If i buy an import are they easy to get serviced?

[bridlea]

Was just after advice really. I am wanting to buy a supra but have been told that it is hard work to get them serviced etc if they are an imported car. Also is there much difference between uk cars and imported cars?

[Henk]

I've just gone through this same exercise, where I live it's like this:

 

Toyota Main Dealer will Service a Supra TT Import but at £100 per hour and babbled on about how their equipment might not be able to identify electrical issues with Japanese cars.

 

It was pretty obvious they just weren't interested.

 

However, a couple of local dealers specialising in imports have said they'd be more than happy for me to bring the car in and would do it for no more than £55 per hour and fully guarantee all work with original Toyota parts.

 

I don't know what the situation is for everyone else but if you know better in the Guildford Surrey area do let me know.

[Big Ads]

Where abouts in Cumbria are you from mate?

[SupraAyf]

Was just after advice really. I am wanting to buy a supra but have been told that it is hard work to get them serviced etc if they are an imported car. Also is there much difference between uk cars and imported cars?

 

You should have no problems as Toyota have declared themselves as an International Company; meaning that they will service any Toyota car in any country. The best dealers are often the specialists that deal in Toyota but who are independent from the main Toyota name. The best ones IMHO though are the main traders on this forum.

[gjp]

I get the parts myself from the traders on this site and get my local garage to do the work, much cheaper way of doing it.

[bridlea]

im from just outside Barrow-in-Furness

[Animal]

When I lived in Cockermouth, the main Toyota dealer at Lilleyhall flat out refused to touch my N/A as it was an import. Not sure of any garages close by that specialise in Supras. You've got Envy in Gateshead (I think), Miani GT in N.Yorkshire, and Hyper-Performance near Wigan that are all used and trusted by the lads on here.

[Pete]

Avoid Toyota. Half of them have no experience of the Supra at all and will charge double. (With the notable exception of Steve Manley)

Can't abide my local Toyota place as they're less than useless.

[DaveK]

Avoid Toyota. Half of them have no experience of the Supra at all and will charge double. (With the notable exception of Steve Manley)

Can't abide my local Toyota place as they're less than useless.

 

I agree. Even if you bought a UK Supra, they did not sell in big numbers and the chances are your official Toyota mechanic has little or no experience of them. I would much rather take the car to a specialist like Phoenix who have serviced many many Supra's than a Toyota garage who's never seen one before.

 

Interestingly - I was chatting to Mark about this the last time I was at Phoenix - and he said the UK Supra's weren't actually sold by Toyota garages - they were sold by Lexus ones.

[Scooter]

If i can learn to change the oil and filter, air filter, plugs, coolant and cambelt then it will be nothing to half decent mechanic.....

 

.........they are only complicated beasts or require specialists when something major goes wrong or something is tricky to diagnose. These instances should be few and far between.

 

The most important thing is to take it somewhere that you can trust. Ok not easy if you've always been a "take it to the main dealer" type of person but ask friends family and people at work and you should at least find some places to try and definitely not try!

 

In summary you will need (and i would advise) to go to an independant, but you'll proably receive better service and certainly better vfm........

[Mas]

I've just gone through this same exercise, where I live it's like this:

 

Toyota Main Dealer will Service a Supra TT Import but at £100 per hour and babbled on about how their equipment might not be able to identify electrical issues with Japanese cars.

 

It was pretty obvious they just weren't interested.

 

However, a couple of local dealers specialising in imports have said they'd be more than happy for me to bring the car in and would do it for no more than £55 per hour and fully guarantee all work with original Toyota parts.

 

I don't know what the situation is for everyone else but if you know better in the Guildford Surrey area do let me know.

 

then you need PHOENIX mate, they are in watford and you ll be surprised when they hand you the car and show you the bill

 

see my sig for number.

[markjodrell]

Does anybody know of a decent garage in or around the Stoke-on-trent area where I can take my TT for service etc, somebody who knows his stuff and wont over charge / rip u off ???????? :search:

[Pete]

UK Supra's weren't actually sold by Toyota garages - they were sold by Lexus ones.

That's right. I think they were trying to keep it upmarket.

You don't see many Lexus garages.

[Pete]

Does anybody know of a decent garage in or around the Stoke-on-trent area where I can take my TT for service etc, somebody who knows his stuff and wont over charge / rip u off ???????? :search:

 

Chris Wilson is well worth the relatively short drive from Stoke. Some people travel 100's of miles to goto Chris.

[Mas]

Chris Wilson is well worth the relatively short drive from Stoke. Some people travel 100's of miles to goto Chris.

 

 

very true, recommended too.

[Paul]

then you need PHOENIX mate, they are in watford and you ll be surprised when they hand you the car and show you the bill

 

see my sig for number.

