DGW

DGW

Originally posted by William - Wed Jun 30, 2004

This dealer recently took over a previous Skoda dealership. They also own the biggest Fiat dealership in N.Ireland. My experience of them is limited to one very simple repair to my Octy. I did however speak to their chief salesperson and found him to be rather slimey. Not as willing as RK Oliver to take older cars as trade ins. They do however seem to always have in stock large numbers of nearly new Octy TDi cars (ex fleet), but look rather to much money for them. Their reputation as Fiat dealers is not great for customer satisfaction, but never having owned a Fiat, I can not say how much of this is due to the nature of Fiat cars.

DGW

Originally posted by RikvRS - Fri Oct 29, 2004

I had a Fiat Bravo bought from this dealer before the vRS. To cut a long story short I would never buy either an Alfa (and I quite fancied a 156) or another Fiat again because the service was appalling.

Johnnyc

I took a 2.0TDi Octy II out for a test drive from these guys.
The sales person was ignorant and knew feck all about the car which made things a bit tense and totally ruined the experience. When I rang they told me to call in on Sat afternoon because it's quieter. Trouble was this plonker just wanted to read his paper and yours trully ruined his day. Believe me i suffered for it.

I later returned and cornered one of their fleet staff. Again, not a clue. Didn't even know what half the features were on the cars in the showroom or the difference between an Elegance and a Sport. Pathetic.

I ordered my car in the end from John Mulhollands in Randalstown who have been great to date. Trouble is i'm in Belfast and the fleet company suggested getting my car serviced by Mervyn stewarts. No way. I'll take a 1/2 day off and drive to Randalstown.

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Johnny

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

cmcm789

Reply to thread from 30 March 2005:

Andy,

Sounds all too familiar. I left the Octy in for a service about 2 months ago. When i came back i noticed the car had been cleaned. I was happy enough until i got home to notice the plate with the electrics socket on from the towbar was bent inward by about 45 degrees. Luckily there doesn't seem to be any other marks or scratches, but if the machine wash can do this to the metal plate on the towbar, then what could it do to thew body work.

If i am in for a service again, i will be giving them strict instructions as to why they can't machine wash my car.

Oh, by the way, it was Mervyn Stewart on the Boucher Road. I assume this is where you where?

And, i had the silver fabia estate for a day. Couldn't wait to get the Octy back.

JD

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Octy Elegance TDI (110bhp)

cmcm789

Copy of complaint letter to Skoda UK re: Mervyn Stewart

I wish to express my dissatisfaction with the service I have received from one of your authorised dealers, and also to commend the service I received from another.
I purchased a 2003 model Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.9 TDI in October 2004 with approx. 15K miles. When the 20k mile service was due I booked it into my nearest dealer (10 miles) who was Mervyn Stewart on the Boucher Road, Belfast on the 28 January 2005. I asked for the 20k service, and pointed out some issues I wasn’t happy with:

1. Loss of boost frequently at around 1,800 – 2,000 rpm when driving.
2. Starting problems (occasional) –the fault light has come on intermittently after a problematic start.
3. Boot lifters not working properly
4. Internal light/ reading light is faulty
5. Climate control – Whistling from blower
6. Various minor problem; rattle from dashboard, knocking/ creaking on rear drivers side, passenger side creak, glove compartment rattle.

The service was completed, and most of the issues where addressed. However, they could not find the noise associated with the climate control, and did not have boot lifters or an internal light in stock, so they told me they would order them in and send out a postcard when ready. Also, they said that they checked the diagnostics, and no fault had been logged on the computer which would cause the hesitation at 1,800-2,000 rpm
After 2 weeks I had received no word from them so I phoned. The parts were in about a week. I arranged a second visit on 16 February. On this visit I made sure the mechanic heard the noise in the climate control. The parts which were ordered were fitted, and a new heater motor was ordered. Again I was told there would be a postcard sent out to inform me when the part had arrived, no later than 2 weeks. Eleven weeks passed and I had heard no word about my replacement heater motor. I phoned Mervyn Stewart and they said that the part had not been ordered, but they booked me in for 12 May, one week later.
When I visited them for the third time, I told them that the intermittent hesitation/ flat spot at 1,800-2,000 rpm when driving, was still there, and worse than before. I came back that evening and picked up the car with the new heater motor. When asked about the hesitation problem, I was told that they had checked the diagnostics for a second time and again, no fault had shown up on the computer.
When I left the dealers the problem was as obvious as ever, and it seemed to be getting worse. I knew there was a problem, as I had a Volkwagen Golf MK3 TDI for 5 years prior to buying the Octavia. I had driven over 135K miles on the Golf without a problem.
I was so dissatisfied with the level of service at Mervyn Stewarts that I decided to go to another dealer for a second opinion. I called at John Mulholland Motors in Randalstown (26 miles away) on 3 June. When I explained the problem to the girl at the service desk, she immediately acknowledged it saying that the symptoms were common on the 110 TDI engine. A mechanic had a look at the car while I waited and took it for a test drive. When he came back he spoke to me about it and said that it could be one of 3 things, but that I would need to book the car in for a full day. I booked in for 9 June for the full day. When I went back to pick up the car the girl at the service desk told me that the mechanic had checked out all the possibilities and had replaced a faulty changeover/ turnover valve.

