| Author |
Message |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 15
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 2:40 pm: | |
Augustine,
Oh sorry - did not relaise you were a dealer... You want to take my car in for service?? ;-) Just kidding. I'll let you know who ends up winning out here - maybe I'll drop your name... Ha ha! :-) Still would love to get together for a drive. Take care.
- Bill |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Junior Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 156
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 10:07 am: | |
William,
Normally I would have no problem telling you what I paid. This is the problem though. Because I'm a car dealer, the shop gives me a different rate than if I was a normal customer. It would be unfair to Don Galbraith's if I mentioned my cost because it may not be the same for the average person. I can assure you that they are reasonable though. I would be happy to answer any other questions that you might have. Good luck with your mission.
-Augustine |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 9:29 am: | |
Larry,
Thats an excellent suggestion, thanks! I will also visit each shop and check for organization and cleanliness etc. in the shop. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks I can get to both of them. You are probably the closest person to me geographically that I've chatted with yet. Would love to get together for a drive!! Let me know when some events are - I really want to get back to my cars more as a hobby and would love to see the 512!!
Augustine,
Glad you had a good experience. I wish I could say all of mine were as good with some of the different shops I've been to. How much was your 45K?? I'll keep in touch - would also love to get together for a drive if you are ever up this way - Oxford PA area. Thanks for the info guys!!
- Bill |
larrybard (Larrybard)
New member
Username: Larrybard
Post Number: 15
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 6:19 am: | |
Bill, one more thought (which quite possibly already occurred to you): especially since you're concerned about cost, ask each mechanic what the cost would be for a couple of different but typical tasks, e.g., major servicing -- making sure that it's an "apples to apples" fair comparison, with each mechanic including in the estimate exactly the same replaced parts. Larry |
larrybard (Larrybard)
New member
Username: Larrybard
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 7:53 pm: | |
Larry in Philly here -- I'd love to get together with other local owners. So far I've primarily travelled to the DC area for Ferrarilister get-togethers in that area.
I too have heard good things about both Galbraith and Tillson. I belive Mike Tillson originally worked for Algar. He is also very active with Porsche -- apparently even more so than with Ferrari -- but I don't hold that against him (I also own a Porsche). If I were to personally choose between Tillson and Galbraith at this point I would pick Mike, in part because a very close and car-knowledgeable friend of mine has known Mike for many years and speaks so highly of him.
Funny thing in all this discussion is I'm taking my car to Algar Wednesday (for reasons largely irrelevant to this thread). |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Junior Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 147
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 8:13 pm: | |
William,
Just got my car back today. So far, so good. Steve the shop manager was very friendly and was happy to chat with me every time I called for an update. When I arrived, my car was nice and clean. The service price seemed to be very reasonable too. I would definitely consider them.
-Augustine |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 13
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 8:35 am: | |
Craig,
Thanks - it looks as though either choice will yield good results. I guess I'll hvae to go and talk to them both. If you are ever near Philly let me know!
- Bill |
Craig Balaban (Cmb328)
New member
Username: Cmb328
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 21, 2003 - 1:31 pm: | |
I have had wonderful experience with Mike Tillson. His people are very creative at solving difficult problems and they are very reasonable with cost. |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 12
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 1:12 pm: | |
John,
Thanks for the info. Too bad you are so far away. After Augustine gives me his report I'll probably have to go visit the 2 shops. I really want to find one shop and stick with them. I feel that's the best way to insure good long term service - if the guy knows you'll be back next month he's gonna make sure he does everything right THIS month! :-) Thanks again and if I stop by I'll be sure to mention your name and that you said "hello".
- Bill |
John Dixon (Qvb)
New member
Username: Qvb
Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 11:45 pm: | |
Hey guys,
I grew up in West Chester, I now live in Ca.
