**Please note the following ATS-Euromaster review is based around the service and products received from the ATS Garage in Newbury, Berkshire.**
*Personal Background*
Earlier on this week I noticed my exhaust was producing a rather unique sounding boy racer noise, complete with a ... Read review
Advantages: Fast Service, Courteous Service Disadvantages: Garages will differ around the UK
...and products received from the ATS Garage in Newbury, Berkshire.**
*Personal Background*
Earlier on this week I noticed my exhaust was producing a rather unique sounding boy racer noise, complete with a slight rattling of my exhaust box, so decided immediate action was required as I was due in Cardiff the following day. I decided to take my Citroen Saxo (51 reg.) to the local Kick Fit dealers as they ... ...make my call, I phoned ATS and asked if they could help. The gentleman I spoke to on the phone was unsure as to whether he could help, advising they would need to check my car themselves before committing to an answer, so considering they were only located 10 minutes away, I agreed to drive my car round to their garage.
*Company Background*
ATS Euromaster, part of the Euromaster Group, was established in 1961, ... more
**Please note the following ATS-Euromaster review is based around the service and products received from the ATS Garage in Newbury, Berkshire.**
*Personal Background*
Earlier on this week I noticed my exhaust was producing a rather unique sounding boy racer noise, complete with a slight rattling of my exhaust box, so decided immediate action was required as I was due in Cardiff the following day. I decided to take my Citroen Saxo (51 reg.) to the local Kick Fit dealers as they had always provided a reputable service in the past, however after an initial free inspection they advised me that I required 3 new parts for my exhaust, an Intermediate Pipe, an Intermediate Silencer Box and a Rear Silencer Box.
However after consulting their catalogue of parts I was told the intermediate parts I needed were not obtainable from their supplier, as my car was so “new” the replacement parts had yet to be included in the catalogues, so they were unable to help. The conversation actually stopped there, until I asked the question “well what do I do next?” I was actually assuming that might have called round nearby garages to see if they had the part.
The slightly helpful adviser informed me that I would need to contact an alternative Exhaust garage, suggestion Central or ATS, and see if they could help.
Using Kwik Fits car park as a suitable location to make my call, I phoned ATS and asked if they could help. The gentleman I spoke to on the phone was unsure as to whether he could help, advising they would need to check my car themselves before committing to an answer, so considering they were only located 10 minutes away, I agreed to drive my car round to their garage.
*Company Background*
ATS Euromaster, part of the Euromaster Group, was established in 1961, and operates in ten European Countries, including the UK, which has over 530 centres. According to their company information on there website (www.ats-euromaster.co.uk) they offer a comprehensive range of products and services, including: tyres, batteries, brakes, shock absorbers, exhausts, oil and MOT Testing.
Their website is extremely detailed and offers many helpful hints and information about all off their products and services. For example the information I’ve quoted on exhausts was derived from the ATS website. They also offer frequently asked question sections on each product, although I wouldn’t say they give a fully comprehensive answer, but I assume incorporating prices into the FAQ’s is asking for trouble! – For example with respect to exhausts (Information taken from the ATS Euromaster website):
Question - “How expensive is it to replace my exhaust” Part Answer – “A knocking noise is likely to be caused by a loose fitting. ATS Euromaster will replace the fixing component – this is relatively inexpensive.”
The website also boasts a centre locator, where, upon typing in your Postcode or Town/city, and choosing which service your require, it will produce a list of the nearest ATS Garages. A search on Exhausts brought up 10 garages within a 24mile radius.
The ATS website currently also has several other tips and hits with respect to Fleet Management Options, Mobile Tyre Fitting Service, Brochure Requests etc.
“Exhaust Repairs”
After arriving at the Newbury ATS garage, around 10am, a young gentleman immediately approached me, in the reception area, and asked if he could take the keys in order to move the car onto the ramp to take a closer look. Handing the keys over I settled down for a wait, but was pleasantly surprised when he returned 5 minutes later to advise me that I was actually only in need of a replacement Intermediate Pipe and Silencer Box. A slightly differing answer to Kwik Fit, so I asked on the condition of the Rear Silencer Box, and was told it was only the connecting part that had corroded and this would be fixed with the replacement of the Intermediate Parts.
Unfortunately ATS did not have the required parts in stock, but the young gentleman quickly and efficiently phoned his main supplier to see if they were able to assist. Success! The supplier had the parts in stock and advised that they could send someone over around 12pm with the parts.
At all times I was in the room when ATS were on the phone to the supplier so had no reason to doubt them when they advised this was the case. Before ATS confirmed the agreement of the delivery of parts, they asked if I would like a quote, and informed me the price was going to be in the region of £85.00, of which I thought was quite reasonable compared to exhaust prices I have been charged at other garages with my previous cars.
Agreeing to the quote, I was informed that the part would be available at lunchtime, sand would I be able to return then for them to fit it. Quickly agreeing, as I had Cardiff to get to, they took my mobile telephone number, and my boyfriends (because I couldn’t remember if I gave them the correct number) and advised they would call me when the part was in.
*Replacement Parts*
Expecting a call around 12, I continued to prepare for my trip, but after not hearing from ATS by 12:40pm I gave them a quick reminder call to see if my exhaust parts had arrived.
The gentleman who answered was very courteous and explained that the parts hadn’t arrived yet, but they were due any minute now, and he would give me a return call as soon as they were in.
Being an impatient little lady, I decided to drive round to ATS anyway, considering it was 10 minutes away, and figured the parts would have arrived by the time I got there. Luckily for me they had, and the receptionist said he was just about to call me…of that I’ll never know.
Speaking directly to the mechanic I was told that my car was next in line, so would be in the garage within the next 5 minutes. It was actually quicker than that, as I didn’t have time to finish my cigarette before I saw my car being hoisted up the ramp.
