VW – a reputation built on innovation and quality engineering

As an experienced driver, you know the importance of keeping your VW in tip-top condition. Regular servicing will extend your car’s life and identify defects before they become catastrophic.

When you consider the history of Volkswagen and how the company has built its global reputation for design and quality, booking a Volkswagen service that is conducted with care and precision is vitally important, in retaining the characteristics of this prestige car.

VW facts you may not know

In 1934, Dr Ferdinand Porsche agreed to Adolf Hitler’s request to create a car suitable for ordinary working people – an economic car that was simple to use and maintain.

The design was adapted from earlier versions and the shape was created by Erwin Komenda, the established Auto Union designer (see Audi). In 1937 Volkswagen mbH was born and factory construction began the following year.

However, the Volkswagen factory had produced few cars when war was declared and this led to production being switched from civilian to military vehicles.

After hefty damage from Allied bombing, the Volkswagen factory was captured by the Americans in 1945 and handed over to the British, who originally intended to salvage the production equipment as war reparations after using the location for military maintenance.

However, the initiative of Major Ivan Hirst of the British Army to present one of the factory’s cars as a light transport vehicle, secured Volkswagen’s short term future. An order for 20,000 such vehicles was placed in the autumn of 1945, and within a year the factory was producing some 1,000 cars per month from the still damaged factory.

After offering the company for sale to British car manufacturers, and with no buyer, a former senior manager at Opel, Heinrich Nordhoff, was brought in to run the factory in 1948 and ownership was placed in a government run trust.

In the 1950′s the company became famous for its Type 1 model, commonly known as the Beetle. But it wasn’t until 1968 that VW used the term in its advertising and not until 1998, with the introduction of the new version, that a car was officially named the Volkswagen Beetle.

In 1964, VW purchased Auto Union, owner of the Audi brand, and so the Volkswagen-Audi association was born.

In the 1970′s, the Beetle began to become outdated and Volkswagen looked to Auto Union for the next generation of engine technology. Front wheel drive and water cooled engines were adopted by a new wave of Volkswagens in 1973 and 1974.

The Audi 50 was effectively relabelled the VW Polo and the Audi 80 body and mechanics were translated into the VW Passat. However, the most influential development was the launch of the Beetle replacement, the Volkswagen Golf in 1974.

Setting precedence for future development, Volkswagen used the new Golf chassis to launch a number of other models, including the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet, Volkswagen Scirocco and Volkswagen Jetta.

The company was expanded in 1990 and 1991 with the purchase of SEAT, the Spanish car maker, and Skoda Auto of Czechoslovakia.

These new acquisitions allowed Volkswagen to position its brands across the market, elevating Audi to compete with BMW and Mercedes, positioning VW as a quality rival to the likes of Ford and Renault, and focusing Seat and Skoda on VW’s historical ‘affordable’ heartland.

Whilst the original names have been retained, the Volkswagen range has been systematically redeveloped with new generations of the much loved models, as well as extended into the SUV market with the VW Tiguan.

With their history of design innovation, together with their passion for engineering, Volkswagen has successfully grown its reputation as a high quality car manufacturer.

Book your Volkswagen service with confidence

So when you book your next VW service, you can be confident that Service A Car understands the heritage of Volkswagen and conducts VW servicing with the passion and precision the car deserves.

In October 2003 new European legislation affecting the motor industry came into force called “Block Exemption Regulation” 14002002 (BER), and this now means that you can book your next Citroen van service online and save up to 50% on what you might pay at your local Citroen dealer.

Before the law changed it was difficult to have new vans within their warranty period serviced outside a franchised dealer. If you wanted to shop around for the best prices on Citroen van servicing, your hands were tied. The change in the law now gives every van owner the freedom to service their van away from the main dealers, and still have their warranty protected.

Thousands of Citroen van owners have now taken advantage of their new right and reduced their Citroen serving costs, whilst benefiting from the convenience of booking with national van service providers such as Service A Van.

Service A Van is a leading online van servicing network that prides itself on the quality of its Citroen servicing, their customer service and transparent pricing. Because the company is not tied to any particular van manufacturer, they are able to service any make of vehicle and compete freely in the market, on a like-for-like.

Every vehicle is rigorously serviced according to the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, using genuine recommended parts fitted by qualified technicians. This means that every Citroen van service fulfils the warranty criteria and there is no compromise on the servicing standards of a main dealer.

Companies like Service A Van, who fulfil the warranty criteria when servicing your Citroen, are able to maintain your service book, just as main dealer can – thereby protecting your warranty and helping you to maximise the resale value of your Citroen van.

Of course, booking direct with a national van servicing network has its own advantages:
• You no longer have to do all the running around. Service A Van collects your Citroen in the morning and delivers it back that afternoon, free of charge
• You pay a fixed Citroen service price, which can be up to 50% below the price at the Citroen servicing desk of your local dealer
• No additional work is vanried out without your agreement, which means no nasty surprises when it comes to paying the bill
• Trained Customer Advisers are on hand throughout the day to keep you informed of progress, and report back on problems you asked to be investigated as part of your Citroen service e.g. knocks and rattles
• Your Citroen service includes a free wash and vacuum clean
• You simply pay with your credit or debit vand and your van is delivered back to your home or work address.

