Willoughby's of Chilwell, Nott'm

[Sooty torques]

Just thought I'd post a mention of thanks for Willoughby's of Chilwell, Nottingham. Had to take my Leon TDi SE there for some work to be done under warranty. As it's an import (and my first) I'd been told all sorts of horror stories about dealers not wanting to know. Couldn't have been further from the truth with these guys (and gals). Very helpful, very friendly. They're not the nearest SEAT dealer to me but they've now got my business and I've booked in for the first 10k service.

Service was fine but I'm not going back there again!
See thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22311

[muddyboots]

I went to Willoughby to get my number plates, mudflaps, mats etc when I imported my Ibiza.

I asked them about their "Import attitude" and they seemed quite happy, the girl on reception says they get quite a few these days for servicing etc.

I'd have carried on going there, but Autoworld in Chesterfield is a bit closer to me so I'm going there now. At least if I have any problems with Autoworld I know Willoughby will be happy to do the work instead...

BTW Sooty, I see you frequent the Diesel Car forums....welcome to SC !

[Sooty torques]

Hi muddy,

Yep, found my way in here by following the link that one of you SC guys posted - thanks! Still finding my way around tho'

I too got to find Willoughby's by going for flaps 'n' mats and stuff first. The girl on reception was particularly helpful, so too is the service/parts manager there. Advised me what was worth buying and more importantly - what wasn't, like the headlamp protectors for the Leon and the locking wheel nuts. He reckoned that the standard fit locking nuts are much more secure...?

As I work in north notts, just 'over the border' from Chesterfield, you'll have to let me know how you get on with Autoworld. May be worth a visit.

[muddyboots]

So far I've only popped in to book my car in for it's first service & an airbag fault to be looked at; service chap seemed quite helpful though.
Autoworld's premises are a bit smarter than Willoughby's, but that doesn't mean anything...

Service is due in about 4 weeks so I'll let you know then.

mb

[jezyg]

I have had first rate service from them in both Sales and service, sadly when I got my car there was a slight scuff above the front numberplate and there bodyshop resprayed the whole bumper!!

Sorted out my leakywater bottle even though I had jsut turned up off the street and did a quick fix while they waited for the part to come in.

Ordered my OZ Alloy's and they came just as the guy said they would, he even checked to make sure they were OK and wheeled them out to my car and helped me load them up.

Organised the Seat maintinance plan over the phone and let me have the one for a new car even though I had had it for a month.

This is the same excellent service that I used to get from the two Vauxhall dealers that I brought cars from!!

[Sooty torques]

Just had my first battle with Willoughby's!!! :mad: I wanted to order another blipper key for my other half and 'Darren' in parts started to get funny & v. unhelpful 'cos it's an import. :mad: To cut a long story short, spent about four days going to 'n' fro between Willoughby's, SEAT UK & the dutch dealer my Leon was sourced from.:head: Got firm with SEAT UK who were v. nice and got onto Willoughby's (3xway conversion on the phone - v. interesting...) after 'Darren' told me to go to another dealer:grump: Key is now on order... just hope it fits :)

[jezyg]

Sadly dealers are funny about imports as if they order the wrong part they have to pay for it. Not really an excuse for bad service though.

[Sooty torques]

Took my Leon into Willoughby's this am and walked out 45 mins later with a new remote key that fits and works and £188-86 less cash in my pocket. Was a breeze and no comments about imports and keys...

A lot of brass for a key and a 10K service (basically an oil change?)but then a darn sight less than I used to get stung for with my old ZX Volcane TD... Every 6K it used to cost me at least £140 and that too was basically a quick fluid swap.

[muddyboots]

Out of interest, how much did the key & service cost each ?

[Sooty torques]

Hi muddy - let me see...:think:

Key was £36.76+vat; transmitter £40.72+vat; labour for the key £12.37+vat = £106-ish.:eek:

Filter was £5.73+vat; Oil £19.50+vat; Plug £0.60+vat; Environmental disposal charge £2.50+vat; Consumbles and top-ups £0.64+vat; labour £41.25+vat = £82.50-ish. :yikes:

But like I said, cheaper than a Citroen garage...:)

[muddyboots]

Labour for the key ? WTF is that - putting it in the door and turning it ???

By the way - nice to see a local import Seat owner who also has a liking for the apple juice...!

[Sooty torques]

Yeah, Muddy, 'key labour' confused me a tad as well... have you had your service done at Autoworld yet?

