Information: Any Volvo specialists in the South East / Kent?

[Pupbelly]

As the title says, it seems SW Autos of (near) Ashford seem to have bitten the dust, not sure where they have gone (anyone know?). Can anybody recommend a decent and reliable independent Volvo specialist in the Kent area?

(This could be in the wrong part of the forum, apologies if the mods want to shift it?)

[stevepcar]

Have you tried Caffyns in Eastbourne. I have found them very helpful with parts & advice for my 1996 850 T5 Auto & my 1995 850 manual 10v NA. They also give a discount for Volvo Owner's Club members.

[Familyman 90]

Not been down there since the various lockdowns, but Lipscombs the Fiat dealer in Ashford used to be a Volvo dealer, still work on Volvos and have a good rep. They do all the work on my Dad's C70 summer car. They were due to move to Canterbury, but I don't know if this has happened yet.

[Derek UK]

Lipscombs are still Volvo dealers. If you are a VOC member you can get useful discounts on parts but labour costs may still be rather eye watering.
Ask local taxi drivers who run somewhat older cars, where they go for work on their cars. They usually like quick, cheap and reliably good.

[Derek UK]

Pups, where in Kent are you. and what sort of work do you want doing?

[Pupbelly]

Derek, I’m in Maidstone and essentially it’s forward planning for if/when I source a good T5-R or 850R maybe S/V70R. I prefer to have a specialist look after my cars rather than main ‘stealers’.
Do we have a local favourite?

[Piers41]

I am in the same boat as I have moved back to Kent. I have a V70R(53) which needs subframe bushes etc replaced. I have a new anti role bar and all the bushes but can't find a garage to do the job!!.....car is being serviced onThursday at Dane Valley, however, I think their Volvo expert has retired and the bushes are to big a job for them right now(apparently). I will let you know how I get on. P

[Familyman 90]

To be fair, Lipscomb have a decent rep and aren't unreasonably priced for a main dealer. Factor in that all their genuine parts have a lifetime warranty and in this particular instance there is less of an argument for using a specialist.

For example, my Dad had a new PAS pump on his C70, and over 3 years later that one got noisy. It was replaced for free (he had only to pay for the new fluid) with no quibbling. No independent specialist is going to do that.

This is particularly pertinent as I know Kent very well, having previously lived their for 40 years, and there are no garages there you could reasonably describe as a Volvo "specialist". So, you have little choice if you want it looked after properly unless you head into the fringes of London or down into Sussex.

[Clogs]

Sadly Volvo is not making genuine parts for a lot of older cars. A bracket holding up a rear wheel suspension arm was rusty and an MoT failure. Lipscombs wouldn't source a non-genuine part, so I got it on the internet. To their credit, they fitted it, but if it fails, they won't replace.

I have the car serviced with all its rattles and MoT advisories at Lipscombs for the recovery Volvo Assist which is Europe wide. Taking the car to Spain, Italy, Austria with roadside recovery that costs hundreds of pounds or is unobtainable is unwise. So a hundred pounds extra because of higher dealer labour charges is worth it. The car serviced by Lipscombs has never broken down or needed recovery, and therein lies the heart of the matter. Volvo doesn't expect its dealer maintained cars to break down, and so far as I am concerned their confidence in Lipscombs has been well placed.

Soon nearly all the parts will no longer be made - and many "genuine" Volvo parts are made in Eastern Europe and no longer in Sweden.

[Cyltapen]

Sovereign Motor Engineers, 3A Sovereign Way, Tonbridge, TN9 1RS, 01732 351439.

Just completed an engine/subframe/front suspension, rebuild on my 1998 V70R AWD. I did supply major parts...

Vavoom !