Classic or high performance car servicing isn’t a one-size-fits-all. After all, it’s not just a case of changing the oil and filters – when you’re the owner of such a prized possession, it’s about choosing the right people for the job.
Whether you own a Ferrari, Porsche or Aston Martin, you’ve probably asked yourself this already: when it comes to car servicing, who should you trust?
It’s certainly a question we’re asked all the time by Windrush clients, so we sat down with Alastair Main, general manager of Windrush Car Storage London, to get the inside track on his recommendations when it comes to vehicle servicing
Should you go to a main service dealership?
“The first thing to look at,” says Alastair, “is age. Newer cars will often still be under some kind of service package so it makes sense to continue those with the main dealer and thereby preserve their car’s manufacturer warranty.”
There are advantages to servicing your car with a main dealer – they are located all over the country, they have lots of knowledgeable staff, and they will be trained to work on newer models, such as the latest hybrids. Plus, there’s the bonus of having those main dealership stamps in your log book – a plus if you are looking at resale value.
However, as Alastair says, what these big dealerships offer in size, they can lack in the personal touch that can be so crucial for high performance or classic car servicing.
“They are big organisations,” he says, “so like any big organisation, whether it’s BT or British Gas, you can get lost in the system.”
Luckily for Windrush Car Storage clients, Alastair has built up good relationships with many of the big London dealerships, including Porsche West London, which can sometimes help clients to take the inside line when it comes to navigating the central booking system – handy when you need your car serviced in a hurry!
Is an independent garage better for classic car servicing?
So, what happens if your car is out of warranty – does it make sense to service your car at an independent garage or continue with the main dealership? Alastair believes that once your car is out of warranty – no longer covered by a service package – the main dealers become less compelling.
“When it comes to older or classic cars, some of the specialists are just so much more knowledgeable,” says Alastair. “They specialise in particular brands, so if you’ve got a classic car that needs specific parts, they’re very good at finding them.”
Read on to discover the garages that Windrush Car Storage recommends to clients looking for classic car servicing in London and the Cotswolds.
Where to service a Ferrari
[Image credit: Bob Houghton]
But dealerships can lack the expertise needed to service classic cars. For any of the prancing horses from Maranello’s back catalogue, Alastair says it has to be Bob Houghton Ferrari in the Cotswolds.
“They are arguably the best in the country at Ferrari,” he says, “and I mean classic, really old 50s, 60s, 70s cars, all the way through to a car that’s around 10 years old. I can’t say a bad thing about them – they are absolutely brilliant.”
Such expertise doesn’t always come cheap, but thanks to Windrush’s car concierge service, clients can often benefit from a preferential labour rate. And it’s not just clients at Windrush Car Storage in the Cotswolds who can take advantage of this expertise on their doorstop – Alastair often arranges transport for his London car storage clients so their vehicles can enjoy classic car servicing from the ‘Rolls Royce’ of Ferrari specialists too.
Where to service a Porsche
[Image credit: Tuthill by Ben Nicholson]
Being such a popular brand, Porsche owners are spoiled for choice. Alastair says that for Porsche servicing in London, the main dealerships such as Porsche West London offer excellent care for new cars, but there are a number of smaller independent Porsche specialists all over the country, which are particularly good for older cars too.
“Tuthill are probably the best known of the specialists and are incredibly famous for doing bespoke builds – they’ll build you a Porsche to any specification you want,” says Alastair. “JZM is another independent specialist worth noting, as are Parr.”
Where to service an Aston Martin
[Image credit: Aston Martin]
Interestingly, Aston does things a bit differently. Catering to their loyal fan base, the dealership at Aston Martin Works does a really good business in servicing and restoring older cars.
“Even though it happens to be the Aston Martin factory, they’ve got the knowledge and the expertise,” says Alastair. “In fact, I’d put them up there with some of the best specialists.”
However, if you prefer to support independent garages, Alastair says you could choose to take your car to one of the excellent Aston Martin specialists, such as Aston Workshop or Nicholas Mee.
How often does a classic or high performance car need servicing?
[Image credit: Windrush Car Storage by Ben C Photography]
Even if your car isn’t on the road that often, it is recommended that classic car servicing is an annual thing. Not only is this wise to monitor the health of your car (as well as from a safety perspective), but, as Alastair notes, an annual service is good practice from a value and resale perspective.
“As a rule of thumb, I would always try to have it checked at least once a year,” he says. “While you might not have done many miles, cars that are sat for long periods of time can present other challenges.”
For example, rubber seals can deteriorate and fuel can go off, potentially clogging up the fueling system. A service also gives the car the chance to stretch its legs and blow the cobwebs away – of course, this isn’t an issue if you’ve got your car safely stored with Windrush as we run it out regularly as part of our service to keep the car in pristine condition
Need servicing help or advice?
Our team can advise, book, and manage servicing for everything from modern supercars to cherished classics, all with the attention to detail our clients expect. Call or contact us to speak with the team today.