As regards apple juice of the fermented variety, love the stuff. Have my own trees (proper cider apple varieties) and make my own cider. Small scale stuff as the trees have only been in for a couple of years but managed 9 gallons last autumn... all of which has gone save for a pint or two...http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/ernaehrung/food-smiley-009.gif

Off to France on Saturday for a week or so wandering (staggering?) round the Route de Cidre in Normandy, before blazzing over to Brittany to see what the producers over there have to offer... sort of a themed holiday. You tried any cider & perry fests? If you get chance, there's an excellent one coming up at Worcester 14th-16th August. Full details are on the UKcider web site.

[muddyboots]

My car is going in for service this Saturday, pick it up Monday night. Will let you know how I get on, hopefully they won't crash mine... Hopefully with have my maintenance plan sorted by then too.

Sounds like you a more "advanced" cider drinker than me; you seem to know your stuff & be quite seriously into it - what with own trees and everything !! 9 gallons - hmm :think: - isn't that about 70 pints ? :eek:

Trouble is with cider, I seem to be getting worse and worse hangovers as I get older ;) but it doesn't stop me. Been a while since I've had any cloudy stuff though, daren't think how I'd feel the morning after some of that !

By the way, "Nottigham-ish" - which side of Nott are you on then ?

[Sooty torques]

How do these maintenance plans work? Heard a bit about them but usually seemed to be linked to company cars and the like. What are the tie-ups / costs etc?

Yeah, "advanced" is a good word! We both drink cider & perry more than anything now so 70 pints/2 over 5-ish months isn't too bad... is it? Graduated from beer + making my own wine (started when I was 15!) to cider after meeting up with my girlfriend/fiancee some 8 years back. Took her to a beer festival, set her up with some cider and found I'd forgotten just how good the real stuff is. So rarely drink beer at festivals unless the cider selection is poor. Local pubs only sell Weakbow and Blandyawn so if we go to a pub, it's usually beer...

Not had a hangover for many a year - know my limits and stick to them. Experience is a great teacher...!

We live on the North side - we are the pimple on the backside of Nottingham, or to be correct, Hucknall. What a dive!:p

[Sooty torques]

Hey muddy - being a Derby's boy, you know the 'Barley Mow' at Kirk Ireton? If you fancy a decent pint of real cider, that's usually 'bout the only place round here I know of that you'll get one now. Quaint, old world place. Nice fire in the winter, bar is a plank of wood. Beers good too, real tap n spile job - no fizzy shi....:D

[muddyboots]

The Maintenance plan is run by Seat, and you can join anytime up till your first service / 10k miles. You have the options of Service only, Service & Maintenance, or Service, Maintenance & Tyres. Contracts run for 2 or 3 years I think, and you pay up front or monthly - cost depends on your mileage. I've gone for a 3-year SMT contract, with an annual mileage of 25,000. It's going to cost me £56/month, which pays for all services, all maintenance (eg brake pads, wipers, cambelt, clutch etc etc) and all tyre replacement. (The tyre part of the contract was about £8/month - considering I'll get prob through 2 sets of fronts per year, it's pretty good as they won't be cheap (205/45/16). The best thing is I can budget well, without the fear of sudden large bills.

I know where Hucknall is - my g/fs sister & husband have just self-built their house nearby - I've forgot the name of the place now - it's between the Ikea roundabout and J26. My g/f grew up in Langley Mill, and we now live in the Matlock area. I work in Stockport, hence the 25k/yr contract !!!

I didn't come from Derbyshire originally - where's Kirk Ireton. I know the name, can't picture where it is though...

[Sooty torques]

Hi muddy, dragging yourself between Matlock and Stockport on a daily basis must be a pig - mind you, country roads, fresh air, etc. I drive to Stockport a few times a year on the way to Manchester, usually go through Chesterfield & over the 'tops'. Nice road, ideal for torquey diesels that handle well;)

Seeing as I've just had my first 10K service (at 8,8K) it's probably too late to consider a maintenance plan. Didn't you get any grief with your motor being an import and all?

Kirk Ireton is off the Wirksworth to Duffield road, on the right if you come from Wirksworth way, the lane goes off just before Idridgehay; easy too miss 'cos the village is a mile or so fom the road on top of the hill. You go up through the village and it's on the right hand side - big, old, stone-built three-storey place, used to be a coaching inn, now houses the Post Office as well. Does good B&B in an annexe above the old stables. Traditional pub though with traditional hours, so don't go expecting it to be open all day...:confused: Definitely worth a trip though, even if only to experience what a local used to be like.:cheers:

[Feel]

Hi guys, is this the start of a Notts/Derby group?

