city road garage

I still have, and am very happy with the Grand Vitara i purchased from Autobarn back in Jan 2012, purchased at approx 17,000 miles, and very nearly clocking up 95,000 miles now.

The reason for this review now is not actually related to the car but is to reflect the great customer service i received in the last couple of days.. I needed to contact Autobarn with a query and request for assistance relating to a banking error on my part. James was very helpful, and was able to quickly identify the error and resolve the issue for me within 24 hours.

Thank-you for the very prompt assistance.

This is the best ever garage I have ever dealt with. James who sold me my car was so helpful, not pushy at all. Had a very slight issue with the car which he sorted out within a day and half. Can't praise the garage enough. Keep up the good work. Peter C

I bought a low mileage diesel Nissan NV200 from Autobarn of Sheffield. The vehicle itself is solid, but there have been three irritating and expensive aspects to the transaction that suggest the dealer is either dishonest or grossly incompetent:

(1) The radio required a PIN to unlock, which Autobarn didn't supply. Autobarn didn't have the PIN on the day that I purchased the vehicle but James from Autobarn promised to email it to me. He didn't ever email. When I chased him up about it by phone, James indicated I would have to speak to a dealership myself. When I spoke to a dealership it turned out that I needed to provide the radio serial number, which required taking the radio out of the dashboard to find.

(2) I had an issue with a faulty glow plug that should have been covered under my warranty. Autobarn didn't activate the warranty until after I notified them of the problem, however, so the warranty company refused to cover the problem. I was initially reassured as James said he would reimburse me for the costs (£229) directly. The repair took place on 14 March 2018. As of 04 June 2018, I still haven't been reimbursed despite repeated phone calls and emails.

(3) The vehicle came without a lug wrench, jack, or towing eye (the tools required to change a flat tyre or get the vehicle onto the bed of a tow truck respectively). A quick Google indicated that the tools were supposed to be located beneath the passenger seat in the cab, but the space for them was empty and they were not located elsewhere. Given my experiences above, I didn't bother speaking to Autobarn about this. I replaced the missing tools myself, although I had to source a towing eye from E-Bay in order to avoid an outrageous (over £150) price from a dealership parts office.

Been searching for the last3 months for a nice Mondeo, I'd just about given up. I saw one advertised on City Road Cars Sheffield, spoke to a chap called John who sounded knowledgeable about the car. I went on Saturday morning to have a look, it was exactly as he'd said and just what I wanted.

A very nice guy called Tony took me for a test drive, the car was lovely, they sorted the finance out and included a warranty. This was in May, sorry I've only done put this review on, but just wanted to let everybody know what a good experience it was buying from you guys. Many thanks for all your help. Regards PW from Leeds.

So, where do we start. Avoid if you can, appreciate it’s difficult when you’ve found a car you love but this guy will mess you about and take no responsibility when things go wrong. Don’t think for a minute that his so called warranty is any better. We have a feeling those two are mates and take the p**s out of every customer they get.

So we purchased a vehicle for almost 13k from this joker, we’re in Derby, he’s in Sheffield. About 30+miles.

2nd day after having the truck the engine management light comes on when my partner is driving home from work. Following day he took the car to work and had the mechanics (these guys maintain a fleet of trucks and cars and all sorts) put our truck on the OBD reader and the EGR valve comes up as faulty. Only did it to be sure that we don’t get messed about. So that morning we called James and without even explaining anything as soon as I mentioned engine management light he knew what it was. So. Simple answer is, he sold us a 13k car knowing that the part needs to be replaced. Usually you can fix this by disconnecting the battery and can get away with it if the light doesn’t come back on after 50 or so miles. So James has done this little trick but light came back on. What a shame. My partner had to drive twice to Sheffield to get this sorted. 2 precious days wasted to put right something the deceiving James knew was wrong in the first place. Never mind the fact this rude arsepiece put the phone down on me twice saying he can’t talk as he has a customer. Apparently, I’m not his customer. Just spent loads of cash but because it’s in his bank I’m no longer a customer. He also offered to send the part and we can get it sorted ourselves, but if a trap as this would forfeit the warranty full stop.