 

I second that, amazing service and attention to detail at a terrific price, well worth a journey:)

 

Paul

[markjodrell]

Chris Wilson is well worth the relatively short drive from Stoke. Some people travel 100's of miles to goto Chris.

 

Where is Chris Wilson based , do you have address/contact number please ???

[Pete]

Where is Chris Wilson based , do you have address/contact number please ???

 

See Sig.

Prees, just outside of Whitchurch.

[Tom]

Dealerships no feck all about anything! it's so funny reading some of the stuff they say, I was told that I should do an oil change every 10k and that import parts cost twice as much to buy and servicing costs double on an import,so much bs!lol

 

NEVER GO TO A MAIN DEALSHIRP is what I'm trying to get across here

[markjodrell]

See Sig.

Prees, just outside of Whitchurch.

 

Thanks Pete, Ivel emailed him re cambelt change and geo check (costs) from an earlier post he made

[DaveK]

Dealerships no feck all about anything! it's so funny reading some of the stuff they say, I was told that I should do an oil change every 10k and that import parts cost twice as much to buy and servicing costs double on an import,so much bs!lol

 

NEVER GO TO A MAIN DEALSHIRP is what I'm trying to get across here

 

When I had my TT, I needed a new battery. I knew quite a lot less about the car world then and I went to Toyota to see if they had one. They said they didn't - and it would have to come from Japan (what bollocks) and would cost.... wait for it...... £380.

 

I guess they wanted me to pay for it's plane ticket.

 

I went to a tyre / exhaust / battery place and paid a lot less than that!

[Gordon F]

I have my import TT serviced by my local Toyota main dealer every year (I dont do too many miles - 700 last year ). They are just down the road, are happy to let me supply the engine oil and even give me a discount on labour and parts because the car is over 10 years old.

If i can learn to change the oil and filter, air filter, plugs, coolant and cambelt then it will be nothing to half decent mechanic.....

.........they are only complicated beasts or require specialists when something major goes wrong or something is tricky to diagnose. These instances should be few and far between

Very true. If we are only talking about servicing, not repairs or 'tuning', then Main Dealers will have all the information, equipment and parts to service your car properly. A Main Dealer service history will also help when it comes to sell your car. What price a Max GT stamp in your book?

Tuning and modding is a different kettle of fish. Most traders on here seem to have their fans and critics though the ones that seem to rise consistantly to the top normally include Chris Wilson, Envy, Turbo Fit, Phoenix and Paul Whiffin. A lot of 'supra specialists' have come and gone, but these guys are still about and getting good feedback from members on here.

To answer the original question, if your car has full main dealer history and you want to continue it, take it to a Toyota dealer, but dont let them make out they are doing you a favour by working on your car. For repairs and fitting aftermarket bits and bobs, try one of the traders above.

Good luck

[DaveK]

A Main Dealer service history will also help when it comes to sell your car. What price a Max GT stamp in your book?

 

I think you're kidding yourself. If the car is less than 3 or 4 years old, then perhaps. Anything older and I don't believe a main dealer service history makes any difference at all. I would much rather see a service history from a specialist who services this kind of car every day than a main dealer who is lucky to see one a year.

[Gordon F]

I think you're kidding yourself. If the car is less than 3 or 4 years old, then perhaps. Anything older and I don't believe a main dealer service history makes any difference at all. I would much rather see a service history from a specialist who services this kind of car every day than a main dealer who is lucky to see one a year.

I dont think so. Main dealer service history will always help to sell any car. You may not get a better price, but they will be easier to sell.

For me, there have been too many 'supra specialists' who have come and gone, usually leaving a trail of horror stories.

I'll stick with Toyota - I always know where to find them if anything goes wrong

[DaveK]

I dont think so. Main dealer service history will always help to sell any car. You may not get a better price, but they will be easier to sell.

For me, there have been too many 'supra specialists' who have come and gone, usually leaving a trail of horror stories.

I'll stick with Toyota - I always know where to find them if anything goes wrong

 

Well, you continue with your FMDSH - but it would make no difference to me or any other car owner I know if I was buying a car the age that most Supra's are. It would not be a positive point for me if I was buying - and would even be a little negative. Even though the car is being serviced by Toyota they simply don't see enough of them - and they are not specialists in this car as a result. I have no doubt that a Toyota tech has all the diagnostic tools, knows the service interval and what should be done at each service. But I very much doubt that most of them know common problems, or that "this only tends to happen with turbos, never seen it on an NA" etc.

 

I'm sure there are many "specialists" out there that are dreadful - that's why I only use recommended people. Same with the 911 - I don't know anybody who uses Porsche for servicing - but we are all very careful to use known independents. I would never ever take my 964 to a Porsche dealer for a service - they don't see enough of them, and they don't know enough about the common problems.