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optima - wootton bassett - any experiences

8K views 17 replies 14 participants last post by  joseph86 
#1 ·
hi all,

the cambelt isn't due on my car for another 6 months to a year, but i am just trying to get an idea of where to go when i do need to sort it.

i live in wiltshire and hear optima is very good and that they are alfa indys, whats peoples experiences?

anyone know how much on average they charge for a cambelt change on a 1.6 ts? also how much they charge if the 72k service was also included?

thanks for your help
 
#3 ·
yes i have heard of him on here, but he doesn't work at a garage does he, or am i wrong, does he do it in his spare time?

at the moment i am just trying to get a few prices, its not going to be due for probably a year but just want to see what sort of price i will need to pay really and where the best place to take it would be?

any ideas
 
#5 ·
thanks for the advice, always good to get a few, salisbury isn't too far from me. have you had cambelt done from them, if so how much did it cost?

any other details of the wootton bassett garage, as i thought i saw the name mentioned on here somewhere for being a good garage.
 
#6 ·
also around the swindon area - is there any decent independant alfa specialists in swindon or only the main dealers? just when it comes to doing the cam belt etc i don't really want to be travelling miles if possible.

any recommendations and average prices etc?

thanks again
 
#8 ·
hi all I went to Optima three years ago for belts, pulleys, water pump on my V6. He did a good job,£431.OO . He does my oil/filter once a year and has just done my clutch 2 weeks ago. £500. Ask to speak to Nick, he is a top bloke. I have left several messages with Smakey but have never had a reply.
 
#13 ·
Nick serviced my 156 2.4JTD for many years. Generally very good. I did have to take it back for some corrective work immediately after the clutch was changed as it was hard (sometimes impossible) to select reverse but all sorted efficiently and with apologies.

I have used four independents and rate them as follows:-

1. AHM (near Blackbush.) No complaints to date 100%
2. Alfa Aid (Maidenhead.) Car returned after service with sticking rear brakes.
3. Optima (Wootton Bassett.) Car returned after clutch change due to difficulty selecting reverse.
4. Auto Lusso (Luton.) Car purchased from them - front brakes pulling very badly after 2000 miles. On investigation the front brakes pads and pins were seized in the callipers and the car had FULL Auto Lusso service history. The pins were seized so hard they were destroyed getting them out.

Optima may come third but they are all quite close and Nick at Optima is best on price.
 
#16 ·
Take a trip down to the next county and see Laurence at Autolusso in Ferndown (near Bournemouth). 916's are his speciality, he has a vast knowledge of both 2.0 litre twinsparks and V6 Busso's. Very friendly and very reasonable. Take him a bag of doughnuts and tell him Tony sent you. You won't be disappointed.
 
#17 ·
Optima Wootton Bassett



I had the oil change done on my Brera at Optima (different intervals to main service). No probs with the work but they stamped the wrong page in my book, reset the service interval on the computer and didn't reset the oil change warning. After multiple calls I got tired of being gaffed off ('need a software update on my kit') and will never, ever, go there again. Be warned.
 
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