Hi, I'm just in the process of acquiring an 06 S Type R and am wondering if there are any good Independent Specialists in the lower North Island? I live in Masterton in the Wairarapa but am quite happy to drive an hour or so to a 'good' specialist. Thanks

 

Hi Robert,
I don't know, but I recently read of someone having their Jag serviced by Powerhaus in Wellington.
Home | Powerhaus
I see that Beachams in Hastings would be a 2hr drive. I am very happy with Beachams service, but then I'm within walking distance of the Auckland branch.
There was The Toy Shop in Wellington, but they seem to be only in Auckland now? (otherwise they seem to be OK with Jags)
I was happy with Jaguar Workshop, until they moved 45km away!

I have a lot of faith in this forum as to "how to", and your Jag isn't that old. At a pinch, I'd consider a "normal" service shop, provided you keep an eye on them and they have the appropriate diagnostics?

The regional forums don't get much use. For stuff specific to your car, consider the appropriate X200 model forum. There seems to be an x200, x202, x204, x206 I just learned. My only experience is with the original S-Type, which nowadays would be an "Ex-S-Type" I s'pose!
Best regards, Chris
(Auckland, and even then I ask the same thing)

P.S. I wrote off Archibald & Shorter, the main NZ agents. Actually they wrote me off claiming they didn't have the capability to service an X350/X358. They don't know me from a bar of soap nor any history, and nor for that matter what I might buy next. If their service manager was having a bad day or was too busy, he should have just said so. OTOH I've had a 4-hr sit-down with Mark Shorter, just the nicest most knowledgeable guy you could imagine, but then Shorter or Archibald & Shorter are now just swamped into Giltrap Group.

 

Hi Chris,

thanks for the response. Beachams was on my list although I think they are like the main dealers - big, flash and expensive.

Powerhaus were on my BMW list (I also have a 2000 BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster) as is another 'euro specialist' in Palmerston North The Engine Room who I may give a try then I can use the same operation for the Jaguar STR and the Z3.

I had a similarly bad experience with Armstrong Jaguar in Wellington recently when I took an X305 Daimler Double Six for service, assessment and a couple of little jobs - although I was there at 10:00am they never started on the car until 3:00pm (I'd driven from Masterton 1hr 54m and had to drive home afterwards) didn't do half of what I wanted done, did work I'd specifically said didn't need doing and were generally bl**dy unhelpful and uninterested - wouldn't go back there and never considered buying a Jaguar/Land Rover when I replaced my wife's car for a new one.

Robert