JOE MACARI

Cool m8. we all need a guardian Ferrari angel

 

nice post mate, joe is a top bloke, one of my developer colleagues knows him and joe took him out in an f50 for a run, might stir some competition up for the servicing in that area from main dealers

 

I get all my work done at Joe M's, I trust Russell. However they are under-staffed at the moment. This is not a critisim, as that can happen to any business, its just the way things go. But they have been taking quite a long time to turn around my car... its actually there at the moment.

I think their business will go great places, Joe's always willing to discuss business and explorer new ideas and hes clearly got an amazing contact network!

 

Second that. Joe has looked after my last 2 Fcars, and I trust his advice strongly (clarifies what NOT to bother with as well as what improves your car). Russ is THE MAN when it comes to anyone touching my Fcar.

My only caveats apply to EVERYONE in the (F)car business that I have ever met - and do apply to Joe as well. Firstly, everyone is your friend when they can see the pound signs flashing in front of their eyes (no surprise here, that's life), but when you want them to help you sell your car on, it is a different story. Secondly, and I've posted this before, is that the entire Fcar industry is ABSOLUTELY USELESS at calling you back, generally 'making you feel like a customer' and indeed, communication overall. For busy people this total lack of 'the personal touch' and good service, can be very trying at times and it is the one thing that drives me mad about owning a (it seems almost any) car. I know I would get fired if I treated my customers this way....

That said, Joe and his team are one of the best outfits in this business, and the few that might be cheaper around the London area, may not be nearly so competent.

J.

 

I live just down the road from Joe and two weekends ago Russ came down to fix my car. It didn't take him long to figure out I had a loose ignition connection. He got it going, drove it back to the workshop, fixed the wiring and I picked it up a couple of hours later. How convenient is that?!

I talked to Russ a bit about the new workshop and Ferrari Approval which is in the pipeline. He is a bit concerned about loosing customers (like me) who wouldn't want to pay main dealers rates. It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Hummmm, you know what. I don't think I would want to pay more. How much does Verdi charge per hour??

 

Guys,

Dont forget that Maranellos in Egham have a special fixed-price service menu for Fcars of over 3yrs old (as do several of the non-franchised specialist in the south-east). They quoted me GBP680 for a full annual service on a 456 and that includes parts, labour and VAT. I frankly doubt many others can beat that price....
In theory this means that the franchised dealers (including Macari's if they become one) would not always be way more expensive - except for the super-rich with new cars, of course!
J.

 

the low cost service is a sales hook, it's the hourly rate that I look at.

Fcars over 3 years old tend to have other work needed whilst having a service.

A fixed price service on my 355 at JMH Automtive in Knutsford was £385 plus VAT

with labour at £45 per hour

http://www.j-m-h.co.uk/ferrari.html

M

 

Thats awesume even if its ex-VAT!!! Joe is £85 + VAT !!! he was £75 +VAT, but put it up...

 

Jason who runs the place is a nice lad, he specialises is running a 360 challenge team so knows his stuff

 

I concur with regards to Jason.

Did my 348, fixed what was needed and sensible solutions to other minor points.

Located in Holmes Chapel though, near Knutsford.

 

Yeah Joe and his team are top blokes. In fact my car is there right now getting straight pipes put on and getting a few bits and pieces done to it. I have been servicing my car at joes for a couple of years now and the service and the attention a car gets is second to none.
I have bought a few cars of him ( Gallardo,550,360spyder,996 turbo) and a few pals of mine have too.

Joe has good connections at the factory in Italy.

My 430 coupe (due in 3 weeks) is comming through him. Cant disclose the premium im paying on the 430 coupe but on the 430 spyder he is asking a premium of 40k. (but it will be one of the first ones in uk or europe).LHD of course!!!

 

Is it mandatory for an approved agent to put their prices up when becoming approved, and/or does the cost of official approval make it the only way to stay in business?

If so, I wonder why they're bothering.

One of the key differentiators with the indies is price. Once this matches, they then have to rely on competence/service to take them through. If that was much higher anyway (as I believe is the case with a number of indies) then fair enough, but I can't see an approved stamp being worth the hike in cost (for many of the people who use these guys now) when other indies can ultimately undercut them.

Also, wouldn't being "approved" then hamper their flow of "early" cars? These must also be a source of good profit?

Sorry for the o/t ramble. Just curious what drives this sort of stuff for niche players.

 

The quoted rate at PJ Evans in Little Aston, Birmingham, is £110 an hour. And they are the people who told me that a cambelt change on a 550 was a 13 hour job. Dick Lovett pointed out that it was a 5 or 6 hour job at the most since nothing needs to come out to get at the cambelts. Just proves you need to check what some of the main dealers say.

 

The quoted rate at HR Owens is the same.

If so, I wonder if this is the quoted rate at all approved agents...

I'm in the wrong line of work.

 

I think the rates went up once Dale was accepted onto the company barber shop scheme

 

I think you would have to be insane to pay those labour charges for an out of warranty Fcar.

But there is a lot that do.

I believe a hell of a lot of it is snobbery and why?, most indies are basically mechanics who migrated away from the main dealers and set up on their own. So to me there is no difference at all.

Except price of course.

M

 

Hi chaps,

Just to clear up the labour rate confusion at Joe Macaris, it was £63.50 + VAT per hour until end of last year, and has been recently increased to £73.50 + VAT, which as far as I'm aware is still the cheapest rate in London (particularly when you have call on that sort of experience). The warranty supplied by Joe include Main Dealer rates and easily covers their rate.

I have this on the very best authourity.... I work there!!!

S.

 

Sorry I just realised I was saying price inclusive of VAT (whoops!) not exclusive... doh! Having just had 70 odd hours of work done with you guys you would have thought I'd get that right!!! Cheers
Ade

 

Mastiff

It's good to see someone down at Macaris is keeping an eye on Fchat! Do you have any info for us on the new workshop etc?

Steve

 

Things are progressing. Setting up this sort of service department, to the expected levels of both Ferrari/Maserasti and our current customers standards was never going to be an overnight job. I have never seen so much paperwork, we are all drowning in it!

I assure you that we will keep everyone informed, it is rather exciting really.

We would like to thank all our customers for their patience at this hectic time, amongst all this our sales and service departments are still "flat to the boards", just the way we like it!!

 

Joe is a top bloke. I do some work for him now and again as I fit trackers and navigaition systems into cars. He has a black 355f1 which he said is in beautiful condition. Going to see it on Monday and let's see what happens!!

 

I had my 328 done at Maranello last year. Fixed price quoted was £375.00. The invoice when the car returned was for £632.48 (only extra was MOT and reconnect radio aerial). A bemused phone call later and a new invoice arrived for £440.63 (ie. £375+VAT).

jg

 

If it's the black 355 F1 that I looked at it's lovely. I fell in love with a LeMans blue Spider though parked next to it....