Now for a subject that I feel strongly about.....
Now for a subject that I feel strongly about.
In todays tough economic climate it is obvious that a lot of people are going to be keeping their cars longer, which I feel is no bad thing.
I have always said that too many of us replace our cars not through necessity, but simply to keep up with the Jones or as a statement to friends and workmates as to how well we are doing. Today's car's are much improved items over the vehicles I cut my teeth on during the 70's whilst serving my apprenticeship.
Then cars would be high milage at 50-60,000 miles and a garage would have double the staff in the workshop as the maintenance required to keep cars running was high and breakdowns frequent. Now with the huge steps forward in technology throughout the motor industry cars run much more economically, require far less servicing, and will last much much longer than the vehicles of a couple of decades ago if they are properly looked after.
This then leads me on to a subject that really gets me going when it pops up in conversation.
All cars are mechanical components and as such will and do wear out, so a good service by a garage that you can trust, should make you aware of all items that require attention both now and in the future, and on any vehicle that is over two years old. They should carry out a proper service which requires the strip down and at the very least, a clean up of items such as brakes and not just an inspection through the wheels with a torch.
If correctly serviced, todays modern vehicles can give years of trouble free motoring at a reasonable cost.
IK Classics works on a hugely varied range of vehicles from vintage (our earliest customers are a Jowett and a Sunbeam from the 1920's and a few Rolls Royce and Bentley models from the 1930's 40's & 50's) though to classics of the 1940's 50's & 60's, historic race cars to supercars (we look after and service a number of Ferraris, Lamborghinis & Porsches) to top-end executive saloons and sports cars and on to the everyday average family car.
The one thing that always strikes me on the majority of cars that we see for the first time is the lack of thorough servicing that has taken place even though these cars have always been serviced by franchised main dealers prior to coming to us.
The failures we find are too numerous to mention them all, but to highlight a few, one of the most common ones is the failure to replace the pollen filter, the service book failed to be filled in, wheels that have never been lubricated on the hub so have become effectively welded on, requiring careful but forceful removal.
This last item always surprises me, as if, after a service, the car suffered a puncture, how would the occupants change the wheel? As I have said we have have found many instances of in our opinion poor servicing and we think we do better.
Having been a service manager to several large franchises I understand the pressures on dealerships to produce a profit and cover the large overheads that are associated with being a main dealer.
Workshop technicians are usually required to be 115% efficient and on a bonus scheme, so in order to hit all the required targets both for the individual and the dealership then corners are sometimes cut and this results in a poor service to the customer, but due to fears of loss of warranty by going out side the franchise then we don't complain just put up with it.
IK Classics can offer an alternative, our labour rate is just £35 per hour, we use only quality parts and treat all cars and customers with care and respect.
We try to keep everyone informed of what is going on and of any extra costs above the service charges that may arise.
Nobody arrives at IK to collect their car after work has been done to an invoice they did not approve of or expect, plus all cars in for servicing or repair work are washed and vacced prior to collection. IK will also collect and deliver customers and or vehicles from the surrounding areas.
So if we can help with the servicing and repairs of your vehicle then why not give us a call to discuss your requirements or why not call in and have a look round.