Anyway, either of you tried GK Seat at Derby (is it GK, the posh newish one on pride park)?

From where I am (Right near J28) there's little difference in the distance between Willoughby's and GK.

Willoughby's were helpful when I wanted a test drive, GK were also helpful, but didn't have one to test (they had two yella R's in at the time, one sold and one un-registered).

Anyway, just wondering which one to risk for the first service...

[Sooty torques]

Hi Feel. Yeah, welcome to the Notts/Derby cider swillin' splinter group (cider drinking is not obligatory btw...):D

Not tried GK SEAT (don't go to Derby much) though found out about them before Willoughby's 'cos the UK SEAT website always throws up GK as being nearer to me and doesn't even mention Willoughby's... Guys at W's were not too amused when I pointed this out to them..!:mad:

GK is quicker & easier for me to get to (even though it's further), but it's more difficult to get to work from there when there's no courtesy car available, and it's also easier for me to pop & see the missus at work or say hello to my mummy who lives a short bus ride from W's...:)

W's have been, on the whole, very good and colleagues at work recommended them to me. Like I said, I've only had one spat with them and that was over this key malarky. Wait to see what muddy reports on Autoworld at Chesterfield before making your final decision, 'cos they'll be closer to you than W's or GK.:think:

[muddyboots]

Hi muddy, dragging yourself between Matlock and Stockport on a daily basis must be a pig - mind you, country roads, fresh air, etc.
As you say, it's a nice drive - apart from the crawl at the Stockport end. Worst thing is having to get up early to miss the worst of the traffic (I work flexi time, thankfully). If I leave home before 6:30 it usually takes 1h15m, much later and it can take up to 2hrs.
Didn't you get any grief with your motor being an import and all?
Well, they haven't asked if it's an import, so I haven't told them. They'll notice when they come to stamp the service book and see the original dealer stamp. They might also notice the "Tuned by Seat" stamp in there too...and the Xenon headlights, rain sensor and ESP button...
Kirk Ireton is off the Wirksworth to Duffield road, on the right if you come from Wirksworth way
Ah, that's where I've seen it then - I live at the one end of said road !! Drive that way once a month or so when my g/f has to work in London, and I drop her off at Derby station. (WW -> Derby -> Stockport -> Derby -> WW...now that is a pig of a day !!)


Feel -> You must be near Alfreton ? That's where my g/f works. I'll let you know how Autoworld goes on in a separate thread. Not that this thread has gone a bit off-topic or anything :D

[Steve_Brown]

Originally posted by Feel
Hi guys, is this the start of a Notts/Derby group?

Anyway, either of you tried GK Seat at Derby (is it GK, the posh newish one on pride park)?


Yup that's the one.

Not heard many good things about GK I'm afraid.

Willoughby's I've used and they've been fine, not the cheapest but you do get loan cars from them. They also have a presence on these forums.

:cheers:

Steve.

[Marc]

Originally posted by Feel

Anyway, either of you tried GK Seat at Derby (is it GK, the posh newish one on pride park)?

I haven't had too much dealings with GK since they took over the co-op group but when it was co-op I found them to rip people off with the servicing :( (well they have too pay for the nice shiney showroom somehow ;) )

The only thing I would say is that the workforce is identical from when it was co-op to now it is GK.... so its worth remembering.

But then on another hand Willoughby's of Chilwell arn't open on Saturday's for servicing, which bugs me as I work in Derby but live in Notts so there is no way I can take my car in during the week (unless I have a day off work :( )

Hope this helps

Marc

[Noggin]

I had a 10,000/12 month service combined the other week from Willoughbys and they were fine.
The only things they didn't do was 1)Reminder sticker on door pillar - 2) Lubricate hinges. Neither of which I'm that bothered about.

Went in with a warranty item (heated mirror not heating up) and they replaced it. No wait for ordering, no fuss.
I'll be going back there for my next service and I live 30 miles away in Chesterfield.

[Steve_Brown]

Marc, Willoughby's have told me they'll pick up and collect for servicing if necessary, and that's from Derby!

[Steve_Brown]

Just had 10k oil change/12 month inspection. Cost £133. Got a new 1.2 Ibiza as a courtesy car, the brakes were awful! Is this normal?

Anyway car was returned clean, friendly receptionists, generally a thumbs up, maybe the seatcupra.net sticker in the back made a difference...

[Sooty torques]

My seatcupra.net sticker made sod all difference to the treatment I got...:mad: