A big mistake taking my car there!

A week ago I had it booked in for an 11am appointment to fix a coolant leak. I arrive on time, planned to wait while the work was done as no courtesy car was available, but they didn't have the staff to look at the car on time. I eventually leave in a taxi and call at 4pm - car still not in the workshop. Later that day it was looked at and I was advised a new water pump is needed - not a problem.

The problem is, the parts arrived two days later, but they can't get a booking confirmation AT ALL right now. Not this week, not next week, the car is just sitting there and they can't provide ANY commitment on when they will do the work.

Courtesy car or a demo car? No Chance - a minimum 5 week wait for one of those!

I never have such problems with my Audi or Porsche dealerships - who are not perfect but do have some degree of management!

I'd make them deliver it to an alternative dealer who can do the work - and take it up with LR 2021 L405 Vogue SE 4.4 V8 DIESEL ~ #17

And you'll pay absolutely silly money going there. I'd strongly recommend John Dennis 4x4 just outside Aylesbury (johndennis4x4.co.uk 01296 640750). Superb service imho and at much better prices plus they always seem to have parts that Stratstones don't and also provide courtesy cars as well as a collection and delivery service at no extra cost. Always trust them to look after my cars well

I have never used them for service and never would. Bunch of arrogant !!!!!! in the show room. I havent used John Dennis but they are 2 miles up the road from strastone. You could also use Cowleys at whaddon.

Thanks gents for the advice - I shall give John Dennis a call

I used to use them but moved to Woodside independent in maulden beds...... cheaper by far, know land rovers inside out and friendly customer service.

I wonder if Stratstone Aylesbury know about the negative feedback?
Not a lot they can do if blind to the situation or maybe they don't give a flying feck 2009 Stornoway Grey Vogue TDV8

Doubt they give a hoot, tried buying a new D3 commercial from them ten or eleven years ago. Because I was in work clothes and did not look able to pay for it, they did not take me seriously and lost me as a customer.
Utter shower of dung!

...General feedback aligns with my personal experience with Stratstone, albeit Cheltenham, the dealer principal there refused repeatedly to take or return my calls, in order I could provide feedback to help him improve his dealerships appalling service, says it all. Any business showing less than zero interest in listening to their paying customers deserves to go bust, quite how Stratstone continues to survive is beyond me.

chugga90 wrote:

Doubt they give a hoot, tried buying a new D3 commercial from them ten or eleven years ago. Because I was in work clothes and did not look able to pay for it, they did not take me seriously and lost me as a customer.
Utter shower of dung!

Exactly the same with me back in 2002, when I started to outline the exact spec for the vehicle I wanted the salesman actually said he thought it would be a little outside of my pay scale!! Went elsewhere got what I wanted and paid cash - Stratstones loss . I didn't learn cos a few years later I took my fatty to them for the free brake hose recall. When done they said that they'd also carried out a full health check of the car for me and all was well and then asked for £165 for the pleasure Won't see me again even if they're the last dealers on earth

And you paid them ???

No way - but it took a bit of time and finally some choice words with the dealer principle to get them to hand over my keys.

babagee wrote:

I wonder if Stratstone Aylesbury know about the negative feedback?
Not a lot they can do if blind to the situation or maybe they don't give a flying feck

I finally have resolved this.

A big thanks to all who suggested John Dennis - excellent service from them!

Startstone told me the coolant leak would be fixed by replacing the water pump. They told me they ordered the new water pump, gave me the delivery date, and then waited a couple of extra weeks to fit said water pump due to a backlog with their workshop. Whilst the car was with them they refused to provide a loan / demo / ANY courtesy car.

Despite advice from the forum I left it with Stratstone as they already had the car. Eventually they did the work and retuned the car to me. Two days later, coolant is all over my driveway and the "coolant level low" alert is back on the dash. I drive back to Stratstone Aylesbury, they look at the car and tell me they need to do all sorts of work, hours and hours worth, including removing the supercharger to fix it! BUT they are too understaffed to book it in immediately and again will not provide me a loan car. I had many questions, based on what John Dennis had suggested over the phone, and Stratstone eventually admitted they never ordered a new water pump - they just changed a connection at the back of it!

Long story short, in my opinion they tried to con me, it didn't work, and they have agreed to refund me in full for the payment I made (just short of £600)

I went straight to John Dennis. No appointment, but they looked at the car immediately, and fixed the problem! It was nothing to do with the water pump, and as it was a quick fix, they didn't even charge me!

I will now be taking all my Range Rovers to John Dennis for servicing and repairs and I will NEVER spend ANY money at ANY Stratstone - a shame for them as I am considering placing an order for a brand new 2018 5.0 SC - which now will NOT be from my local official dealership!



Last edited by 911SF on 16th Nov 2017 5:19pm. Edited 1 time in total