The actual service and parts replacement took just under half an hour, and due to the location of the garage in respect to the reception area you are able to watch your car whilst the repairs are done.
Once finished all that was left was for them to hand my keys over (they kindly returned my car to the front car park), and for me to pay the outstanding charge. I was asked if I had already received a quote, and I said yes around £85.00, to which I was told the price was actually cheaper and the total repairs and parts came to £72.90.
*Customer Satisfaction*
According to the customer signs in reception, their fitting employees are the most highly trained in the industry, offering the customer 100% confidence and satisfaction in the received service. With respect to the quick repairs and courteous attitude from the staff, I would agree that I received a very complete and satisfying service from ATS. I have no complaints and my car now purrs along nicely, rather than having to endure listening to the boy racer groan. The price I paid was lower than the quote, which is always an advantage when having to pay for unexpected repairs, and the service excellent.
I have never considered using ATS before, and have always gone to Kwik Fit as I assumed they were more of a reputable dealer, but since my experience at Kwik Fit, which could easily have been a one-off, I think I will be more than comfortable using ATS again. Thank you for reading Kels x
Advantages: Quick Disadvantages: Everything else about them
ATS Euromaster are your typical Tyres, Brakes and Exhausts chains, running up and down the country. They are situated in most big towns and seem to be running alongside quick fit in popularity, however good or bad that is. I have only visited ATS once, and probably will never do again, unless I’m in desperate need of a Tyre quickly, but I won’t bother taking their advice on my car! You see, ATS tried to con me out of some of my money, ... ...front). So, I went to ATS to see if they could do a budget tyre any cheaper. Indeed they could, £32 including everything. So, I left them with my car for fifteen minutes while I walked round town and got a couple of things I wanted to get. I went back to ATS, who had given me a new tyre and my car was parked in one of the bays waiting for me to collect it. I went to pay which was all straight forward, however, when I had paid, I got a speel off the ...
GR-Design 22.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ATS Tyres and Exhausts
Advantages: Large Stock, professional compared with competition, good range of services Disadvantages: EXPENSIVE!!! may push you
I guess everyone that owns a car knows the facts, and this opinion may not contain any startling revelations about Kwik Fit, but having recently had my tyres replaced by Kwik Fit and a local tyre company, I shall try to explain the pros and cons of each.
I share with my mother a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting, as you may or may not know, there is only one primary manufacturer of this car’s tyre, (I’ll explain later). Anyway, the car was due ... ...to the Fiat dealer, they will force me to get new tyres, at a very expensive price, so I called Kwik Fit for a price and it came up to be just over £70 for a Pirelli. Now I don’t think that that is reasonable at all, for 1 tyre! But the local tyre place was closed and I needed the MOT very soon, so I took it there to get the job done. (They had the tyre in stock by the way).
I seemed to be quite lucky and the job was done within an hour, they ...
Everybody 10.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ATS Tyres and Exhausts
ATS well advertised,yes, a large company, yes, good reputation, reliable and honest? Answer NO.
Well that is my humble opinion. I recently owned a small citroen AX motor car and the exhaust started to corrode, blow me I thought, the exhaust was only fitted by ATS in High Wycombe less than four months ago! So, off I went with receipt back to ATS where, on the ramp I noticed that the exhaust had completely cracked in half under the manifold area. ... ...Driving back to Wycombe ATS I moaned and groaned, watched the car go up on the ramp again, and I went under to take a look. To my amasement I could see that there was a bolt, which secures the lower end of the exhaust downpipe to the gearbox of the car to stregnthen the sytem wass sheared off and was still in the gearbox. This shear was obviously within the last twelve months because the sheer was shiny and clean, it had not corroded. Now, I bought ...
willsmj 11.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of ATS Tyres and Exhausts
Advantages: cheap and great service Disadvantages: none
..."just over £100" and at ATS they said it will be £110 plus £15 if the manifold bolts and springs are hard to get off - now you can buy these in places like Halfords for £6.00.
Then we telephoned the cheapest which was Ebley. They said £75.00.
On arrival there we found that they had to send for it from their other branch and this would take an hour. But, if we wanted to have a look around the town they would drive us there and pick us up. Now that ...
Ciren 10.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of ATS Tyres and Exhausts
Advantages: Cheap Disadvantages: Not to be trusted, left my car dirty
...had my car in at ATS in Altrincham for a shock absorber, being the only place that could it, as the other usual chain garages refused to quote for it for some reason (BMW Z3 2.8) .
Initial thoughts were that the place looked generally derelict, I turned up early and spoke to an uncheery person to be told that the garage opened up at 8.30am not 8.00am.
Anyway they did the work and on payment I asked the man I if they had taken it for a test drive ... ...After complaining via the ATS website I got a call from the manager in Altrincham who apologised and said that it had been test driven around the car park! Hardly what I call a test drive for proving a vital safety component is fitted properly.
He also said that the man who drove the car out of the garage had washed his hands before driving it. He then suggested that I had a higher standard of hand cleaning than him!
I feel annoyed and fobbed off ...
Sandiwayroad 06.09.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of ATS Tyres and Exhausts
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Advantages: Cheapest quote, with excellent service Disadvantages: Still expensive!
I pay a ridiculous amount for my car insurance, and every year I dread renewal time. This year, I received a quote from ATS which was almost 20% less than anyone else quoted. This is a little odd, since they are effectively selling for Priviledge, who quoted me significantly more.
The price alone would have made me use ATS, but I was so impressed by the friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff that I would probably have paid more.
I was a little concerned at first that ATS are a quick-fit tyre/exhaust company, but so far I have been very impressed by the service they offer for insurance. ...
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