problems with the clutch, so chances are if you get it all replaced then it'll be fine for years as the 1.6 Multijet doesn't seem prone to eating clutches ordinarily.

I have heard of the lack of warranty on previous warranty replacement parts, though I agree with you it stinks. I believe that even if you contribute a tiny amount to a repair then it gets you the 12 month part warranty.

What I don't understand is why Research haven't approached Fiat UK on your behalf to explain the situation and try to secure a contribution towards the repair, given that the earlier failure occurring only 3000 miles after purchase points to a problem that wasn't of your making AND you bought the car from them, presumably as 'approved used' (Fiat Found)?

I think the GAP cover problem goes some way to showing that Research just aren't that bothered. I bought my Tipo from them brand new and whilst they spent a lot of time with me going through finance and letting me test drive an Abarth 595 unaccompanied which I was intending to buy (decided it wasn't for me), once I'd agreed to buy the Tipo it all seemed very much on their terms. They were very keen to try & get me to collect on a week day even though I'm at least 50 miles away and they shut pretty early - no offer of staying open later, as I used to when I sold cars - especially if it was me asking the customer to come in on that day. When I said I was on my way but would be 30 mins late (arriving at 6:00pm) they said they might not be able to stay open, even though I was over half way into the 1:15 journey on a Friday evening. They did stay open but the handover was quite hurried. What made it worse was not even a phone call after collection. I've had the Tipo over 2 years now and love it, but to this day the only contact I've had from Research are two automated emails reminding me of the annual services (which i've had done elsewhere) and a phone call about buying another new car. They get much praise on various Alfa platforms about their sales but based on my experience they're nothing to write home about. Not terrible, certainly, but not a lot that says 'please visit again'. Your experience is markedly worse to mine though.

I might be inclined to get the car repaired by a competent independent garage for far less than the likely ridiculous price Research will charge and not go back to them if I were you - there's quite a few alternatives in that part of the World if you do need a Fiat Retailer in future (Sutton Park Coventry, Johnsons Solihull, Grays Warwick) - the latter two have both been good to me/family in the past. The Tipo and particularly the 1.6 Multijet are nothing overly complex so any decent garage ought to be able to sort it. Using Research on the off-chance that Fiat UK give you a goodwill contribution towards a likely much bigger bill than an independent just doesn't seem worth it.
 
To be honest the clutch issue cant all be the previous owners fault. I had it replaced after driving 3000 miles in it, they said they fitted an entire new clutch kit. Now the bearing is going just 11000 miles later. I have been driving over 25 years, i used to be a driving instructor so its not as if i have been thrashing the car around and the same part is failing again!
The most recent reply i had from the garage was that i need to take it up with Fiat as it is no longer their problem basically.
6 days after i have told them about the GAP insurance i have still had no contact as to whether this has been arranged!
Amazing customer service.
 
6 days after i have told them about the GAP insurance i have still had no contact as to whether this has been arranged!

Different garage, but my GAP took about a month to come through via Chris Knott Ins. I think the nature of the product means they don't rush to staff up for a 24 hour turnaround on the product. I was getting edgy when it finally came through.

For anyone thinking of GAP Insurance in future CK Ins were something like 40% of the cost of the . I just hope I never need to claim!
 
To be honest the clutch issue cant all be the previous owners fault. I had it replaced after driving 3000 miles in it, they said they fitted an entire new clutch kit. Now the bearing is going just 11000 miles later. I have been driving over 25 years, i used to be a driving instructor so its not as if i have been thrashing the car around and the same part is failing again!
The most recent reply i had from the garage was that i need to take it up with Fiat as it is no longer their problem basically.
6 days after i have told them about the GAP insurance i have still had no contact as to whether this has been arranged!
Amazing customer service.

Duly noted to avoid!
 
UPDATE ****
Having the above experience i thought i would get rid of the car. Called my gap insurer up to check and cancel the policy. They said i dont exist!! Called Research garage apparantly someone has forgotten to send the paperwork off!! 16 months driving around with a product i paid £350 for without being insured! I advise anyone who brought their car from there to check they have what they paid for by contacting the GAP insurers if they have it!

PLEASE TELL TRADING STANDARDS to look into this. These people need sorting out!
 
Then was told that the part replaced under warranty doesnt come with a further 12 month warranty as i didnt pay for the new part myself![/quote]

Talk directly to Fiat Customer Service in Italy. I think this is dealer ******** and a decent dealer would not give this crap to you. I had a similar issue with a failed warranty part going again and did not have to ask for Fiat to help, the dealer
resolved it!

I have noted Research Garage's attitude to you. I have considered doing business with them on an Abarth within the last couple of years. I am so glad I didn't, and I shall, never consider them again as they are clearly totally useless and unfit for inclusion on my approved suppliers list! I hope the stupid so and so's are pleased with the manner in which their customer treatment is widening their customer base! Far too thick to even register I suspect!!!!!

For those in the area, I can recommend Desira in Norwich for good service, but px values are pretty poor so you pays your money and takes your chance.
 
Extremely dissatisfying visit to Fiat Research garage Nuneaton. I purchased my 2017 tipo 1.6mjet last July, 20k on the clock, clutch was slipping by last november after just 23k! They replaced the clutch under the 3 year warranty, now the clutch bearing is on its way out at just 34k, grinding noise when pressing the clutch and high pitch whirring noise when travelling at speed.
Took it in yesterday to be looked at, was told they need to strip the car down to see exactly what it was at a cost of over £600. Then was told that the part replaced under warranty doesnt come with a further 12 month warranty as i didnt pay for the new part myself! What a joke, was told i might be given some discount as a gesture of goodwill from Fiat but its a risk i take after i pay for all of the work to be done. After this experience i will never be buying a used car from there ever again. I can get an entire clutch kit fitted elsewhere for around £350 so why would i risk paying over £600 for the work???
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I wonder what was replaced under warranty. I would guess that only the clutch plate and cover got replaced, not the bearing. Most Manufacturers warranty will only cover the part replaced until the end of the existing warranty. I would approach Fiat UK to discuss this further, they should have a record of what was replaced hopefully! I would also insist on my GAP premium being refunded, plus interest as you haven't been provided with a service and not had use of those funds. I would also ask for the "admin" fee back too as it seems that was an overcharge. I am picking my "new" used car from them this week!!! I will kick off if its not as discussed etc.....I have always had good service from Rockingham Cars, Corby. I have found a good specialist, Fiat Workshop, in Royston who is quite switched on.
 
If any garage replaces a clutch and does not at the very least recommend changing the bearinhg, they have failed to deliver workmanship of a competent nature. This is a FACT.

Its also a fact that they have a duty under goods and services mto deliver workmanship of a competent standard.

I would tell them straight to sort it out and sue them if the don't.

Anyone changin g a clutch and leaving the bearing AND / OR anything else inside the bellhousing that could fail is not an engineer or a mechanic who is fit to be allowed out and should be named and shamed. I would go totally ballistic if my garage did anything so ******* stupid. It is totally and absolutely unacceptable. It makes me feel like applying to be a JP! This garage should be avoided by everyone on here.
 
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