Fast fit centres - Charles Renard
Has anyone out there got any experience of Ford rapid fit centres in servicing say an R reg. Mondeo or cars around that age. They are promoting themselves as Autotrade Fast Fit of the year winner for the fourth year running.
Are these centres in general more effective or less effective than main dealer servicing or the hard to find good local independent ?
Or is it all a gamble to find a servicing garage that will do all the work required on a service?
Re: Fast fit centres - Andrew Hamilton
I used the Fasfit in Colchester. On the same site as the Ford showroom. They told me they were exactly the same as the normal Ford service but cheaper. The saving was obtained apparently by not supplying courtesy cars or taxi. They did the job I needed and very polite & helpful. Not sure if they were any cheaper.
I normally prefer independants where I can talk to the mechanic doing the work. At the bigger garages all you get to talk to are the reception.
Re: Fast fit centres - honest john
That could explain why an oil and filter chnge at my local Dagenham Motors is now £30 instead of £60.

HJ
Re: Fast fit centres - Dave
honest john wrote:
>
> That could explain why an oil and filter chnge at my local
> Dagenham Motors is now £30 instead of £60.

Don't you do it yourself HJ?

- I used to look up to you as well...
Re: Fast fit centres - Brian
I used the Peugeot Express fastfit down in Portsmouth for a service when on holiday last year and was very satisfied, more so than with our local main dealer.
Re: Fast fit centres - Andrew Scott
Could anybody tell me whether Fast Fit are likely to use genuine Ford exhaust
sections on a Fiesta? in my opinion these are likely to be better quality than other manufacturers 'pattern' replacements-But I guess others may disagree!

Andrew
Re: Fast fit centres - Dave
Andrew Scott wrote:
>
> Could anybody tell me whether Fast Fit are likely to use
> genuine Ford exhaust
> sections on a Fiesta? in my opinion these are likely to be
> better quality than other manufacturers 'pattern'
> replacements-But I guess others may disagree!

A mate had a new ford exhaust rust in 2 years and 8 months.

IMHO genuine parts are no different to pattern parts. Prolly made to the same tolerences...

Filters for my bike are made in the same factory. Only one letter in the part number written on the filter denotes whether the part is destined to be genuine or pattern...
Re: Fast fit centres - John Kenyon
Dave wrote:
>
> Andrew Scott wrote:
> >
> > Could anybody tell me whether Fast Fit are likely to use
> > genuine Ford exhaust
> > sections on a Fiesta? in my opinion these are likely to be
> > better quality than other manufacturers 'pattern'
> > replacements-But I guess others may disagree!
>
> A mate had a new ford exhaust rust in 2 years and 8 months.
>
> IMHO genuine parts are no different to pattern parts. Prolly
> made to the same tolerences...
>
> Filters for my bike are made in the same factory. Only one
> letter in the part number written on the filter denotes
> whether the part is destined to be genuine or pattern...

Most of the larger exhaust manufacturers make upto three types of exhaust
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture = original kit)
OES (Original Equipment Spares = Manufacturers spares), and
"Aftermarket".

OEM kit has to meet the manufacturers requirements regarding uniformity
of fit, and quality, and most importantly the warranty period.

OES kit may be made to the same design, but the material and standards
may (and I stress may) be lower.

Aftermarket kit will in general be built to a different design (to reduce production costs), using cheaper materials.

The top and bottom of it is, that you have to find out exactly who makes
the best exhaust for your car. Manufacturer A may be better at making
Ford spares, Manufacturer B may be better at making spares for Fiats.

BTW - the above information is courtesy of my father, who's worked
in the exhaust manufacturing business for over 30yrs.

/John
Re: Fast fit centres - Dave
John Kenyon wrote:
>
> Dave wrote:
> >
> > Andrew Scott wrote:
> > >
> > > Could anybody tell me whether Fast Fit are likely to use
> > > genuine Ford exhaust
> > > sections on a Fiesta? in my opinion these are likely to be
> > > better quality than other manufacturers 'pattern'
> > > replacements-But I guess others may disagree!
> >
> > A mate had a new ford exhaust rust in 2 years and 8 months.
> >
> > IMHO genuine parts are no different to pattern parts. Prolly
> > made to the same tolerences...
> >
> > Filters for my bike are made in the same factory. Only one
> > letter in the part number written on the filter denotes
> > whether the part is destined to be genuine or pattern...
>
> Most of the larger exhaust manufacturers make upto three
> types of exhaust
> OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture = original kit)
> OES (Original Equipment Spares = Manufacturers spares), and
> "Aftermarket".
>
> OEM kit has to meet the manufacturers requirements regarding
> uniformity
> of fit, and quality, and most importantly the warranty period.
>
> OES kit may be made to the same design, but the material and
> standards
> may (and I stress may) be lower.
>
> Aftermarket kit will in general be built to a different
> design (to reduce production costs), using cheaper materials.
>
> The top and bottom of it is, that you have to find out
> exactly who makes
> the best exhaust for your car. Manufacturer A may be better
> at making
> Ford spares, Manufacturer B may be better at making spares
> for Fiats.

Sound advice!!!