My sister use to work for Mike Tillson and he is a good friend of the family. He has been very helpful to my fathers theraputic riding stable
which helps handicapped children and adults experience a better life. Anyway, I used to visit his shop as a kid. He has been in bussiness for a very long time and works on all different types of Exotica. He has not worked on my car as I am so far away, but I would not hesitate to recommend him as a reputable car loving car guy (who raced in the 24 hours of Daytona). So good luck, I'm sure either will be good, and tell Mike Tillson that Alec Dixon says hello if you see him. |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Junior Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 133
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 5:47 pm: | |
There are some great driving roads out that way. Not too many good ones here in South Jersey. I will certainly let you know how the service went. We'll definitely have to get the cars together along with whoever else might want to go for a ride. Have a great weekend! |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 4:42 pm: | |
Agustine,
Wow - your 328 is sharp! Dare to be different!! NOt your typical red over tan - that's for sure!! I still have to get the Mondial registered and get this charging and starting problem licked and then I'd love to meet up for a drive. Hope you don't mind light footin' it for me so I can keep up! I see you used to be a Porsche fan. That's one marquee I've never driven although I'd like to someday. Once you get your car back, let me know how your experience was and I'll check them out. Looking forward to meeting sometime. Thanks!
P.S. From West Chester go to Rt. 1 and take a right. I'm about 15 minutes past Longwood Gardens just to give you an idea of where I am.
- Bill |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Junior Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 130
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 3:01 pm: | |
William,
This is what I can tell you so far. I pulled up to Don Galbraith's and got a good feeling right away. The building appears to be a converted barn and it has a very quaint look. The shop was very neat and orderly with plenty of space. The shop manager Steve was an extremely nice guy. I felt very comfortable from the start. I'll let you know more when I get the car back.
I am from Philadelphia originally and I live outside of Atlantic City now. My family is moving back to the West Chester area this upcoming winter and I am debating moving closer to Phila again. Regardless, I am always driving in the tri-state area. I have made some friends in the North Jersey area so far (there seems to be a higher concentration of F-cars up there) but I'd be happy to meet up with a Phila area based crew for some drives. I joined the FCA a few months ago and I hope do do some events with the club in the future. So far getting together with fellow members of this site has been the most fun. Let's meet up. Email me if you want to set up a drive.
-Augustine
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William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 2:28 pm: | |
Augustine,
Thanks for the post. Please let me know how things work out and if the shop seems well maintained, the people knowledgable and the work performed well and reasonably. I really need a good mechanic for my collection thats not going to take me to the cleaners every time I pull up. Let me know how it works out - I need to get some work done. Thanks!
P.S> Where are you - must be fairly close to me? Involved in a club or anything? I'd sure like to get involved with some folks with the same interestes. Thanks! |
Augustine J. Staino (Azzuro328)
Junior Member
Username: Azzuro328
Post Number: 124
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 12:43 pm: | |
William,
It's funny that you mentioned these two shops. My 328 is at Don Galbraith's as I write this. I am having the 45K service done. I have never been to either shop before but I have heard great things about both of them. I chose Don Galbraith Motoring for my service because I was told by Tim Holt (owner Holt Motorsports and the guy that sold my car to me) that a mechanic there was factory trained to work on my car. He sends most of his inventory there and refers his customers there as well. He has also said that Mike Tillson is very good. I should have my car back early next week and I'll let you know then how everything went.
-Augustine |
William A. Swezey II (Swezey)
New member
Username: Swezey
Post Number: 7
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 8:44 pm: | |
Hey folks - just looking for a good mechanic to start a long term relationship with for the tough stuff. I'm near Philly and looking for someone for not only the Mondial but also some other exotics - Jaguar, Maserati, Lotus, Bitter. Does anyone have any reccomendations?? I'm on a budget (aren't we all?) so I'm trying to stay away from the dealers (Lotus dealer?? Maserati dealer?? Is there such a thing??) and would like to have one shop that knows all my vehicles. I found these 2 as possible candidates:
Mike Tillson Motorocars - Philadelphia, PA
Don Galbraith Motoring - Devon, PA
I'll go visit anyone I'm considering first but I'd love to hear about any experience with either of these outfits as well as any others in my area that have given good service at a fair price. Whoever I pick will have a lot of business for a long time so I want it to be right. Kinda like a marriage huh?? Thanks for the help!!
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