226 replies to this topic

[NOEXCESSBAGGAGE]

Recently had my NA in for its first service with Dixons Vauxhall at Hull. Said to them that it was my cherished toy and to look after it, and that I'd post on the website the experience. Have only done 5500 miles and mostly at weekends and there wasn't much wrong with the car. I was quite pleased and impressed with its delivery from Arriva Leicester in October 2002. Nevertheless, found the chaps at Hull to have been diligent with the service and also fixed a chattering nearside door. The door seemed to need tightening up against the striker, as whenever the car was driven over less-than-smooth roads in Yorkshire here, the door kinda talked to me. On that basis, it has to be a recommend.

[Nitehawk]

I bought my new VX (na) from Eastbourne Vauxhall. After shopping around and getting some silly quotes. Mathew Piper gave me an OTR price that undercut the nearest contender by over a grand !! I got a good trade-in on my old car and the whole process was handled by Mathew who went above and beyond the call of duty IMO. Shame the local dealers weren't anywhere near as competetive or helpful. Eastbourne Vauxhall is definitely the place that I'm gonna get my VXT from in Nov 2004 (fingers crossed). Good work Fellas.

[Craig172]

I used Grassmere Vauxhall at Crewe to mend my drivers window. They were very polite, kept me updated on the replacement part arriving and had the car for four days but rang me daily with an update. Two weeks after a new window regulator was fitted, the drivers window would n't wind fully up, I phoned them up and they asked me to take it down to them that day to have a look. Luckily I was on holiday so i dropped it down there, and 45 minutes later it was fixed. Sat in the showroom and played with their Lego and drank the filter coffee while I waited ! From my experience to date with them, they have been excellent, kept me informed and very courteous, guess where I'll be taking my VXT for its first service ?! I also noticed that they sponsor this very site. Well done.

[salopian]

Anyone experience of Bramalls Wolverhampton ? Had a company cavalier many years ago & servicing from them was shite. They are the nearest dealer to me - be glad to hear any comments. Prepared to travel further in the future cos my baby's special.

[slow_joe]

This may be a bit unfair and may not represent the whole Lance Owen group but, Lance Owen, Addlestone, phoned up to check the service department could deal with VX's, because Addlestone is much more convienient for me than Kingston, explained the problem and was told that was OK they could do it. Took the car along to get the door locks fixed/changed, after a short while the mechanic appears and asks me how I start the car. I go to the car and find the starter button stuck in about 6mm below the dash level. Mechanic maintains it was like that when I bought it in, I don't want any trouble because they have now got my car and it won't start because the button is stuck in, so I just agree. But what I really think happened was the mechanic tried to start it without switching on the ignition, and kept pushing the button harder and harder in frustation. Anyway dealership agreed to fix start button under warrant as well as the locks but changing the starter button is a 6 hour operation requiring the dashboard to be removed. Car at the dealership for 2 weeks, all's well that ends well.

[JezzaP]

so far they have been pretty good with my vx...changed the damaged original seal for the turbo one and fixed the rear foglight....though these are all things that should have been picked up in the PDI. Still cant get my second key to work though. Now had one on order for 6 weeks. Just says its on backorder from factory..presumably this means its coming from Lotus. Two previous keys/chips wouldnt accept the code for the car, though the key Ive actually got has been reprogrammed several times and accepts the code fine. taking vx in next weeek to fix leaks in footwell

Edited by JezzaP, 05 December 2003 - 07:47 PM.

[walkes]

Just to let you know the good and the bad of Vauxhall.... I have just got my second vxt 6 days ago. Why? I hear you ask. Basically the first one was not painted very well. A total mass of 16 places where the body work was crap. This included masking tape on the body work, front grill body panel not lacquered and a massive bird mess on the boot and spoiler that had corroded the paint. But fair play to the dealer, they have had another car built and replaced the entire car. They did not even mind about the 3,500 miles I ran up on the old one. Did take a month to get them to agree to replace the car, and another 3 to build the second one, but at least I am happy. Good on you Drive Vauxhall Bristol.

Edited by smacleanwalker, 08 December 2003 - 10:39 PM.

[slider]

Well you need at least one problem sooner or later, mine came sooner with the quick demise of my gearbox. No problem i'll ring vauxhall assist i thought. AA response was nothing less than rapid (25 mins from call). Then things began to worsen. Firstly it happened on sunday. Secondly i live in cheshire and am practically surrounded by vauxhall dealers. As i am close friends with senior management at dane county northwich i thought that would be the place for the car to go to. No chance - not a VX specialist i am told. Next was PLP at warrington - no longer VX specialists. Next in line were ormskirk motors who are currently listed on gm's website as VX specialists. Big NO-NO. They are specialists, but apparently were never supplied with any equipment required to complete any work other than servicing. Hat's off to the guy's at ormskirk motors as they were straight off the bat with their honesty regarding lack of equipment. SO the innevitable call to vauxhall head office expecting to be pushed from pillar to post and back again. Wrong again!!!. Service was first class - freindly staff were eager to please and have resolved my situation by having my car moved to blackpool to be repaired under urgent status by a renowned vx specialist dealer. And they have arranged for a vectra courtesy car for as long as my VX is away. David and goliath all over again. A once again happy to fly the vauxhall badge VX NA owner. 'As long as the side windows are clean that's all that matters!!!!'

[DanDare]

What about Chester engineering in Chester, are they not considered a VX specialist! I know some people are not so happy with them but I have had no problems and I know they have a specialist there? Dan

[Jinder]

Not being funny - but monorep in southall are sh*t. I got mine on a lease, and they quoted me a grand a month for 27 months?! thats £27K i give them over 2 years AND i give the car back?! Wankers And their aftercare service is sh*t as well. Bastards.