Then, on 23rd of December - we had the car for 3 weeks at this point and this is covered by the imaginary, useless none existent warranty (Blackstar Warranties) - the belt on the car started squeaking like a possessed blue whale so we rang James and he was dismissive, not interested, he was closed from there on until after Christmas, why don’t we go and get an £8 belt and do it ourselves, he has not time for this conversation and put the phone down on me. So, as a family, we were looking at being stranded for the Christmas week and we had to go to Newcastle for a get together on the 25th. Of course the following day (24th) we found a garage and had the belt done for just over £100. No big deal and we thought shouldn’t be a problem claiming it back through the warranty as James told us to “get it sorted and call the warranty” on the 23rd. Well... we were so wrong. From 2nd of January we have been chasing warranty and James, backwards and forwards, pillar to post etc etc. Nothing. Neither James nor Blackstar Warranties are taking responsibility. James has gone on to block both of our phones so when we call it goes straight to voicemail, little did he know I have access to several different phones and those go straight through to him. But all you get is empty promises to sort it out. Think we’ve given him long enough. No damage done over £100 quid but I would have thought that a serious decent dealer would have sorted it out and moved on. This guy is rogue. We have reported him to several outlets, such as BBC Watchdog, Rogue Traders and Trading Standards, hopefully, if enough people complain something will come off it. Avoid if you can. Trust the reviews, wish we read about him before we got involved, but I guess, lesson learned.

REPLY TO YOUR COMMENT:

Belt is covered but you refused to authorise this properly so that warranty pays out.

We sent you the original invoice, not a scribbled paper.

I made one phone call just after 18.00 pm on 23rd which I have a record of, if I could upload image and recording I would. And I called the landline which came through to your mobile.

What good the repair would be on 2nd of January when we would be left unable to use the car for the Christmas / New Year period.

We have given you plenty of time / opportunities to put this right.

AVOID

My husband purchased a land rover freelander from autobarn a few weeks ago.

On arrival was met by James who immediately offered us a cup of coffee and left us to have a look around at our own pace. No pressure. Very helpful with all our needs. The land rover we chose was in immaculate condition throughout. The land rover had a noise on driving which turned out to be a wheel bearing fault on drivers side which was booked in with garage straight away and fixed. Also ordered new centres for alloy wheels and fitted them for us. All phone calls returned promptly. James could not have been more helpful. Would definitely recommend this garage to anyone and would definitely use again. Top notch service !! Steve and Jo

Hi I Bought a Golf from autobarn it was advertised on auto trader as 1 previous owner with new cambelt and water pump. After a phone conversation I drove down from Manchester. He couldn't find the paper work for the cambelt work and promised me he would provide the evidence for it!! After nearly 2 months of being fobbed off I am getting the cambelt replaced myself I finally asked him if he would contribute towards the payment as he said we will sort something out between us if he can't find the paperwork. He never replied like he never replied to any messages and never rang me back when I rang him he told me so many different scenarios were the paper work was and how it was coming from email and post just talked rubbish. The v5 document came and he also lied about that it had 2 previous owners. I would avoid this man and dealership. The car is also in the garage with the engine light on. Really poor customer service and Dishonest.

Updated from the dealersame response

Yet more lies I bought the car on the 10th of July it's not even been 2 months yet since I bought the car. Not nearly 5 months as the dealer has put. I would attache the copy of sale receipt and screen shot of the advert stating 1 owner if I could!! to prove your words wrong again.

On a honest post the garage has informed me today the cambelt has been recently replaced but I had to get this proof myself which has cost me money but it's in there getting fixed anyway. The £250 discount was just me haggling down the price as I do and most people do with all car sales. It had nothing to do with you fulfilling your promise to me as a customer which you did not. If you just showed some customer service it wouldn't of been a problem.

Cambelt is done James

Anyway life's to short.

PLEASE BE AWARE!!!!!

Purchased a vehicle a week before. Everything as always goes well when trying to purchase it.

As soon as you've taken the vehicle and you try contacting him, he's rude and doesn't want to assist you in any matter.

1 week later my Clutch has gone.

There is no such thing as warranty given. Don't be fooled to think your covered.. even if the engine went, they would not be in a position to help you.

PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! AND DON'T BOTHER READING THEIR REPLY.. ALL THEY GOING TO SAY IS.. OHHH WE SAID SO AND SO AND YOUR LYING BLABLA.