Thanks Gerald Slaven Holden, Canberra!!!

[CSP]

Thought I'd take some time to publicly thank the boys at Gerald Slaven Holden in Belconnen ACT...

Thankfully, I haven't had any serious issues with the Clubby but the issues I have had have been delt with exceptionally professionally and as quickly as possible without compromise to the quality of the workmanship.

In summary, I picked up the car in January 2008. No issues whatsoever. Couldn't be happier. Then one day a few weeks later I noticed a clicking noise coming from the steering wheel when turning it a fair way (90 degree corner or more). Not very loud and didn't seem to affect the steering in any way at all, just very annoying.

Dropped into the Service Department at Gerald Slaven one afternoon on my way home from work and discussed it with them. I wasn't worried, it was just annoying now that I knew it was there. So we agreed that out of convenience, they would look at it when I took it in for the 15,000km service.

Took it in for the 15,000km service which they did and to try and resolve the clicking in the steering, they replaced the intermediary shaft. Great! No more clicking noise - for about 2 weeks. Then one day it was back. So I swung back past the Service Department at Gerald Slaven one afternoon and took the Service Manager (Lou) for a drive. He was trying to work out where it could be coming from for a while and then just said "bugger it, I'll swap out the whole steering column". He had to check on parts availability but was going to get back to me and let me know. He called me a couple of days later and told me one of the major components they needed was on overseas back order and he'd get back to me when it came in.

About a month went past but I didn't think anything of it. Then got a call out of the blue. It was Lou - he was apologetic about taking so long to get back to me but let me know the parts had come in and they could do it whenever it suited me. By then I suggested I just wait until the intermediate service (aka oil change) was due at 22,500km. Lou was happy with that.

So the time came to take it in for the 22,500km service and get the steering column replaced. Meanwhile I'd started noticing the VE front end knock so I managed to get a copy of the engine mount techline, printed it off and took it with me. Talked to Lou about it and he was happy to explain they understand it can't always be replicated when it's in for service but know the VE front end knock can be the strut top, the suspension bushes or the engine mounts. So they'd start with replacing the engine mounts as that seems to be the most common cause.

Got a call later that day - they hadn't finished the replacement of the steering column so could they have the car overnight? Yup - fine by me. I'd rather it done properly than rushed. Loan VE SV6 auto was decent enough. Picked it up the next day, new steering column but the engine mounts had to be ordered. I'd also mentioned a larger than normal looking gap around the cup holders which they agreed the plastic surround had warped so that was ordered too and rebooked for a week later (yesterday). On the way home, I noticed the alignment Bob Jane had done (across the road from GS Holden) was OK but the wheel wasn't 100% straight. When I got home I also checked the steering, full lock to full lock. Surprisingly I had more lock to the right than to the left. Rang Lou and he told me to bring it straight back in the next day, apologising profusely. I don't mind - it's not overly inconvenient for me to go to and from my dealer and they're happy to give me a VE SV6 to drive while my car's there. I'd rather have everything sorted on the car properly. So they fixed the steering back to even lock left and right, had the Bob Jane boys redo the alignment and all was good. They didn't even mind that I supplied my own alignment specs from another steering/suspension workshop that adjusted the camber a bit for me. Just gave them the print out and they set it how I like it.

Dropped it off yesterday for the engine mounts and plastic surround for the cup holders to be fitted. Got the call they didn't get it all done and wanted it overnight (last night) to finish it today. Yup! Fine by me. Getting used to driving the purple SV6 auto although I don't miss owning a 195 Alloytec slusher

Got a call around lunch time today, went and picked it up, all sorted. All happy, both them and me. Smiles all round. It's so much easier when everyone's happy and it's easy to talk about everything that's getting done.

Oh, I should also mention they re-adjusted the front bumper to try and fix the sag (gap between grill and bumper). It's better, but they even acknowledge it's bigger than the new ones on the showroom floor. They're going to talk to HSV as they agree they shouldn't sag in a year! It's not a major drama for me - if anything it means the OTRCAI gets more air. Oh, they love the ORSSOM OTRCAI too. Recently I had the front bumper fully repaired and resprayed too, to fix gutter rash etc from the previous owner. When I notice some new scratches when picking the car up they promptly had one of the paint/panel shops in Belconnen fix it. Would have been on their driveway when they test drove it. It's not a big deal, I'll probably scratch it myself at some point but I'd just had it redone so they sorted that out too!

All up, one extremely satisfied customer. Sure, I've had to go to the dealer a few times but I would be anyway for regular servicing. And I get the VE SV6 loan car so I don't mind. It's more convenient that when the car's off the road for mods (exhaust, tune, window tint, etc).

So bottom line, Lou and Rob (and the techs that work on my car) at Gerald Slaven Holden in Belconnen ACT are great blokes, treat me well and treat my car well. I'll keep going back to them and would recommend them to ANYONE!

[Troy711]

sheepz works there, dont let him drive ya car

[CSP]

Yeah I know He keeps an eye on it for me

They won't let him drive it!

[Troy711]

i used to drive past slavens every morning but i take a different way now. next time i go that way and i see him out the front im going to put the window down and yell 'HEY SHEEPY... (lamb noise) MAAAAAAAA'

[CSP]

LOL!!! I wish I was there with a video camera so I could get a video of you doing that!!! Then pan to the look on his face!!! Hahahahahaha... Speaking of videos, where's my exhaust video?

[Troy711]

LOL!!! I wish I was there with a video camera so I could get a video of you doing that!!! Then pan to the look on his face!!! Hahahahahaha... Speaking of videos, where's my exhaust video?

its on the way.. i swear it... lol

[andyman]

i serviced a car 2x now that's from Gerald slaven, (vz berlina) and stamping the log book i noted it isnt full of dealer propaganda,

i think it only had a letter just generalizing the servicing and details of the service department if in need of help etc, i thought it was nice, it wasn't pushy like other dealers letters ive seen, ie the car needs to be serviced every 5,000km or 3 months (<wtf?) as written for maximum life of the car

[ashbox]

its good to hear of a dealer doing the right thing by its customers, i hear far too often about dealers ripping people off and not doing the proper job the right way first time round.

[50LTRv8]

its good to hear of a dealer doing the right thing by its customers, i hear far too often about dealers ripping people off and not doing the proper job the right way first time round.

It is so funny you should say that