General Roundswell Fiat, Barnstaple

[Super Uwe]

Morning all,

Not strictly Panda-related, but just thought I would inform you all that Roundswell Fiat in Barnstaple is due to be closing at the end of the month.

https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/287683-roundswell-fiat-barnstaple.html?p=3344692

They will still carry on with Toyota and Hyundai, but not Fiat as it is apparently not viable any more.

So that just leaves us with Vospers; not 100% sure this is a great thing for me personally but we will just have to see...

 

[babbo_umbro]

Morning all,

Not strictly Panda-related, but just thought I would inform you all that Roundswell Fiat in Barnstaple is due to be closing at the end of the month.

https://www.fiatforum.com/garages/287683-roundswell-fiat-barnstaple.html?p=3344692

They will still carry on with Toyota and Hyundai, but not Fiat as it is apparently not viable any more.

So that just leaves us with Vospers; not 100% sure this is a great thing for me personally but we will just have to see...

How long did they stick with Fiat? We lived in north Devon till 12 years ago and I wasn't aware of them then. I never did any business with them but there was always the thought that Vospers didn't have a monopoly in the area. Sanders at Milton Damerel are an authorised service provider; I've had mixed experiences with them though positive recently.

There was a Vauxhall dealer in Taunton a while back, that I bought a Cinquecento Sporting from and they also gave up the dealership, probably about ten years ago. (The Cinquecento had a persistent slight misfire in the mid range and I told them repeatedly that I suspected the HT leads but it took them about six months to come to the same conclusion.)

 

[Super Uwe]

How long did they stick with Fiat? We lived in north Devon till 12 years ago and I wasn't aware of them then. I never did any business with them but there was always the thought that Vospers didn't have a monopoly in the area. Sanders at Milton Damerel are an authorised service provider; I've had mixed experiences with them though positive recently.

There was a Vauxhall dealer in Taunton a while back, that I bought a Cinquecento Sporting from and they also gave up the dealership, probably about ten years ago. (The Cinquecento had a persistent slight misfire in the mid range and I told them repeatedly that I suspected the HT leads but it took them about six months to come to the same conclusion.)

I am not sure how long they were selling Fiat for, but to be honest I don't think it was very long. Possibly a few years but no idea really. I feel sorry for Fiat who actually live in North Devon as they have no official dealership for miles and miles now; I actually live near Crediton so I chose Roundswell off my own back.

Just a shame really as I have always found them competent in all my dealings. I will be giving Vospers a ring later this week to enquire about a 36k service for our 1.2 Panda; if it is an obscene quote (which I am fully expecting as was quoted nearly £450 last year for our old 1.2 500 last year) then I will just go with my local garage here who is really good.

 

[triumph7]

I am not sure how long they were selling Fiat for, but to be honest I don't think it was very long. Possibly a few years but no idea really. I feel sorry for Fiat who actually live in North Devon as they have no official dealership for miles and miles now; I actually live near Crediton so I chose Roundswell off my own back.

Just a shame really as I have always found them competent in all my dealings. I will be giving Vospers a ring later this week to enquire about a 36k service for our 1.2 Panda; if it is an obscene quote (which I am fully expecting as was quoted nearly £450 last year for our old 1.2 500 last year) then I will just go with my local garage here who is really good.

Have u got any local fiat-approved independent service garages?

 

[babbo_umbro]

Have u got any local fiat-approved independent service garages?

Sanders at Milton Damerel, that I mentioned earlier, are an authorised service provider; they're a fair trek from Crediton but could be worth a call.

I have my servicing done at Mid Devon Motors in Winkleigh; been taking cars there for over twenty years and have total faith in them. When I had the 100HP, I had all but the first couple of services done by them and the service indicator reset by Sanders (and - yes - there is a river nearby). Just had the oil and filter changed on the 4x4 TA at Mid Devon - it's done 5600 miles and I just don't like the idea of running it for another 12000+ miles before its first oil/filter change.

Sanders also did the warranty clutch replacement on the 100HP, and the first two regular services.

