If you own a premium car like the Volkswagen or a luxury vehicle like the Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche etc. it shows how much you value quality, comfort and performance. The brands of the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG), represent some of the best examples of cutting-edge automobile engineering.
Currently, the VAG group includes Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Seat and Skoda. These cars, some of which are top of the line in their respective categories, give excellent performance for years when maintained well. That’s why the choice of garage becomes critical because not every garage is capable of giving you the high-quality care that your vehicle deserves. Featuring as they do the world famous German engineering VAG vehicles are seen as some of the most desirable vehicles available.
Why Just Any Garage Is Not Good Enough
German cars and high-end cars like the brands in the VAG group are highly technical machines. All these cars are carefully designed, tough, highly versatile and stand apart from ordinary cars. Most of them have years of research behind them and offer best-in-class performance, reliability, safety and durability. It’s not surprising then that these cars provide thousands of miles of trouble-free performance and have high resale values.
Servicing cars with complex systems like those in the VAG group is not a generalist mechanic’s cup of tea. To service these cars, mechanics need specialised training from the German manufacturer and the right diagnostic and repair equipment. A German car specialist is a a premium vehicle technician. Then, there is the question of spares. Your car’s performance will not be optimal if below par spares and consumables are used. Poor maintenance or cheap repairs can lead to bigger and more expensive problems, affect the performance of the vehicle and diminish the resale value of your car.
Irrespective of the age or mileage of your premium car, it makes great sense to stay clear of garages not approved by the manufacturer. That leaves you with only two choices. You can either take your car to the dealer garage or to a VAG specialist.
Who are VAG specialists
VAG specialists are garages that specialise and have expertise in providing service and repairs for VAG vehicles. While they are not dealer garages, they get full support from the manufacturers. They have all the necessary equipment and get regular bulletins from the manufacturers on technical upgrades. They can also provide software updates for your car’s computers. They also have easy access to company spares and equipment. The mechanics in these specialist garages are trained by the Volkswagen Group. They also get regular training updates as new technologies are introduced.
VAG specialists like Volksmaster while providing dealer equivalent service have the flexibility to provide better and more customized services. They will also be able to give you better prices without compromising quality. Like dealer garages, VAG specialists will stamp the service booklet and update the digital service records of your vehicle.
No manufacturer can deny warranty service or cancel your warranty just because you got your car serviced at a non-dealer garage. That said, warranty may not be honoured if the right spares, tools and consumables are not used while servicing the car during the warranty period. With VAG specialist garages, there is no need to worry on that front. So, dealer or VAG specialist, which is the better choice in the long run?
Dealer Or VAG Specialist
If you have always believed that the dealer garage is the only option for your car, you are in for a surprise. You will get the same or better service at a VAG specialist. They handle smaller number of customers and vehicles than dealers. Due to their lower volumes, specialists are able to give you more personalised service than the dealer. The biggest advantage is that specialists usually give more economical service options and better prices than dealers for the same service.
When a vehicle is in warranty, specialists stick to the manufacturer’s service schedule and use only company spares. After expiry of warranty, it’s up to you. You can choose between company spares or cheaper, but equivalent, high-quality spares. The equivalent spares perform as well if not better than company spares. So, you have the option of saving significant amounts on service costs without compromising quality, performance or resale value of your valuable car.
Specialists may offer custom service schedules more suited to your usage patterns. When you go to specialists, all these savings add up and in the long run, the total ownership cost goes down significantly.
Between the dealer and a VAG specialist, the specialist is usually the smarter option when it comes to periodic servicing and repairs. If you have a specialist in your city, it makes sense to go to the dealer only for the initial free services and for any free repairs covered under the warranty. If you are in Manchester, Oldham, Bury, Bolton or the surrounding areas, Volksmaster is your ideal choice.
The Advantages Of Getting Your Car Serviced At Volksmaster
Volksmaster has been around for decades. What started as a family business now provides quality service for hundreds of top-end vehicles in Manchester every year. We have 4 garages and service Manchester, Oldham, Bury, Bolton, Rochdale, Middleton, Ashton-under-Lyne, Heywood and all the areas inbetween. So, wherever you are, you have a Volksmaster garage within reach. That said, there is no need to even visit our garage. We can pick the car from your home or office and return it after servicing.
If you choose to bring your car to the garage, you can meet our friendly service team and watch our mechanics working on your vehicle from the viewing area. We use the latest technology when it comes to garage equipment, including CCD wheel alignment machines for ultimate vehicle precision.We also offer courtesy cars to keep you mobile. Our prices for standard services are fixed and you will know the cost in advance. Unlike most garages we publish our cost on our website, transparency is a very important part of our business. We will also update your digital service records after servicing.
When it comes to servicing Volkswagen, Audi and other German models of the VAG group, a specialist garage is the smart choice. For VAG servicing in Manchester, Volksmaster is your best option. Book your service using any of the simple forms on our site and experience our high-quality, convenient and economical service. Once you try Volksmaster you will never use the main dealer again, this is the mantra of our customers.