Our advice for saving money on Citroen van servicing is to contact a national van servicing network, who is not tied to any one particular van manufacturer, like Service A Van.

So, before you book your next Citroen van service, why not ask your local dealer to tell you the cost of the service (plus parts, oil and any extras) and then compare it with a fixed price quote from a national servicing network, like Service A Van?

Happy motoring,

Howard.
Chairman Service A Van

In October 2003 new European legislation affecting the motor industry came into force called “Block Exemption Regulation” 14002002 (BER), and this now means that you can book your next Mercedes van service online and save up to 50% on what you might pay at your local Mercedes dealer.

Before the law changed it was difficult to have new vans within their warranty period serviced outside a franchised dealer. If you wanted to shop around for the best prices on Mercedes van servicing, your hands were tied.

The change in the law now gives every van owner the freedom to service their van away from the main dealers, and still have their warranty protected. Thousands of Mercedes van owners have now taken advantage of their new right and reduced their Mercedes serving costs, whilst benefiting from the convenience of booking with national van service providers such as Service A Van.

Service A Van is a leading online van servicing network that prides itself on the quality of its Mercedes servicing, their customer service and transparent pricing. Because the company is not tied to any particular van manufacturer, they are able to service any make of vehicle and compete freely in the market, on a like-for-like.

Every vehicle is rigorously serviced according to the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, using genuine recommended parts fitted by qualified technicians. This means that every Mercedes van service fulfils the warranty criteria and there is no compromise on the servicing standards of a main dealer.

Companies like Service A Van, who fulfil the warranty criteria when servicing your Mercedes, are able to maintain your service book, just as main dealer can – thereby protecting your warranty and helping you to maximise the resale value of your Mercedes van.

Of course, booking direct with a national van servicing network has its own advantages:
• You no longer have to do all the running around. Service A Van collects your Mercedes in the morning and delivers it back that afternoon, free of charge
• You pay a fixed Mercedes service price, which can be up to 50% below the price at the Mercedes servicing desk of your local dealer
• No additional work is vanried out without your agreement, which means no nasty surprises when it comes to paying the bill
• Trained Customer Advisers are on hand throughout the day to keep you informed of progress, and report back on problems you asked to be investigated as part of your Mercedes service e.g. knocks and rattles
• Your Mercedes service includes a free wash and vacuum clean
• You simply pay with your credit or debit vand and your van is delivered back to your home or work address.

Our advice for saving money on Mercedes van servicing is to contact a national van servicing network, who is not tied to any one particular van manufacturer, like Service A Van.

So, before you book your next Mercedes van service, why not ask your local dealer to tell you the cost of the service (plus parts, oil and any extras) and then compare it with a fixed price quote from a national servicing network, like Service A Van?

Happy motoring,

Howard.
Chairman Service A Van

How to save money on your next Mercedes service

Mercedes servicing is now much cheaper, for those in the know.

Thanks to European legislation, you no longer have to be tied to high Mercedes service costs, dictated by your local dealer.

In October 2003 new European legislation affecting the motor industry came into force called “Block Exemption Regulation” 14002002 (BER), and this now means that you can book your next Mercedes car service online and save up to 50% on what you might pay at your local Mercedes dealer.

Before the law changed it was difficult to have new cars within their warranty period serviced outside a franchised dealer. If you wanted to shop around for the best prices on Mercedes servicing, your hands were tied.

The change in the law now gives every car owner the freedom to service their car away from the main dealers, and still have their warranty protected.

Thousands of Mercedes car owners have now taken advantage of their new right and reduced their Mercedes serving costs, whilst benefiting from the convenience of booking with national car service providers such as Service A Car.

Service A Car is a leading online car servicing network that prides itself on the quality of its Mercedes servicing, their customer service and transparent pricing. Because the company is not tied to any particular car manufacturer, they are able to service any make of vehicle and compete freely in the market, on a like-for-like.

Every vehicle is rigorously serviced according to the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, using genuine recommended parts fitted by qualified technicians. This means that every Mercedes car service fulfils the warranty criteria and there is no compromise on the servicing standards of a main dealer.

Companies like Service A Car, who fulfil the warranty criteria when servicing your Mercedes, are able to maintain your service book, just as main dealer can – thereby protecting your warranty and helping you to maximise the resale value of your Mercedes car.

Of course, booking direct with a national car servicing network has its own advantages:

•·         You no longer have to do all the running around. Service A Car collects your Mercedes in the morning and delivers it back that afternoon, free of charge

•·         You pay a fixed Mercedes service price, which can be up to 50% below the price at the Mercedes servicing desk of your local dealer

•·         No additional work is carried out without your agreement, which means no nasty surprises when it comes to paying the bill

•·         Trained Customer Advisers are on hand throughout the day to keep you informed of progress, and report back on problems you asked to be investigated as part of your Mercedes service e.g. knocks and rattles

•·         Your Mercedes service includes a free wash and vacuum clean

•·         You simply pay with your credit or debit card and your car is delivered back to your home or work address.

Our advice for saving money on Mercedes car servicing is to contact a national car servicing network, who is not tied to any one particular car manufacturer, like Service A Car.

So, before you book your next Mercedes service, why not ask your local dealer to tell you the cost of the service (plus parts, oil and any extras) and then compare it with a fixed price quote from a national servicing network, like Service A Car?