View Full Version : SMC Exeter
Pugwash12
28-07-2002, 23:13
I have had fantastic service from the main Exeter dealer "SMC". Always so friendly and efficient.
Sorry, but i have to disagree with you about Exeter.
They tried to offer me less on my part ex for a more expensive, older (and more mileage) Leon that everwhere else seemed to be selling for £1000 less. Doubtless to say I went elsewhere.
Anyway, glad that you were pleased with everything. Enjoy your new car!
Pugwash12
29-07-2002, 19:12
Thanks for replying. Your information is interesting. One never knows all the details.
Some of the people working there have been very good to me individually; but I'm sorry you had that experience. I have had my Toledo since September 30 1999.I truly love the car and that is the truth.
Pugwash12
30-07-2002, 00:22
I see you have the same engine that I have. It is excellent on motorways, fantastic fuel consumption, good pulling power when overtaking or pulling up steep hill; but my one is slightly sluggish from the traffic light. One they lent to me at the last service, was exactly the same as mine;but much more lively from traffic lights. Probably one of the garage people cruise it like blaises up the motorway and clean it out! The same engine must be excellent in the Leon.
I dont have any problems with getting away at the lights. Mine seems to pull just fine, but wouldnt mine squeezing a few extra bhp out with a new chip.
Pugwash12
30-07-2002, 16:03
Mine will shift quickly from lights if you put your foot down. It is fantastic when overtaking, I just floor the accelerator and she goes like a rocket. It also climbs beautifully, like the big hill out of Newton Poppleford going away from Exeter. It is amazing how it climbs. Mine has done 63,000 miles and the one Seat lent me during the last service was much newer; but it was amazingly free revving at lower revs. Mine still goes superbly. When you borrow a car, it has probably been driven very hard.No clogging up. Normally I drive my Toledo gently and I change oil every 5,000 miles, so the engine will last even longer. "Honest John" in his column in the Saturday Telegraph,says one should cange oil every 5,000 miles and not every 10,000 miles as they recommend.Even though modern oil lasts much longer, he doesn't trust the manufacturers.
My wife has used SMC for all her servicing for the last three years, until the last one (because we have moved south). She didn't like them (forget why) and much prefers County in Teignmouth.
Fen
I'd forgotten about Teignmouth...i'll have to give them a go with the service next month. I usually use Croyde Motors, as they collect mine & drop off a courtesy car at the same time.
Originally posted by TDiman
I'd forgotten about Teignmouth....
Missus bought her car there, because they had one left in Lazuli and SMC's was red when the very last of the Mk2's were being discounted. They seem OK, although it was SMC that got me an Ibiza 130 TDi to drive first, when they first came out.
Fen
Well, time to set the record straight.
I've had an airbag light on for the last week and was going to have Richardsons in Wellignton look at it on Friday, then the office booked me in Worcester on Friday, so that was stuffed.
I had a day off today so on the off-chance I phoned County this morning, but they couldn't do anything until Wednesday, even when I told them that was hopeless for me and that I only wanted it reset and the diagnostics read in case we need to order parts. They don't do service work on Saturday either. I then called SMC who initially said no, then reconsidered and told be to drop by at 2pm. They reset the light, diagnosed the fault and booked me in (with a courtesy car) to look at all the niggles the next time I'm in Devon for the day, even though I bought the car from Amethyst.
That has so far earned them my first service and the sale of some twiddly bits I wanted to buy from the accessories catalogue.
Fen
Glad to hear that they served you well!:)
Must admit that I also went to SMC to buy some ex demo cupra wheels. I went to buy them, but was told that they only had one wheel at that time. I took a look at the wheel out of courtesy, and told them that I would take the set....bargain at £120 for 4. They told me to collect after the weekend.
Monday phonecall....wheels not arrived.
Tuesday phonecall....collect tomorrow.
Wednesday arrives, I go to collect. The one wheel that they showed me originally had no kerb damage, but believe me, the others all had some damage to them, and to top it off they did not have and centre caps. Told to collect centre caps on Saturday morning.
Saturday arrives.....I travel the 25 miles to SMC. Guess what???
The caps were ordered, but have not arrived. Likely story!:(
I was then assured that they would post them out to me as soon as they arrive. Quoted between 7 - 10 days. It will be 11 days tomorrow (tuesday), and guess what??? No centre caps!:mad:
They have still not convinced me to let my pride and joy go to them to look after.
Hmmm, if main dealers can't describe used part properly then who can you trust to? It's a sad fact that all a dealer has to do is return a call when they say they will, get something in when you expect it etc. to seem outstandingly good.
I had bad experience with the Fiat / Alfa lot in Exeter, just unable to get me a clock bulb, but on one occasion I overheard that all their courtesy cars had run out of tax in September (it was March!) and on another that they can only authorise warranty work once every 8 weeks when the Alfa bloke comes round. That convinced me never to buy an Alfa again.
Parks Subaru were actually worse for me; they couldn't get floor mats after being asked 4 times (Vale in Yeovil got them in a week), didn't make any effort to fix a loss of power despite the car being under warranty and them having it for a whole week, and worst of all telling me that my cambelt wasn't due to be replaced until 60,000 miles, despite the service book stating 45k, only for me to find out at 55k that it was 10k overdue.
Carr's Porsche are pretty good IMHO tho.
BTW have you checked APR for your chip? I had mine done today and it's stunning! They have a chip for the 110 too IIRC.
Where did you get the chip done?, and how much??
I went to APR HQ in Daventry, which is 200 miles for us (but only £13 diesel;) ) and they did it in an hour.
Cost was £449+VAT. I don't know how that compares to Upsolute, but the car drives like the factory made it that way and the service was excellent.
I've described it a bit more in a thread on the TDi forum.
Thanks for all the info. I was planning to book mine in for the Upsolute over christmas whilst visiting the in-laws up in yorkshire. I have been quoted £295 for the remap, but have heard of a few problems with low revs with this chip.
Looks like i will have to look into everything all over again!
:mad: APR have mostly good reviews!
Over £500 against £295; you need to know the APR one is giving you something extra.
I'm not sure how relevant it would be, but I'm quite happy to take you out for a spin in mine sometime if you think it would help.
Thanks for the offer, but a mate of mine has the APR in his golf. I goes like a bullet!!:)
I am presuming that I would get roughly the same power upgrade as him.
Thanks anyway.
The APR Ibiza chip gives 300lb/ft (just over infact) whereas the Golf 130 one is 254 lb/ft IIRC, so maybe slightly different to your mate's. If his Golf is a 110 then it should be comparable tho.
It is the 110, or not...as the case is.
It feels like such a different car to my lowly 110 leon, and he beats me hands down every time.
More deciding for me to do. I fancy the APR Cruise control chip. Sounds awesome.:)