Think Ford Reading

[stiggy]

Hi all,

My GT is due a service (even though it’s done a paltry 1750mls!). Whilst I usually service all my cars myself, I have a Ford extended warranty and service plan in the Mustang, so duty bound to have. dealer service it. First service was done by Trust in Guildford, but frankly I thought they were useless.

Gowrings of Reading, whom I bought rhe car through and were also absolutely hopeless, went bust and Think Ford took over their site. It appears that they’re not a Ford Store, so not sure whether I can use them for the service or I have to traipse back to Guildford which is nearest for the ‘stamp’ (albeit an electronic/virtual one).

Has anyone used Think Reading and can recommend, or otherwise...

Ta

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[Jimboy2]

Is Eastleigh too far? They have the performance centre there so they could do it. Not heard anything terrible about the... yet (lol)

 

[AstroKeith]

After too many visits to Guildford Think Ford, I concluded they werent competent to service Mustangs. Switched to their farnborough branch which seems to be their main service centre and although the front desk needs improving the servicing seems much better.

 

[Kristian87]

After too many visits to Guildford Think Ford, I concluded they werent competent to service Mustangs. Switched to their farnborough branch which seems to be their main service centre and although the front desk needs improving the servicing seems much better.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one that thinks that. I almost ended up there for my warranty work this week (Farnborough) and even had a good chat with the body shop manager there.

Quite rightly he sent me on to Guildford as they are the Fordstore. Shame I didn't see your comment here before as I pretty much had the choice & had I known, I would have gone straight to Farnborough.

 

[slowhand99]

After too many visits to Guildford Think Ford, I concluded they werent competent to service Mustangs. Switched to their farnborough branch which seems to be their main service centre and although the front desk needs improving the servicing seems much better.

What was wrong with the servicing at Guildford?

 

[AstroKeith]

The car developed a really loud squeak after 500 miles or so. They would look st it for an hour, co firm it had a problem, but ask me to bring it back later. Three times this happened.

They always ignored my views, and were quite arrogant and not worried that I was making repeated visits getting no where.

On the third visit they concluded it was definitely behind the passenger side dash. They wanted three days to rip it all out. I pointed out that it was louder with the windows open and driving beside walls. I knew it was coming from the outside. They ignored me.

While waiting for the appointment to have this work done, I dropped into Kwikfit. They put it on their shaker plate and within 2 minutes had found the squeak - a bracket holding the main power cables away from the exhaust.

With my proof they adjusted the bracket. But when I went to pick the car up the desk agent suggested they had been so clever to have fixed it.

Dealers have got to realise that people who buy these types of cars aren’t generally stupid, and we really know our cars. Poor service is bad, but arrogance is unacceptable.

The Farnborough branch have been better. The front desk staff still are mostly off hand. The mechanics do seem however to be good and I have had good conversations with many of them.

After a service the invoice stated the wrong oil had been used. They said it was an invoicing error, but I wasn’t convinced as at first they argued that 5W30 was the right oil. Fairly quickly though they agreed to do an immediate change of oil and filter.

 

[stiggy]

Do I take it then that we're not obliged to take it to a Ford Store for servicing then?

God I hate main dealers!

 

[Kristian87]

Do I take it then that we're not obliged to take it to a Ford Store for servicing then?

God I hate main dealers!

From what I know, that's up to the individual dealership. Some will, some won't.

I'll be taking mine up to Mike @ Modurstang, he's cheaper and well, it's Mike! One of the handful of people I'm actually happy to let touch my car!

 

[stiggy]

From what I know, that's up to the individual dealership. Some will, some won't.

I'll be taking mine up to Mike @ Modurstang, he's cheaper and well, it's Mike! One of the handful of people I'm actually happy to let touch my car!

As I said, normally I'd do it myself, but I have a service plan and extended warranty (better for residuals), so 'have' to use the Ford network.

 

[stiggy]

Just for future reference:

I just used Think Ford in Reading having previously used Guildford (who were very poor).

Good experience with Reading and much more local than the alternatives.

I also have the service plan/extended warranty which was fine with them. They send a 'health check' video which was nice to see (even if to just see the poor quality of the underseal again!) - just to make sure they'd actually done the work. As my car is pretty much as new (only 1750 miles) even though it was due a second service, I took the precaution of marking the oil filter to make sure it got changed. Slightly paranoid of me, but my best mate runs a workshop and I've seen first hand how much work that's suppoded to be done by main dealers to cars in for servicing doesn't actually get done at all (not aimed at Ford by the way - allsorts).

Anyway, needn't have worried - all good So they get a thumbs up from me.

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