I have my car booked in on monday to get a few minor things sorted out. Has ANYONE had a decent service from these guys? I have another AC garage just near my work can i take it there instead? Does it have to be a arnold clark fiat?

I tried caruth autos in glasgow who are fiat specialists but they dont do warranty work, i have heard good things about them but i dont want to spend my own cash when the cars under warranty.

Glasgow owners advice would be extremely welcome at this moment as my choices are arnold clar or reg vardy and to be honest the concept of taking this back to either for minor fixes horrifys me expecially after reading the posts on here about them!

Is there a good one in glasgow?

I wonder if i contact fiat directly and ask if i can get the works done independantly from the dealer and have them billed for it. As the warranty is with fiat and not arnold clark, and i want it done properly at a fiat specialist who knows what they are doing.

Chris

Chris

this lot in Alison Street are quite frankly awful. Sorry to be the barer of bad news but the quality of work is of a very low standard in my opinion. I've not tried Reg vardy but I know there's one in Paisley. To be honest I would be surprised if they were much worse so it may be worth a go trying them (of course if you do let us all know).

I honestly could list a whole host of incompetencies. Some faults were never fixed and I have eventually given up and just accepted them as "another feature of the car".

To be fair though they are pretty cheap in relation to other main dealers.

cmc

I kinda had a feeling that was the reply i was going to get :S WHen i picked the car up it was parked on the street (wasnt happy about that) although it was valeted inside i get the impression the outside wasnt touched as the windows were all streaky.

I called fiat customer care (those guys are really helpfull), they also said there is a reg vardy in port dundas, glasgow (up by cowcaddens). I might give that shot. But i am cancelling the appt at arnold clark tomorrow.

Its not like its anything major, probably just a characteristic noise.

I almost expect these little problems, it's italian it looks amazing/drives nicley but like all hot italians, they got a little attitude problem . And fiat themselves are very helpful its just sad that their reputation is being ripped appart by shoddy dealerships.

As always if anyone has had a good experience around glasgow with a fiat dealer give us a shout!

Re: Reg Vardy, Paisley

I have just bought a 1.2 16 V Stilo Active Air Con from Reg Vardy in Paisley and have not yet had any dealings with the service dept, however, I bought from there on the reccomendation of my dad who has had his last 3 cars (all Fiats) from them and never had anything but excellent after sales service from them.

Colin *i bow at your feet* thank you for that information i called the monkey garage this morning and cancelled the appt.

Re: Reg Vardy

In addition to my reply I found a fault with my central locking. Rear passenger side door doesn't open every time. Took it in to service department yesterday and after checking it over they have ordered new lock for me with no fuss. Taking it back in on Thursday for the work to be done. Service dept staff were very polite and helpful. Hope thi sinfo is of use to you.

Colin

Re: reg vardy

Just had a 24,000 service done with vardy at coatbridge (£195.00) staff very good,though not a fiat garage, they have arranged warranty work (2 engine oil seals and both front springs broken) to be done in vardy paisley next wed with a courtesy car waiting for me, ill post the results after pick up

was at allison st today for the stretchy rubber band sound from my driver side window, the squeek on the passenger side and the cd player fault. They lubed the passenger side one, all fine. The regulator needs replaced in the driver side, part ordered. CD player fault, managed to show them it happening, cd player off to get repaired.

Said they'll let me know when the parts are in. So far no probs at all, helpfull staff, quick service, knew what they were doing.

Could this be a decent arnold garage?

Arnold clark Ayr fiat is not bad & guys in workshop are ok.Bit of a trip from Glasgow though....unless you want to try out the new motorway

was on said motorway just the other day, got lost in ayr too...trying to find the coast road round to greenock...think i should have headed for north instead of south.

That motorway is amazing, the road surface is so nice for cruising on, very quiet too, not alot of road noise like most.

Head to Irvine then Beith...Largs etc...twisty road & terrible when stuck behind lorry or caravan

for some reason we always end up in ardrossan lol...christ knows why but its the right road anyway. Nice when you've got it to yourself...we got stuck behind an ancient renault 5 campus with 4 neds in it for a bit of the road between largs and greenock then we shot past em.

Well it was in AC on saturday to get the window regulator fixed, part fitted and window working fine.