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Octy Elegance TDI (110bhp)

Mike VRS

I went in to Mervyn Stewarts last week to see about trading in my 02 VW Golf for a brand new 06 Fabia VRS, and, I can honestly say I will never by a damn thing from said dealers ever, the sales men didnt have a clue, they werent interested in selling a car, offered £3,000 under book and weren't even interested in doing any discount on a VRS for a straight cash sale!! Needless to say 24hours later down the road in Philip Petersens I found not 1 but to very helpful salesmen who gave me top book for said golf and I am now awaiting delivery of my 06 Silver VRS early next week, Top service from Petersens

__________________
06 Fabia VRS in Shiney Silver Mapped by O.B.D. AutoTune
03 Honda S2000 GT Spec + 05 Brabus Fortwo
In Czech, the word 'škoda' means "damage, detriment, disadvantage", and "To je škoda" meaning "It's a pity"

Johnnyc

Good to hear you got it sorted. Watch out at service time though.

When Philip Petersen used to do Honda, I called in one time to pick up an oil filter and sump plug washer having already purchased some Mobil 1 Motorsport oil for the oil change I was about to do. Out of interest I asked how much an oil change was and asked if they use fully synthetic oil as recommended by Honda. The service guy confirmed that they did and gave me a price. As I was walking to my car I glanced into the service bays to see a young mechanic pouring good old Castrol GTX into a car which was only a couple of years old.

Also, it's irrelevant now but a couple of years back I put SWMBO's Ibiza into R.K. Oliver for an oil change in order to ensure the service book was stamped. SWMBO's best mate's dad was the sales manager so he sorted it out. I checked the car afterwards to find that they had installed a £2 Fram oil filter with no non-return valve and put a container of rubbish oil in too. A week later the rocker cover was caked in milky gunge and I had to flush the whole system out and do another oil change. We didn't complain because SWMBO was too embarrassed.

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Johnny

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

billyg245

I went to mervyn stewarrt to buy my new Fabia Ambiente and i must say they offered me a great deal for cash, no one was "Slimey" and they couldnt have been more helpful. Just goes to show. Different people/different time/different result!!!!!!

Tealeaf

Ditto Billyg's comment. Got a great deal on an ex demo Superb elegance 1.9 td. Salesman couldn't have been more helpful. Was very happy on the T/in they gave me too on my Laguna. We'll see how first service goes and report back

aerodynamic18

i have read the post on the forum and think about the fact on mervyn stewart are unfair.
1 my first dealing with them was 3 years ago when i went to look into getting a car for my dad. the sales guy david (no longer with them unfortunatly) was brill and told me everything i need to know and i ask a lot of q . Next i went up to john mulholland and the guy was ok until i said i was looking 4 my dad when he said that he would only talk to my dad and said hed ring him and not discuss it with me price etc. well this was fri and when he rang on mon the papers were all signed and sealed.(i did the leg work my dad has no interest in cars and trusted me)
2. The main guy in servicing is chris who IS the guy to talk too. i tell him all my faults and noises and he fixes them for me and also when my inner cv joint broke he took my wheels off for pictures so skoda wouldnt blame the problem on them so that saved me money. Finally i have just got it back from getting the arb bushes replaced and they solved other noises which i barely heard! So all in all i realy like mervyn stewart and they do this warrenty work on my skoda even though ii didnt buy it from them(got a brill deal from a customer on an oct couldnt miss it!!). dont know who to recommend sales wise but for servicing ask of chris.