[Nitehawk]

We seem to have a lot of new people joining who are looking to get a car, both new VXT and NA.

I think it would be useful if we could post up our thoughts and experiences on the good, bad and ugly out there. If there is enough reponse I can set up a dealer forum (if thats what we want).

If someone is doing it right then we should be aware and if someone is doing it wrong we should be warned.

Anyone want to start?

I bought my n/a in April this year from Eastbourne motoring centre in Cavendish Bridge, Eastbourne (as it happens). The salesman (Mathew Piper) was the most helpful I have ever met, had loads of knowledge about the VX and I was given a generous trade-in price on a Ford KA (the wife's car...honest!). I know where I'm going to get my VXT from when the time comes.

Good Work Fella

P.s. Ther are two dealers closer to my home (Cardiff), they shall remain nameless who didn't even supply me with brochures when requested, one was very reluctant to even let me sit in the demo car ! Shame really... such lack of forsight.

[wilma]

Bought our VXT from Vauxhall Drive in Aldershot after looking around at Picadors and also Barnes in Guildford. Paul took us for a spin (wow he knows how to drive them - best test drive I had been given) and I was sold before I even tried the car for myself!!! I had a broken ankle so could not test drive - but seeing the smile on other half's face when he got back was enough for me... Having returned to the garage to have hard top fitted - I can truly say that we have received a first rate service from all concerned (especially Paul and Dave)

[richclem]

Any body had experience with dealers in the East Midlands, Nottingham area ? Thanks

Edited by richclem, 09 January 2004 - 06:48 PM.

[TonyIles]

I brought my 02 plate VX220 NA from a non vauxhall dealer, who were really good, they only sell sports cars, this was the first VX they had sold, anyway brought the car, paid a bit more but it had hardtop in addition to soft top, the previous owner must have lost the soft top holder, so the dealer got a new one for me, they also fitted the Piper s.e foc, and gave me the standard one back, at PDI they noticed one of the front Potenzas had a chunk missing from the inner wall, so replaced BOTH tyres, brownie points there. Overall car has been great, no leaks, no faults, apart from the front passenger not closing for the last couple of mm, and the drivers door striker plate needing repositioning a tadge, now the Lookers at Selly Oak, attitude was a bit different, when called to book the VX to get window and door done, first response was "Did u buy it from us?" - y, its a VX under warranty, second question is "Body shop will need to assess it" - y, its a VX where something is slightly faulty The salesman from the garage had an Elise in when I picked up the VX, saying much preferred the Elise quote "a bag of nails"

[plastic fantastic]

this is for anyone that lives near bolton,i would stay well clear of kirkby central the guys in the bodyshop can't spray anything without getting a run .they sprayed my new doors 3 times in the end they said it was the best they could do,they gave me a secondhand hardtop to keep me sweet

[mal_dun]

Grimshaws in Eccles, Manchester. Malcolm Taylor is a great VXer. I've had nothing but superb service from them. And they always try to make sure I have a VX as a courtesy car, they've succeeded every time so far

[PaulCP]

Just had 2nd service at Warwick Shubruck's in Diss. Excellent service as usual and a very reasonable £112. Paul

[Timbo]

Not motorbodies that for fcuking sure, come to think of it not the technical centre either, so where does that leave us .

[DrSteve]

My vx is 6 months old and I took it to Geurneys of Benson to have a few things sorted. I won't say whether they were good or bad, draw your own conclusions. Items for attention by garage (in order of importance): 1) LHS speaker rattles on base notes. 2) ABS control module upgrade 3) Wiper blade leaves line on screen 4) Alarm lights don't flash when alarm sounds. 5) LW radio reception is awful (I didn't actually expect to get this fixed) Results: 1) LHS speaker rattles on base notes. Could not hear the rattle!!! Must be a deaf technician (although he seemed to have tuned to Radio 2 where there probably isn't much base). Apparently on the sheet it said "speaker rattles" so he was checking for a loose speaker! Anyway, they have now ordered a new speaker, but whatever the technician did, the problem is now 5 times worse!!! 2) ABS control module upgrade Done. (not noticed any difference yet though...) 3) Wiper blade leaves line on screen Wiper blade needs replacing. However as the car has done more than 3000miles (4200) it is not under warranty! If I had known this I could have brought it in when it first started happening ages ago! So I decided not to have it replaced. The next day, whilst driving along an unfamiliar road in the dark with the wiper on intermitent, the blade does a double backflip, slides down the arm and makes a chip in the paintwork on the bonnet! Obviously not reattached correctly! 4) Alarm lights don't flash when alarm sounds. Can't be reproduced. The next day outside my parents house the car reproduced it perfectly. Had to go back this morning to make sure wiper was reattached properly (in fact I had done it wrong but I avoided using it) and car will go back for chip to be repaired. 5) LW radio reception is awful. Not able to fix it (as expected) but the excuses were funny: "We are going to stop having LW on our cars as it is not possible to get good LW in a car." I pointed out that my '93 MR2 and '00 Yaris both have very good LW reception so Toyota can do it. "It is not good in any Vauxhall" I pointed out that the car was sold as having LW reception. "We are phasing it out as you can't get LW in a car properly." I gave up. Anyone know another dealer near Abingdon or Wallingford?

[DrSteve]

I forgot to mention. They did clean it inside and out which was unexpected and very nice.