wanted to share an experience of service at a main dealership, if thats ok.
We had the unwelcome experience of somebody trying to steal the alloys off our townace. This could have had disasterous consequences as un beknown to us we must have disturbed the thieves. They had managed to take off the wheel nuts on the nearside rear wheel we had driven for a couple of miles or so and suddenly felt a whobble at the back and clunk the wheel came off and somehow managed to sit on the brake drum without actually leaving the car!!
Anyway what has this to do with the main dealer?
I tried, in vain, at local motor factors to find wheel nuts to fit so I could replace the wheel and ended up going into preston to the toyota dealership. After I told them what happened they could not have been more helpful. They managed to root out the 7 nuts that had been taken drove me back to the car and replaced the wheel for me. The charge. Nothing!!!!
Credit where it is due for sevice that goes way above what could be reasonably expected.
The dealers name is "West End Toyota" Preston.
Hope you all dont mind me advertising for them but on this occasion I think it is the least they deserve.
Phil - (#2376) phil elliott, 1 Mar 02

Phil,
Absolutely stunning service, wish I could get our nearest Toyota dealer to be even 1% as helpful as that. In my experience main dealers, no matter what franchise, are far less helpful than your average independant garage, as they know they have you by the short & curlies. So keep using that one, is sounds like you found a gooden. Regards Rob. - (#2379) Rob Drinkwater, 1 Mar 02

When I had my Townace all I got from my local Toyota dealer was 'It's an import!' However while working in Holland I had the front brake pads wear out, the local Toyota dealer had it in, changed the pads while I waited & within 3/4 hour gave me the keys back & charged me about £35 all in! they also re-charged the AC system for me at a later visit for about £25, what a difference that made! not quite snow from the vents but close.(check the bubbles in the system sight glass) Quick tip, put on your AC at least once a month to keep it working as it should be, even in the winter!
Cheers
Geoff

- (#2737) Geoff Waldorf, 20 Apr 02

As a reply to Phil, the Toyota Main Dealer at Waterlooville, WKB Toyota, is also very good indeed. They do carry alot of spares for the TownAce and although originally they did also say 'It's an Import, have been very good ever since. A little expensive but very helpful all the same. They will not however work on the car. They have said that it is a contractural policy. If they have the car and need to replace some of the parts and they are not instock, they are obliged to give you a courtesy car. Since the parts may come from Japan, this may take ages so this is the reason for them not working on our cars.

- (#2738) Andy Stancliffe, 21 Apr 02