Servicing advice - Scotland

[StephenR]

Hi, I just bought my first seven. When I bought the car the dealer recommended Dreadnought Garage in Callander as a place for servicing and any work I need done in Scotland, however I contacted them and they've said they no longer work on Caterhams. Does anyone have any advice on where I can take my car if I need something and/or when the service is due?

[Jonathan Kay]

Welcome.

Where are you, and have you already made contact with your Area Representative?

https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/area-meetings

Jonathan

[StephenR]

I'm in Edinburgh. I haven't sent my area representative a message, thanks. I'll do that

[Nigel B]

Hi Stephen!

Welcome & congratulations on acquiring your first Seven!

I'm in Edinburgh too. For the past couple of years, I've been using Craig Moncrieff in Sighthill. He's actually a Lotus specialist, but he's very well regarded & understands Caterhams. 

I'm surprised Dreadnought said they didn't work on Caterhams any more. When I was last there, they had a wide variety of cars in the workshop, including a Lotus Elan & even a Bond Bug!

Given they used to be Caterham's official service agent in Scotland & clearly have a lot of experience with Sevens, it seems like a strange move.

What model of Caterham do you have? The local group are very active, although the meetings are quite a drive from Edinburgh.

Nigel.

 

[StephenR]

Thanks. That's extremely helpful. I'll bear that in mind for when I need anything.

I was very surprised when Dreadnought said they didn't work on Caterhams any more. They told me that Caterham removed their status as official agents a few years ago, but I'm not sure why that would stop them doing any work (I was enquiring about changing to the lowered floor as my car doesn't have that at present). The photos on their website still feature quite a few sevens too.

I've got a 2012 Roadsport SV 1.6 Sigma 150bhp. It's blue with silver nose cone and bonnet stripe. 

[Jonathan Kay]

"I've got a 2012 Roadsport SV 1.6 Sigma 150bhp."

Please let me know if you'd like the technical documentation: Assembly Guide, amendments, wiring diagram, Handbook...

Jonathan

 

[Nigel B]

That sounds like a nice spec.

Perhaps Dreadnought thought fitting lowered floors was a bit too specialised for them? 
 

When I think back, I contacted Dreadnought about five years ago, when I'd had a slight 'off' & bent the steering arm & steering rack platform on my old Seven. (Oops!) They said then that they didn't do chassis work, so perhaps they regard lowered floors as chassis work?

 I ended up using Oakmere, the Caterham dealer in Cheshire. They were great & I've do doubt they would fit lowered floors, although obviously it's a bit of a jaunt from Edinburgh. They might be worth bearing in mind, if you can't find anywhere locally.

I've also used the Car Tuning Clinic at Abbeyhill. They worked wonders with the Weber carbs on my last Seven & also changed the cam belt for me. I doubt they'd do lowered floors, mind you.

 Enjoy the car anyway! Perfect weather for it today. 

[David aka Blue7]

Interesting information about Dreadnought.  I used to travel down from Aberdeenshire but after Brian Luti retired they just weren't the same, they let me down with a very poor service and later on at a number of local car show events, I heard some awful stories about their servicing so I have never returned and now use a local garage Jim King Autotune, Lethenty, Inverurie who services a lot of local Caterhams but too far from Edinburgh.

Caterham changed agency from Dreadnought to RPM Perth, who were hopeless and later the Agency was awarded to Aston Martin Dealership Leven Motors but they later went into receivership.  I assume Dreadnought have 'sulked' since they lost agency status.

 

[finmac]

Given their Caterham track record I contacted Dreadnaught recently about servicing my 620R. Had to endure a big story about how Caterham had dumped them and despite all their past of working on the cars they couldn't do so any more, because the factory wouldn't support them they didn't feel  Confident or something along those lines. Bizarre was putting it politely. Basically, the guy didn't want to service my car or want the work! Total waste of a phone call.

I can highly recommend Craig Moncreif, Craig has worked on my Exige for years, top bloke. My 620 is going there week after next for Service and MOT. 

[StephenR]

I'll definitely give Craig Moncrief a call. Thanks all

 

Stephen 

[David aka Blue7]

Finlay, interesting comments.  Brian is a topper of a person but when he retired things just weren't the same between son and daughter and their exceptional mechanic left.  Claire did her best and was very good but Paul didn't really want to actually work, he just wanted to play at being a racing driver.  

One story from a TVR owner was leaving his car with them and going for a walk around Callander only to eventually discover that he still had his car keys in his pocket so his car was locked.  He walked back to the garage and before he had time to embarrassingly explain he was told his car had been serviced and was ready to go 

So you now have a 620R, what happened to your CSR ... gone across the Clyde to Rab C Nesbitt?