UK Alfa dealerships & AROC UK

["John Griffiths" <john_alfa_griffiths@domain.elided>]

Hi everybody

Regarding the comments made by Mike Salter (Leicester UK) in digest # 1292,
he mentioned getting good service from Reg Vardy in Leicester - part of a
relatively large UK based chain of Alfa Romeo and FIAT dealerships. Now the
words "good service" and "major dealership" in the UK don't normally get
mentioned together, but it can happen, obviously! I've dropped Mike a line
to tell him firstly about the Central Midlands Section of the Alfa Romeo
Owners club which I co-ordinate as secretary - AROC UK membership is an
absolute MUST for Alfisti and if you are reading this in the UK and are not
a member, you are *really* missing out - and secondly to advise him of a
local specialist at InterServices on Vulcan Road, Leicester (UK) which is
run by an expert Factory trained technician with labour rates dramatically
less than the Reg Vardys of the world...and there are many similar
specialists up and down the UK.
I don't know about other UK digest readers, but usually if you arrive at a
franchised Alfa dealership in something other than a current model, you are
usually met with bemusement. Most salesmen are hilarious! - "Was there a GTV
before the '95 model then?" - "Alfa 75? Sorry we don't deal with 1970's
models..."  I'm being cruel, there are a few exceptions.  Anyway, mustn't
grumble, at least in the UK we can still buy them new and delight in the
wonderful machines. For you guys in the US & Canada, sorry, but these cars
are far better to drive in the metal than on a games console. They have GOT
to start exporting them to you soon, it is positively cruel not to...Quick
rack steering, sequential transmission, aluminium suspension, the 24 valve
V6, the fabulous styling... OK I'll stop!

Ciao!

John G.

'99 146 ti (2.0 16V Twin Spark)
'91 Fiat Uno 45S (1.0 8V Some Spark - hey, UK Petrol is about US$5.80 a
gallon!)
'34 2300 Monza (OK, it's 1:18th Scale, but I can dream)

------------------------------