 

[Super Uwe]

Cheers for the info; I will definitely give Sanders a ring as it really isn't all that far for me to go (I'd say 45mins top, it takes just over an hour to Bude).

I just noticed my mistake - I searched for them on the Fiat website, but only looked at sales. Now that I've clicked on "Assistance", they do indeed come up.

Anyway, that gives me a few options to pursue. I would still consider going with Vospers down in Exeter just because I'd prefer to have a dealer stamp whilst the car is in warranty, and it would be more convenient tbh. But I have my doubts about the price...

 

[Super Uwe]

Have u got any local fiat-approved independent service garages?

Think babbo_umbro has sorted it for me now!

 

[triumph7]

Sanders at Milton Damerel, that I mentioned earlier, are an authorised service provider; they're a fair trek from Crediton but could be worth a call.

I have my servicing done at Mid Devon Motors in Winkleigh; been taking cars there for over twenty years and have total faith in them. When I had the 100HP, I had all but the first couple of services done by them and the service indicator reset by Sanders (and - yes - there is a river nearby). Just had the oil and filter changed on the 4x4 TA at Mid Devon - it's done 5600 miles and I just don't like the idea of running it for another 12000+ miles before its first oil/filter change.

Sanders also did the warranty clutch replacement on the 100HP, and the first two regular services.

That's good news...... Winkleigh eh? Small world, I went to school in Shebbear! hahaha

Agree with you about the oil change - also plan to do mine at around 5k. Only done 1.8k so far..........

 

[Super Uwe]

So then...

Just did a bit of phoning around this afternoon.

Vospers Exeter want £419.27 for the full 36k service as per the service book, which apparently will include a "rocker cover" replacement? Not sure about that one!

Also rang Sanders as suggested by babbo_umbro; the exact same service will cost £326.65. They also kindly confirmed that there was a recall notice for a software update on our car - nothing urgent which can wait till next time. But that was most appreciated anyway.

So there you go. Nearly a hundred quid difference between two authorised Fiat dealers. To be fair to Vospers, I am sure their overheads will be higher and so would charge more, but it's not brilliant on their part.

 

[babbo_umbro]

So then...

Just did a bit of phoning around this afternoon.

Vospers Exeter want £419.27 for the full 36k service as per the service book, which apparently will include a "rocker cover" replacement? Not sure about that one!

Also rang Sanders as suggested by babbo_umbro; the exact same service will cost £326.65. They also kindly confirmed that there was a recall notice for a software update on our car - nothing urgent which can wait till next time. But that was most appreciated anyway.

So there you go. Nearly a hundred quid difference between two authorised Fiat dealers. To be fair to Vospers, I am sure their overheads will be higher and so would charge more, but it's not brilliant on their part.

Take a book with you if you go to Sanders and intend to wait for your car - there's not a lot of entertainment in Milton Damerel. I presume they mean cam cover GASKET replacement surely.

 

[Super Uwe]

Haha, yeah that would be a good shout!

I'd probably get a courtesy car sorted; we discussed that on the phone. Have got family living in Bude, so would probably go there for a few hours.

But thanks again for the tip, much appreciated.

 

[Super Uwe]

Morning all,

Just thought I would update this thread as our car had its 36k service done at Sanders on Friday.

The total cost in the end was £275 including VAT, which IMO is a very good price for a full 36k service on a 1.2 Panda from an authorised Fiat dealership. The price includes a bit of discount on the parts, but the labour itself only came to £140 all in for 2 3/4 hours.

They also did a software update for me and did a few checks under warranty which were all OK in the end. And they properly valeted the outside of the car too and gave it a quick vac inside; I was very pleased with that

Very friendly people too, we had a general chat for a good 15min which is something that you rarely get the chance to do in a big multi-franchise dealer.

Their courtesy car policy was to charge by the mile, so it cost me £15 all in for a 65 mile round trip. Had hoped to go to Bude for the day but in the end decided to just go back home and do some work instead.

Would wholeheartedly recommend their service anyway, so thank you babbo_umbro

 

[babbo_umbro]

You're welcome. Been in Umbria since Sunday in the 4x4 TA so will post some notes on the trip at some stage.