Looking for a specialist Rover independent mechanic in Dublin

Mailman

Can anyone recommend a specialist Rover mechanic to service my car in the greater Dublin area.
Nothing wrong with it. Just want a reputable mechanic so that I don't have to worry about my car being mis-serviced by someone who doesn't know or care about what they are doing.

Basically I want a TI Autos type mechanic except for Rover, not Alfa.

colm_mcm

would there be any point in going to an ex-rover dealer?

Mailman

My local Rover dealer billed me twice the manufacturer's recommended set time for a very simple job done on one of my old cars and when you are working at dealer hourly rates that is an overcharge of €150 straight away.

I was unimpressed by the service they did on my old car on another occassion too.

When I went looking for parts from the part desk for my current car they tried to sell me the wrong specification of transmission fluid which would have shortened the life of the transmission. It was obvious that they never ever stocked the correct fluid for the car.

Unless the manufacturer is down on the dealer network like a ton of bricks the after sales service out of dealers is atrocious.
The manufacturers focus or lack of focus on after sales service is half the reason why cars like Fiat/Rover/Alfa/Citroen have a bad reputation while Toyota/BMW/MINI have good reps.
BMW may have forced their dealers to perform but it's at the stage now where the dealers recognise that they hold a high margin dealership because of a percieved reputation which is built through good after sales service.

I could go to a LandRover dealer I suppose if they deigned my car worthy of their attention but they'd charge me over €90 an hour labour becuase they see themselves as a quality marque.

Supercell

Mailman wrote:

The manufacturers focus or lack of focus on after sales service is half the reason why cars like Fiat/Rover/Alfa/Citroen have a bad reputation while Toyota/BMW/MINI have good reps.
BMW may have forced their dealers to perform but it's at the stage now where the dealers recognise that they hold a high margin dealership because of a percieved reputation which is built through good after sales service.

I could go to a LandRover dealer I suppose if they deigned my car worthy of their attention but they'd charge me over €90 an hour labour becuase they see themselves as a quality marque.

I'd add Skoda to the good rep after sales service list.
Bought a Fabia last April second hand from a private seller.
Have had two dealings with the official dealership - One for full service and another for brake change.
Both times were a pleasure to deal with and after the service I even had a call a couple of days later to check that I was happy with the service given.

No wonder at all in my mind that if this is standard practice for Skoda dealerships that they are making serious inroads into positive public perception, i've absolutely nothing bad to say about them, and the previous owner didnt either (they bought an Octavia).

maidhc

Why must it be a specialist Rover mechanic?

Any stuff I can't do I take it to a guy who services everything from Ford Zephyrs to 06 BMWs. He is brilliant, if tempermental, and normally refers to my mondeo as "that ****ing thing" (such is the ease of working on it!).

Mailman

My V6 is an unusual engine and has a few eccentricities so I'd prefer a mechanic who is familiar with it and has the correct tools to work on it.

colm_mcm

ah it's a Land Rover? Go to "On and off road repairs" in Brittas (John Redmond) knows his stuff and specialises in Landies.

Mailman

No. it's a Rover but most of the oily bits can be found in a Freelander.

colm_mcm

oh right. i heard Ryans in Blanchardstown were very good. they've adopted SEAT now - but maybe they still service Rovers.