View Full Version : Dealer in Bristol yet?
Ive just bought (but yet to collect) an 2002/02 5000mile Leon S TDi from Bryan Brothers in Bristol. Yes I have read all the comments here and have dealt with them in the past at other branches (they have been very good with an extremely unreliable Fiat that i'm finally rid of!) I was told that they handed the franchise back to Seat, not the other way round. They have also sold off their Fiat dealer and the trucks department, so maybe money is tight?
I guess if i need any work done its going to have to be Holders of Congresbury, but has anyone heard anything about a new Seat dealer for Bristol yet? Ive driven past Dovercourt VW van centre on Cheltenham Road and there have been transporters with Seats on, but presumably they load all VAG cars on those trucks. As Holders is owned by the guy who also owns Patchway Cars Vauxhall maybe they will be offered the franchise!
Andy :D
hopkinsgm
21-04-2003, 17:13
Just after New Year, I got as letter from Seat UK informing me that Bryan Bros were no longer to continue as a Seat dealership - it actually dropped on the mat about a week after the dealership closed, but never mind. At least it arrived a couple of days before the one from Bryan Bros... I have heard nothing from Seat UK since, despite their letter stressing that they would keep me informed... Perhaps this had something to do with my letter back to them suggesting that if they hadn't binned a perfectly good dealer (MWM) in preference of a bunch of clueless muppets like Bryan Bros, they wouldn't have found themselves in this situation. Never mind...
My 8v has been out to Holders for the last couple of services, they've been very good, doing the work requested and if they find anything else amiss, they consult me before spending any more of my hard earned - call me old fashioned (even older fashioned after my b'day last week :D) but I don't think you should HAVE to ask for that kind of service. Yes, it's a ballache taking the car out there first thing, especially as I work in Swindon (don't get me started on Swindon Automobiles...) but the work requested is always carried out on time (unlike Bryan Bros) to a high standard (unlike Bryan Bros) for a sensible price (unlike Bryan Bros). They offer courtesy cars (Bryan Bros didn't). And you don't have to book the car in six weeks in advance either (unlike Bryan Bros)...
As for who binned who, i've heard it from both perspectives. I heard that Seat UK revoked the franchise due to them underperforming in all aspects of the business - which on my experience sounds plausible. I know that I wrote to Seat UK several times complaining of p1ss poor service from Bryan Bros, and I know I wasn't the only one who was dissatisfied to say the least. I heard from other sources that Bryan Bros got p1ssed off with not being able to get hold of cars to sell. Given the Spanish labour situation over the last year or so is not beyond the realms of possibility either.
All I will add is that I know that Bryan Bros have had a certain amount of financial difficulties in recent times. And that I did speak to a chap who'd been employed by them at the beginning of December to sell Seats which doesn't sound like a shrewd decision if you know you're going to cease selling a particular brand within a month...
Dormouse
21-04-2003, 19:30
It appeared to have vanished when I last drove past....
Dor.
There is another benefit from Bryan Brothers losing their franchise, it means ive bought the same sort of car thats for sale at Seat dealers all over for £1000 less 'cause it isnt Approved Used :D
With regards MWM Motors, I was told that the owner died a while back and hence they had no interest in taking on a new franchise and were running things down. However I drove past this week and they seemed to have more used cars there than before, so whether theyre taking advantage of no-one selling used Seats in Bristol and flogging a few I dont know. For some reason Bristol is a bit short on dealers at the moment, no Volvo/Land Rover/Hyundai/Seat nor anything exotic (other than Porsche). Strange but there you go!
Taking the car to Holders isnt a huge problem, i'll just run it down there the night before and collect it the following afternoon. Hopefully i'll only need to do that once or twice a year at most :D
Andy
Holders are my local dealer now since moving from Bristol 2 years ago.
I bought my first two Beezers from MWM and almost bought my Leon Cupra from Bryan Brothers. :eek:
Holders are excellent IMO. I know they are a lot busier now since Bryan Brothers lost the franchise.
Might see some of you guys up there sometime. ;)
I drove past MWM on Friday, and I was also surprised with the number of Seats on display. I think they lost the franchise well over two years ago.
:cheers:
Scott
leonvt2001
24-04-2003, 17:50
Another big thumbs up to Holders.
Took my Leon there for the first time yesterday. Efficient service and dealt with the third party warranty company very efficiently.
Finally got rid of my warning light on the termperature gauge / annoying beeping noise that another dealer had told me they had sorted by filling up the windscreen washer fluid ;)
Another dealer in North / East Bristol would be nice though - are you listening Seat UK?
Eastgate (Mazda) have been allocated the SEAT franchise for Bristol. Can anyone in the know confirm this? Couldnt ascertain whether this was instead of Mazda or in addition to.
Andy
Dormouse
11-06-2003, 16:55
If that's true, then they are just down the road from me during the week. Excellent.
Dor.
Well it was told to me by a usually reliable source in the Bristol motor trade.
Eastgate used to have a Hyundai franchise in the small end showroom that they now try to flog imports from. However, it made me wonder whether they were ditching Mazda (as Mazda are part of Ford and seem to be giving franchises to Ford dealers..........)
Andy
Dormouse
11-06-2003, 17:06
If it's true it will be worth doing a feature on them when they open (and introduce them to the world of SCN :D)
If you get anymore details, pass em my way and i'll see if something can be arranged.
Dor.
Well talk about a long time since this thread started. I just drove past Eastgate Mazda - lo and behold the SEAT signs are going up in the little showroom at the side. Williams Automobiles in Bristol now have Mazda so whether they're going to deal solely in SEAT I dont know.
Andy :thumbup:
CORDY_SXMAN
25-07-2004, 00:04
my dad works in the motor trade and told me about SEAT going into the eastgate site ages ago, sounds like it must be all going thru if the signs have gone up now. Be well handy to have a local dealer, i live up the road in Horfield.
Paul
Well talk about a long time since this thread started. I just drove past Eastgate Mazda - lo and behold the SEAT signs are going up in the little showroom at the side. Williams Automobiles in Bristol now have Mazda so whether they're going to deal solely in SEAT I dont know.
Andy :thumbup: