MrPea
Member
- Messages
- 3,015
Hi folks,
I thought it worthy of mentioning how pleased and impressed I am by the service I've received from Christian Lewis in Bedford, and particularly from Ed Blasi, the Maserati guru.
After a couple of recommendations from here - Thanks Zep - I went to visit CL as at the time they were 10mins down the road from my parents. It didn't take much to convince me that they took real pride in their work. They've been Aston specialists mostly, but some of you know Ed and that he was trained whilst working for one of the Maserati MD's some time back, alongside Myles at Emblem, and I believe Voicey knows him well too? So, Ed clearly has the knowledge, and seeing his care for all the other cars I thought it safe to take a punt with an indy much closer to home. I'd put 20% of my 2016 miles on just getting to and from Poole to visit Emblem, and that hurt a bit - I'd rather use those miles on more fun roads!
(Right now it's worth saying that I highly recommend Emblem as well. They're just a bit far from me, but a direct train from Oxford had made them my only viable decent indy... until now).
Well, CL were due to move to new premises in Bedford, and I called to organise my service on their first day in the new office. Now they have much more space they're finally wanting to take on more Maserati as they have capacity. So, it came to time to take Myfanwy to them. The new pad is still a bit of work in progress, but it's already lovely. Very spacious and full of some incredible metal! Ed is clearly passionate and had plenty of time to show me around. We spent time goind around my car to look into absolutely everything that could want attention. Then they gave me the keys to their Mini Cooper courtesy car and off I went. It was going to be a while before I could collect my car due to business travel, but CL were totally cool about it.
They're also ideally placed for restorations and MOTs with fabricators and finishers next door, and an MOT station who understand the needs of supercars.
Whilst doing the service, I started receiving regular emails with updates and pictures. Because the wheels came off to flush the brake lines, Ed's OCD was offended by my slightly blemished wheelnuts and centres of my discs, so he repainted them of his own volition. A broken switch housing for my driver's seat also warranted OCD fixing it there and then. A single (and so very noticeable to any of us with OCD) scratch on a front wheel-arch got polished out by their detailer (who also gave the whole car, including engine bay a once, or thrice, over).
Finally it came to collection yesterday. Traffic escaping Oxford to Bedford was a nightmare, and Ed had no issues waiting an hour late for me to arrive. He then had just as much time for me to show me some things as before (such as sitting me in a Maclaren Mercedes SLR755S!, and showing me the insides of some of their Aston restorations). It turns out they've all fallen in love with my car. The service and MOT were completed and all those extra services I mentioned were included as part of the standard cost, because OCD and love of cars requires it. He talked me through everything so I know exactly how my car is. He'd even put in some extra fuel for me to ensure I'd get home without stopping. I ended up leaving at least 1 1/2 hours after closing time. Nothing was too much.
Cost-wise, they're also extremely reasonable.
And then I had 1 1/2 hours of driving with the roof off under the stars, enjoying the symphony.
So yes, I'd recommend these guys to any of you nearby - and further afield. Now they have the new premises they're ready to take on more Maserati and they certainly won't disappoint. It's great that we have another reliable indy.
I thought it worthy of mentioning how pleased and impressed I am by the service I've received from Christian Lewis in Bedford, and particularly from Ed Blasi, the Maserati guru.
After a couple of recommendations from here - Thanks Zep - I went to visit CL as at the time they were 10mins down the road from my parents. It didn't take much to convince me that they took real pride in their work. They've been Aston specialists mostly, but some of you know Ed and that he was trained whilst working for one of the Maserati MD's some time back, alongside Myles at Emblem, and I believe Voicey knows him well too? So, Ed clearly has the knowledge, and seeing his care for all the other cars I thought it safe to take a punt with an indy much closer to home. I'd put 20% of my 2016 miles on just getting to and from Poole to visit Emblem, and that hurt a bit - I'd rather use those miles on more fun roads!
(Right now it's worth saying that I highly recommend Emblem as well. They're just a bit far from me, but a direct train from Oxford had made them my only viable decent indy... until now).
Well, CL were due to move to new premises in Bedford, and I called to organise my service on their first day in the new office. Now they have much more space they're finally wanting to take on more Maserati as they have capacity. So, it came to time to take Myfanwy to them. The new pad is still a bit of work in progress, but it's already lovely. Very spacious and full of some incredible metal! Ed is clearly passionate and had plenty of time to show me around. We spent time goind around my car to look into absolutely everything that could want attention. Then they gave me the keys to their Mini Cooper courtesy car and off I went. It was going to be a while before I could collect my car due to business travel, but CL were totally cool about it.
They're also ideally placed for restorations and MOTs with fabricators and finishers next door, and an MOT station who understand the needs of supercars.
Whilst doing the service, I started receiving regular emails with updates and pictures. Because the wheels came off to flush the brake lines, Ed's OCD was offended by my slightly blemished wheelnuts and centres of my discs, so he repainted them of his own volition. A broken switch housing for my driver's seat also warranted OCD fixing it there and then. A single (and so very noticeable to any of us with OCD) scratch on a front wheel-arch got polished out by their detailer (who also gave the whole car, including engine bay a once, or thrice, over).
Finally it came to collection yesterday. Traffic escaping Oxford to Bedford was a nightmare, and Ed had no issues waiting an hour late for me to arrive. He then had just as much time for me to show me some things as before (such as sitting me in a Maclaren Mercedes SLR755S!, and showing me the insides of some of their Aston restorations). It turns out they've all fallen in love with my car. The service and MOT were completed and all those extra services I mentioned were included as part of the standard cost, because OCD and love of cars requires it. He talked me through everything so I know exactly how my car is. He'd even put in some extra fuel for me to ensure I'd get home without stopping. I ended up leaving at least 1 1/2 hours after closing time. Nothing was too much.
Cost-wise, they're also extremely reasonable.
And then I had 1 1/2 hours of driving with the roof off under the stars, enjoying the symphony.
So yes, I'd recommend these guys to any of you nearby - and further afield. Now they have the new premises they're ready to take on more Maserati and they certainly won't disappoint. It's great that we have another reliable indy.
