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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Dealers Good , bad or indifferent

Reading through many of the comments made about the MGRover experience, the similar thread seems to emerge that generally people are happy about thier new cars, but are less than enamoured by the dealer, when it comes to product knowledge, follow up, and after sale service. I would be interested to hear any comments anyone might have with regard to thier vehicle purchase. To start it off I thoroughly recommend the MGRover direct service based at Longbridge. I suppose being at the factory they would know what they are talking about , but it was more than that. The salesman I spoke to had a passion for the cars he was selling and took the time to ensure that what I drove away in, was really what I wanted.
It was nice to receive a call a few days later asking how I was getting on with the new car.10/10
How about you?
N.J.W Wilkins

Dixons in Bradford! They made the effort, unlike my local dealer.
Martin ZT

This seems to be a common problem and one that the company needs to address if it is to survive.

Too many stories of people going into dealers and being ignored or told to wait for ages or not being allowed to test drive the car they would like.

Us enthusiasts tend to go to a nearby town to another Rover dealer. However the majority of the general public will just buy another car manufactured abroad.

If we get poor service from a dealer we should tell them. Write to them to tell them that you were forced to buy your car elsewhere because their service was poor. Send a copy of the letter to MG Rover customer services at Longbridge.

It would not take many of these letters before these dealers started to take notice. If I ran a business and reeived a letter to say I lost out on a big sale because one of my employees was unhelpful, then I'd do something about it.
Matthew Semple

That's exactly what I plan to do regarding Phoenix in Muswell Hill. They've been appalling. Good idea regarding cc'ing a letter to MG Rover customer services. Do you have an address/contact name Matthew?
Rob Bell

A CC to the MD or CEO will always concentrate minds.

I had a problem with a reputable building company over a new apartment we are buying and the Sales/Customer Services people were no better than some car sales places (and an apartment costs a wee bit more than an MG) so eventually I copied in the MD - and guess what? Within one week a site meeting was arranged and an amicable agreement was reached - this could have been done weeks earlier and saved a lot of agro!

BUT I must admit for the last eight and half years of MG ownership I have not had a problem with my existing car and service firm, It is just that Stratstones are no longer an MG dealer and I now have to deal with Phoenix Muswell Hill and their sales attitude is terrible.

Ted
Ted Newman

First of all Mr Wilkins how dare you nick my NJW initials! I hope you dont have a cherished plate with it on!

Re: shonky dealers, just vote with your feet, it's the best way, but you must let everybody that this is what you have done.

I have bought 2 MG's from Trident in Ottershaw and have found that whilst they are a family run smallish operation, they are incredibly enthusiastic and always give me 100%+ service. Chris Banton or Richard Roberts are the boys.

Neil

I was going to say what Neil just said but I let him go first :-)

I'd also add that I've been very impressed with MGRover direct and very unimpressed with SMC.

Although we should vote with our feet we should also communicate what we have done. Bad dealers will not change unless they, and MGRover, are fully aware of the business lost & benefits of changing.
Adrian

Surely the individual dealer sales figures will speak volumes - although I appreciate this is likely to be skewed by the location of the dealer.
Anybody can give cars away, and anybody can sell cars with massive discounts. But, the true mark of a professional dealership is to sell cars with an enthusiasm, commitment and genuine belief in the product, and yet still sell at full asking price!
Dealers complain of pricing being too high! They discount the prices, then wonder why they can't manage or afford the level of attention to detail that they should. And then people will start to shop elsewhere when they find that depreciation is affected by the easy discounts from MGR and their dealers.
If the product is good enough and we want the dealer attention, then we should be prepared to pay a little extra - and the dealerships should look to their efforts and not their profits!

The realisation is slowly dawning on many that the quality of MG R products is good, especially the 75/ZT is better than the so-called quality brands. MG R need to reinforce this with good sales and service support. I think the average buyer doesn't necessarily mind long-in-the-tooth new models if the support is strong!

Martin
Martin ZT

Neil. Are we the same person?
Like you I bought my last MGZR from Trident in Ottershaw and found them V good. However I was looking for a new Rover 45 for my wife and found them unable to provide us with exactly what I wanted without paying a large premium. Because of that we tried MGRover direct and found the service there to be superb. We chose to see and collect our new 45 from Longbridge, therefore getting a chance to drive around the factory. Talk about died and gone to heaven.
Anyway well done MGRover direct.
By the way Neil, I bet I've been NJW longer than you.
Regards
Neil J Wilkins.

N.J.W Wilkins

I purchased my ZS from a dealer in South Yorks, but live in Cambridge.. so supplying dealer have never been invloved with my car since I left the forecourt. My chosen dealer locally has been excellent for the past 3 years. Sadly thought they decide to swith their major franchise from MG Rover to Honda.
They remain though an authorised MGR service dealer, and I have to say their attitude to me as a customer, at all times, has been brilliant, and I never eevn bought the car from them! Full marks to Crown Garage, Soham!