Was quite happy with the service i got until later that day when

a) I start getting a metallic clank when closing the door instead of the normal smooth thud

b) Something is moving about inside the door and i can hear it when i hit a pothole

c) The deterrent flasher led on the door isnt working (possibly the noise in the door is the cable for the led flapping around!?!?!

No sign of the stereo yet, so im noticing every little noise. Complaining tomorrow and chasing up my cd player at the same time. They are getting 1 chance to fix it and im off to reg vardy in paisley.

welcome to the world of Arnold Clark Alison Street. Sorry to hear of your problems and hope you get it sorted ASAP. This is why I'll never return to these guys, the quality of work is appalling.

Good luck getting it fixed.

cmc

Arnold Clark, Allison St, Glasgow *UPDATE*

Just off the phone to my old friends Arnold, and guess what?

1) The stereo which was removed about 3 weeks ago, has not left their garage. Althought they have told me on 5 different occassions that its been sent away to get fixed and not come back yet.

2) The Fiat warranty people told the dealer just to order a brand new unit. This is on back order with Fiat, so god only knows how long that will take. Does anyone know my rights as far as this goes, would i be able to demand after a certain period of time that the wait has been unreasonable and that i want them to pay for an aftermarket stereo to be fitted to the same value as the replacement head unit.

3) I have to take the car round to the garage tonight where the old stereo will be refitted to the car until the replacement arrives. Which means i have been driving around without a stereo for no reason whatsoever for the last 3 weeks.

So they have lied by on 4 occasions (this week) saying the replacement head unit would be in in a few days despite the parts system saying its on back order at fiat with no estimate of a delivery date.

Im writing to both Fiat and Arnold Clark Tonight. Not Happy at all.

There is a new procedure for the repair/replacement of audio units issued by Fiat so it's possible you have got caught up in the process but doesn't explain why they lied
Can't believe they cant give you a 'lend' unit for now or give you a unit from another car,like I said earlier go elsewhere!

Yeah there is a big difference between should be arriving in a few days and the bloody thing is on back order....Im getting the existing faulty unit refitted until it arrives BUT im thinking about sticking a nice fat alpine head unit in anyway. So i might just fit that and then sell the new stereo when it finally arrives.

Alpine Unit im thinking about http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/3455.html might need to do the speakers too, this might be a bit much for the factory speakers.

Would like to see a stilo dash with a single din unit fitted first tho. Dont think you can get a silver facia adapter yet either :S

I called the service manager today, hes looking into it first thing tomorrow and calling me back. I have ld him i have a letter written to Arnold Clark Head Office and Fiat Customer Care which are being sent regardless of the outcome. They have just taken the ****.

Re: Reg vardy paisley

Avoid reg vardy paisley.

I put my sporting in there last year to have break pipe recall done and the bastards put 20 mile on the clock. I asked why? and they said they were testing them, my arse i said. I asked the manager and he said the car was being tested to make sure the brakes were in o.k order, but i asked if 20 miles of driving was necesarry and he couldnt answer me. anyhow he appologised and got the tank filled as an apology.

Theres no way i'd take my GT there, they are muppets. God knows what theyd do with it.

I sometimes use Carrols garage in paisley. FIAT specialist if there such a thing. they have diagnostic equipment too and are reasonable and trustworthy. I know the apprentice there which helps. Carrols Garage, Murry st Paisley.

Was back at AC this morning, first time ive seen 8am on a saturday since the last time i was at AC.

SO do i have gripes this time? Damn skippy i do!

1) They made a "wiring repair" to the secrity led on the drivers door (i said straight out to the foreman "you mean you plugged it back in becuase you forgot to connect it last time?" he had a bit of a sheepish look when i said that. The look said it all.

2) In taking off the door panel they have damaged the screw cover and door panel around the door handle with a little screw driver (bet they bloody prised it out with a little flat head, instead of the pick tool).

3) Well this is a positive but shows them in a bad light. The stereo which was removed 2 weeks ago for being faulty has been refitted, unrepaired due to a new unit being ordered to replace it. And so far it isnt faulty anymore. I told them 2 weeks ago i did think the headunit was at fault i thought it was a loose plug in the back....so far every CD which i ever had a problem playing has worked flawlessly. They never checked the connections before ripping the stereo out last time.

Im starting to lose the will to deal with these guys any further i go in with 1 fault i come out with a different one, this time a damaged door panel. Its a sad state of affairs but unless its major mechanical from now on im going nowhere near them

Plus side is i have my stereo back so im happier than i was.