[urpert]

Hopefully the title is self-explanatory! Although I'm buying my Ampera from Pentagon Sheffield, the only Ampera specialist dealer within a sensible distance to me is Go Wimbledon - and I wasn't particularly impressed with them when I tried to arrange a test drive back in February. Obviously there are hundreds of standard Vauxhall dealers in this corner of SE London, but am I right in assuming they won't want to touch an Ampera?

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

I think you will need to have your Ampera serviced by a dealer/garage that has staff trained in EV servicing. While a lot of the car is the same as a non-EV (brakes, suspension etc) the drive train is high-voltage and lethal if not handled correctly.

There are some independent garages that now have EV trained mechanics trained in High-Voltage drive train maintenance but they are still quite rare. If you find one check their credentials... it is easy to imagine that EV servicing doesn't require specilist training but believe me... it does if they want to stay alive!

I have no idea what the view of Vauxhall is though.

 

[urpert]

Thanks - it sounds as if minor moans about customer service might have to come second to safety!

 

[Lee Dalton]

If it's any help, vauxhall offer a 3 year service plan. For a set price, they will pick it up from you and drop it back off again when it's done. I think they even leave you with a good old fashioned 'dead tree' burning car to keep you mobile.
Looking at the pentagon version at the minute myself. Quite a bargain !

 

[hopbackguy]

IIRC the terms of the guarantee for the Ampera say it has to be serviced at one of the Ampera-trained dealers. Pick up and delivery for servicing comes as standard, though it seems some Ampera drivers have experienced push back from dealers. Don't be fobbed off.

 

[h8ten]

I would rather take the car in for any repairs so I made sure everything was going to be covered, okay for standard servicing.

 

[Richard Gledhill]

Definitely an Ampera dealer not a standard Vauxhall one...

 

[Big Paul]

I'd be VERY reluctant to take mine to a untrained and inexperienced dealer.

Can I suggest you might like a trip to Eastbourne Motoring Centre which is not too far from South London (and a nice day out) I can't fault their service and I travelled there for my service from Milton Keynes!

Big Paul

 

[urpert]

Thanks Paul - the other options are indeed Eastbourne and Canterbury, both of which are easy and pleasant day trips from here.

 

[Duncan]

Can I suggest you might like a trip to Eastbourne Motoring Centre which is not too far from South London (and a nice day out) I can't fault their service and I travelled there for my service from Milton Keynes!

Big Paul

Another option for you to consider next time you need a service: Bellinger at Grove are now an Ampera dealer as well as a Volt dealer. Previously they could only service Volts but now they can do either.

 

[Big Paul]

Another option for you to consider next time you need a service: Bellinger at Grove are now an Ampera dealer as well as a Volt dealer. Previously they could only service Volts but now they can do either.

I also think very highly of Bellingers, having worked with them in a "previous (pre retirement) life" and it's great to know they can also "officially" look after Ampera now as well as Volt.

Big Paul