Kelvin
Kelvin

Come on, lets name and shame the underperforming dealers. I would like to nominate SMC in Iver Heath.
Although the car I bought was second hand, it still cost alot of money and when I went to pick up the car after it's alleged predelivery check, I found that the exhaust was blown, the electric seat adjustment blew fuses,the heated seats never worked, the spare wheel was illegal, the CD never worked. Only a few weeks after I got the car, I was supposed to be taking my Daughter out to see the christmas lights. As I tried to pull away from parking I was surprised to find that ther vehicle would not move. Imagine my surprise when I got out of my car to find that both my front wheels were facing inwards, the steering rack had snapped. After a fraught exchange of words SMC agreed to recover my vehicle and repair under warranty. But when I went to pick up my car, none of the other defects had been rectified, there were oily hand prints all over the vehicle inside and out, and to top it all the car pulled ferociously to the left.
Having lost confidence in the car I soon sold it and got my first ZR from Evans Halshaw in Reading.
SMC, guess what I think the "C" stands for.
Any other horror stories.
N.J.W Wilkins

How about name and praise!!! (as I have done)
Kelvin

N.J.W. I know it isn't any help to youself but you're confirming my worst fears about SMC and making me even more happy that I didn't buy a car from them.
Adrian

I have heard a lot of bad things about SMC
I would have sussed them quickly and saved myself a fortune by NOT buying a new car.

Drat, Drat and Double drat those pesky Trident boys!! Infectious enthusiam = yeah I'll have a Red one! cost becomes a secondary issue.

They took me for a blat in the new SV...Hmmmm... It would be instant divorce though!!
Neil J Willetts the original

I bought my ZS180 from Trident Ottershaw, and have to say I was mightily impressed. Very good customer service and attention. Got a brilliant deal too! Service work was impressive also. Seems like a well run family firm, in the mould I feel of how AF Tann were 10/15 years ago.

I bought my ZR from Epsom Rover and had both cars serviced there too and found their service good as well. They always phone a week after and check the customer is satisified. My Dad bought his Rover there too and is a happy customer.

We have only really used Owens, A F TAnn (when they were around) Epsom Rover and Trident over 20 years.

Ian
Ian Rusbridge

Nice to see some happy customers for once!
Eric

Not difficult really, just keep promises!!

Neil NJW

Hi just a semi positive comment regarding SMC, I purchased my 53 plate ZT 190 + from the Slough (Bath road) showroom 2 weeks ago. I got a very competitive deal and they had the car ready for collection the following day, taxed and ready to go as promised.
Only slight hitch was they forgot to put the cd changer magazine in the system so returned next day to get it. Car seems to be superb and I am a very happy man...slight rumble on passenger electric seat motor when not occupied though still will keep an eye on this. My local dealer is Time tees cars in Essex who are exemplery in their customer care though expensive service 1st year costs £220.00 but they use good materials and magnatec oil so I dont mind too much.
Ssheen

I will put a good word in for G Kingsbury in Hampton. We have used them for 7 years and 4 cars. They are a small family owned business and have been Rover dealers since they (Rover) only made bicycles. Always good friendly service and seem able to fix problems. Not cheap, but if I wanted cheap I would buy a second-hand escort.

In the early days they did a touching line in grovelling gratitude for your business. This is less apparent now. I am not sure if this is due the loss of BMW customer focus on their case or the loss of the head sales honcho to retirement and his Tonto to another job.

I am happy for honest and competent but do miss the grovelling gratitude.

Old Man Kingsbury apparently drives a BMW! I discovered this when picking up my car and saw a 5 Series in the lot. I asked what sexual self sufficient owned the car only to be told it was the MD. I strongly believe that when in a hole you should carry on digging so explained that I was glad to see he had so much faith in the product he sold!

Cheers

Patrick
Patrick

Good to see so many happy smiling customers.
Just goes to prove that bad press always attracts more attention than good.
My nephew has justbought a R25 from Evans Halshaw in Reading and absolutely raves about how good they were.

I seem to notice that most people are talking about buying MGs and not so much Rovers. I hope this is not so. I own both a MGZR and a Rover 45 and think that MG and Rover complement each other. I sincerely hope that both marques continue.
N.J.W Wilkins

My dad was very pleased with SMC Slough when he bought a Rover 75 from them. They had a massive choice of nearly new cars and he saved £1000s on getting it there instead of locally. Very good service and customer care.

Unfortunately someone broke into the house, stole the keys and drove the car away for it never to be seen again. Not SMC's fault of course, but still a bit of a nuisance.
Matthew

Collected a new ZS 180 on Friday. Pointed out that the wrong radio (dealer fitted not factory) had been fitted and where was the CD auto-changer that comes as standard. Dealer treated me as an idiot, 'this car doesn't come with a CD auto changer'. He couldn't be bothered to check this.

I checked that I was right, car has to go back now to have bits retrofitted.

Couple of other minor issues that if the car had been correctly PDI'ed, what should be a good experience, the Crawley Down Group turns into a disappointment.

Big grin when I drive the car though.

Charlie
Charles Goozee

Just to echo NJW's comments above (no, not you Neil!) I travelled some 75 miles to get the right car and the right deal from Evans Halshaw in Reading. A great dealer and great service. Although I use an excellent local dealer for servicing (full marks to Les Bates and the Wicliffe gang in Stroud), EH still phone me periodically to check on servicing and MOT's etc. I (and others on this BSS) definitely rate EH.

Mike H
Mike Hall

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2004 and 02/08/2004

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