Hello all,

I used to have all of my major service done at the now defunct Bergen Jaguar and was pointed in the direction of the new Prestige Jaguar on Rt-17. I called to inqure about an alignment on my car and was told $235 plus tax which to me seems extremely overpriced. I remember having it done at Bergen Jaguar for far less then that and while I was up in Rhode Island for part of the year I had called two different dealerships in the area to see what their prices were for alignments and was quoted $169 and $189. Do I have any alternatives to going to this extremely overpriced service department?

Thanks,

Mathew

 

Any good alignment shop can do it ant they charge far less to do it. The guy that does the alignments for my shop is about $90.00.

 

You should try Madison Jaguar... same owner as the sold Bergen Jaguar and they have the same prices as Bergen did. A lot of the same guys from Bergen are now down there at Madison including Luke. I hear that Prestige only hired a few techs from Bergen so they don't really have guys experienced at Jaguar.

 

I'm afraid to do damage to my 2004 XJ8 by allowing a vendor who typically does not perform 4 wheel alignment on Jaguars to do mine. The service guy who answered the phone at the local Firestone Tires at Monroe Brake Service (Indiana) was honest and said he'd never aligned an Jaguar but he "had the XJ in the computer so that means we can do it..." scary. Should I go for it?

 

Can I ask why you want an alignment?

Have front end parts been replaced?
Are the tires wearing incorrectly?

Stay away from the chains such as Firestone etc.
Usually inexperienced technicians work there and they all work on commision.

Find a reputable local alignment shop. Ask people you know.
There is nothing magic about aligning a Jaguar. A good shop has all the specs and knowhow.

 

Dear Frank M: I need an alignment because I see my front tires preferentially wearing on the inside treads. I've also read in some of these JagForum posts that Jaguar sets the suspension with a slight 'toe out' which will cause slight wear to the inside tread. Is that true? And no, I have not had front end parts replaced. Also, I live in the Midwest (near Fort Wayne, Indiana) and I have not found a good shop. I usually have to travel to Schereville, IN, to the dealer where I bought the car, which is over 2 hours away. And thanks for our input.
Newbiegurl

 

Ive got news for you, we're all on commission. But building relationships and long term return work is not about crappy rip you head off work regardless of independant or dealer.
Also yeah anyone can do an alignment, but "knowing" how to do it properly for the characteristic of the model are 2 differant things as ive posted so many times around here. Just because its aligned in the green does not meen it will not wear tires evenly or track correctly. I think its sooo simple but yet am amazed at how inept techs are at alignments

 

You have good reason to get an alignment. Sometimes car owners are told to get an alignment as a regular maintenance item. In that case I would recommend leaving it alone.

Not all tech's are on commision or flat rate. but usually dealer ships are and franchise places.
Indy shops often are not. The reasoning often is they do not want to feel rushed or have to compromise their work ethic.

 

Well maybe its a regional thing then Frank. Because I know even most friends and people I know that work at indies are commissioned too. The only ones useally not are helpers and trainees.

 

It must be. I am only familiar with the northern New England states.

 

Yeah frank i know many northern markets have unions too and thats a whole other issue
we were just talking about this monday and "pooling" hours for the shop aka socialism. Our parts dept does it but that is not a big productivity based dept like the shop. 1/3 the shop would get a pay raise, another 1/3 stay the same, and the top 1/3 a pay cut. Then productivty would go down for that group of which im part. I work through lunch. Stay late and if i have good work will come in on sat. Do you think im gonna do that if hours are pooled and my extra efforts help others who arent there, at lunch or sit around and bs all day????
I know this is off topic but oh well everything is alittle off occassionally.
having a german father that grew up in communism and a friend who grew up in russia. Ive heard it all how basically a socialist ideals ruin a country. Its all nice and fuzzy in thought, but in reality no one reaches for more if it just goes to someone else. Enough of this though because im getting ready to go into a politcal discussion and ive got work behind me that benefits me
cheers

 

Whoa boys ! Brutal and Frank M: What did I start here?? All I wanted to know was whether it was safe to go to a standard franchise vendor (like Firestone or whoever claims to 'have the computer program') to perform a 4 wheel alignment on my 2004 XJ8 Jaguar. Living in the Midwest (and i just now figured out I'm in the wrong region - NE US) there are very few shops who can perform work on my car in little ol' Warsaw, Indiana.

 

Hey Mattrains,
I like my 4 wheel alignment checked each time I rotate my wheels. I have a summer set and a winter set. I'd be fine with the ~$200 charge. A proper job takes specialized tools and time. I still go to a ford dealer for this work because the local Jag shop does not have the equipment, and the ford shop used to be the jag dealer... Go figure.