Paul Johnston

I could not be happier with the service I received from the Guys at Mervyn Stewart ltd.
The salesman was patient it took 5 visits before I ordered he was as happy to see me on the 5th as he was on the 1st.
He sold me the vehicle best suited to me.
I could not praise Mervyn Stewarts enough and even though I live in Antrim I will be going there to get my service work done.
2 of my co workers have also bought cars from M Stewarts and they have also nothing but praise for the dealership.
Thanks guys.
Paul

Pat mcgearty

Hi am a Taxi Driver and recently was on the market for a new car . After narrowing my search i decided to go for a Skoda Superb . I decided to shop around the skoda dealers and ended up getting a great deal at Mervyn Stewarts. They where able to get me a 7mth old Superb Classic for £10995 in the colour I wanted . I found them great to deal with and found they do give special attention to taxi drivers . I would highly recommend anybody that wants to by a Skoda to pay them a visit especially taxi drivers .



Cheers

Pat M

ricks1

Just purchased a pre reg Octavia TDI from Mervyn Stewarts. Salesman was spot on and I was more than happy with deal. Tried John Mulholland who is closer but was treated like an idiot and wanted to empty my pocket of a further £3000. I will report further on as time goes by and I need a service.

fletch555

I went to look at a Fabia vRS recently and was very put off by their attitude. I asked for a look around a car on the forecourt and the salesman did not take me seriously whatsoever and hit the central locking button from the showroom. I went out to have a look and did a quick walk around the car but by the time I tried to open the door it had automatically locked. When I went back into the showroom, I was told the salesman was out on a test drive! Needless to say, I didn't buy a car from them. Having driven all the way from Southern Ireland specially, I was quite understandbly annoyed and am sure had I been a bit older he would have thrown me the car keys. Anyway I managed to buy a vRS a few weeks later and booked my car in for some service work in Mervyn Stewart but that's another story and I will await a resolution before posting.

martinvrs

just to add my 2 pence worth. I work on a building site, so on a winters evening I decided to go to Mervyn Stewarts showroom and check out the Fabia vrs. So in I dander with dirt clinging to my jeans, hadn't shaved in a week, hooded top so u can imagine the impression!! he had no VRS' in the show room so I asked this smartly dressed salesman about a few details. He looked me up and down, pointed to the far side of the car park and said, " there's one over there " again I asked him for any info etc, handed me a brochure. End of story. I wasn't a bit happy with it so when i got home I emailed Skoda GB, who contaced the dealer, inviting me up to view/ drive the car. I swiftly declined for the following week I walked into John Mulholland's garage at Randalstown, similarly dressed etc and was treated just the same as any other customer, got a test drive etc. And thats where i bought the car, HIGHLY recommend Mulholland's for any NI Skoda drivers. So to sum it up, i wouldn't buy a bottle of screen wash from Mervyn Stewart!!! Can i use the word Bankers, but replace the "B" with a "W"

stogiejack

Of course, I know that it's "horses for courses" in these review sections. Its as easy to get a salesman on a bad day to sully the repute of a dealership as it is to be given a great deal and leave thinking you'd like to adopt the sales guy. I have to say, however, that I have never met a more professionally run organisation than Mervyn Stewarts. The sales guy was excellent, very patient, and took the time to tailor the car to my needs - I bought a Superb Elegance (loverly!!). I was introduced to the Sales Manager and to the service staff - most of whom I know anyway from getting my dad's car serviced there. Neil is THE MAN when it comes to service. Very happy with my trade-in price and with the new motor. Slightly annoyed to get a phone call from John Mulholland while I was in the showroom telling me to leave and come up to see them - not professional and he is still hassling me even though I have picked up my new car. Have recommended Mervyn Stewart to all my friends, many of whom would not previously have considered Skoda until they clapped eyes on y motor!

kevvrs_130

I bought by Fabia Vrs from these guys.......I am well pleased with the service.

The minute I went to the showroom I was well looked after.

Gold stars to Mervyn Stewarts

brendy

I ordered my new octavia II VRS PDTDI from M. Stewarts at the end of september, I pick it up on friday, the sales bloke I dealt with was easy to deal with and gave me their race blue vrs demo car for the best part of a week inc the weekend, every time Ive dealt with Agnews (bought my Leon Cupra from them and two previous motors also 2.0 16v cordoba coupe and 1.4 ibiza) The best I ever got was a testdrive just before I handed over the asking price. Service wise they are spot on again, the only thing I can mark them down on was a broken brake pad indicator, they replaced the pads and sent me on (company car) the second I started the engine I noticed the light was still on, they said they will fix it next time its in. No big deal it just means the brake light on the dash stays on but I know there are new pads on anyway.

fonacab paul

Bought new Superb last February, have brought it back 3 times regarding fuel consumption, sales people dont have a clue about anything, they told me the on-board computer was only put in by Skoda for a laugh and computer told me the car was doing 30miles to the gallon, salesman told me mpg is just your engine pressure. Confused.