Vertu Sunderland (BMW dealer) opening Ducati Dealership 15th July 2024. Another option for those who’ve lost M&S or who won’t patronise J&L Carlisle
Servicing debt there always seemed to fek stuff up on BMWs i’ve owned so i ponder how they’ll do on Ducatis. List of fekups in diminishing levels of WtaF Replaced rear swingarm on GSA1150 (recall) & fekked up final drive bearing tightening so wheel developed 3 mm of play shortly after. Replaced tank on same GSA (warranty) but ordered normal GS tank, eventually sorted. Jet washed decals off the GSA during service !? Took forever to acknowledge/fix broken gear indicator GSA (warranty) Charged labour & parts for Ecu recall on S1XR …. Gave up after that, some of above (GSA) was under the Coopers banner & a long time ago but the S1XR was fairly recent. Sales always seemed ok but service is something that i would wonder about.
Large automotive group, likely effectively run by their bean counting department. Used to look after my Tiguan before I moved house.
So so, when I used to use them. Very reluctant to switch the settings on my ‘17 GS to KMH from MPH on the digital display. Took a lot of asking and pushing. That is when I could get them to answer the phone….never any issues answering the phone for car sales. Go figure…
Battened down for covid and never really came back from it. I've known Ian for decades, and he seemed to lose tolerance for being pushed around by the big brands. (you need to invest in this, you need to have the this in the showroom, you cant have that brand in the same showroom as us etc etc). I could undertsand his frustrations with it all tbh.
Yep, dealt with Ian a few times over the years. ‘The Hill’ is unrecognisable these days. You would need to be brought up with it to understand.
Yeah I miss it. There was always something to see and plenty craic with like minded lads. I started hanging about up there while still at school over 40 yrs ago, lusting after what would be when I could get my test. Fond memories.
Totally, I used to drool over the 888s in M&S...and can remember to this day seeing my first 916 coming down the bottom of the hill.
I remember picking up my first Ducati, a 748 from there. Ian had persuaded me to buy a Ducati when I went in for something else. Gary brought it out the front for me and in front of dozens I stalled it twice on the hill. I eventually pulled away and was thinking ‘what the hell have I bought’ as I chugged up the road with hundreds of eyes fixed on me. Going through the traffic I felt like turning around and taking it back but once I hit the open road and the first few corners it started growing on me. By the time I got home I loved it and have loved Ducatis ever since. Onto my 14th now. Miss going into M&S as it was a weekly thing but haven’t been in for over a year now. It was never open unless you went around the back. I wouldn’t take my bike up there these days, it would be gone in 5 minutes.
The 2 guys in the clothing dept were great too. Always a discount on the Dainese, Shoei gear. Think I had 5 bikes from there over the years. Lost count on tyres..