Review : I wouldn’t sidestep your own managers there at JCT Brooklands, SZ. It comes as no surprise people feel bitter toward this place because of the practises adopted, and felt comfortable they wouldn’t get exposed. Perhaps its time to call this general manager David Clapham for what he is – a liar to save his hide.
Left by : Dennison, J.
When : 24th Jul 2010 8:33
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Review : JCT Upper Management may very well be useless individuals, however their floor and service/tech staff are simply the best. Steve Dargan (Sales), Byron (Tech) are two people who would bend over backwards to help you, even if there was nothing in it for themselves. Despite the Astons, Masers and Ferraris, they are actually extremely competitive with pricing and will price match almost anything.
Left by : SZ
When : 12th May 2010 18:26
Rating :

Review : There does seem to be a cloud hanging over the Managers at JCT Brooklands, they don’t exactly give off a trusting quality. I don’t think they have ever recovered their reputation since the general manager David Clapham was in cahoots with an ex manager Fernando Olivera. It’s well known the incidents this creep caused.
Left by : APN
When : 28th Feb 2010 10:24
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Review : Suspicious recent praise comments, and in quick succession too almost orchestrated. Their management stirred some unsavory attention on themselves from the stunts pulled as anyone who has had thier wallets burnt will state. Untrustworthy people in charge, ask any local Ferrari/Lotus owner.
Left by : G Woodhouse
When : 23rd Sep 2009 8:07
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Review : I have nothing but praise for the lotus technicians at jct 600.Especially "Byron". Who was very helpful and knowledgeable. His honest advise has saved me money!. I would read the comments wrote by others with a huge pinch of salt. It is very easy to defamate a business over very trivial and easily resolved matters. Keep up the good work jct.
Left by :
When : 19th Sep 2009 23:14
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Review : please see my comments under jct sales
Left by : rodders
When : 10th Sep 2009 12:35
Rating :

Review : Was looking for a lotus elise for a weekend car for my wife and I, went to F1 newcastle and test drove a S2 elise. the sales staff there was honest and helpful in introducing the vehicle and functions as well as giving pointers during the test drive. However, they do not have the colour we would want (white or yellow) so we did a search on the internet and noticed that JCT600 seem to look the business and seems very professional in their websites and photos. We decided to travel down (from newcastle upon tyne) to them to have a look at their fleet. We went into the show room to have a look around and we have got a general feeling that we are not being attended to as we seem like "not the sort to be able to own one of these" kind of people. Nevertheless, after chatting to Steve, who seemed helpful enough to talk us through, we were presented with a 111R which they have just had in for sale. Odviously, the vehicle was not valet and had grime, muck, coffee stains all over the floor pans and foot wells. After being assured that all that will be cleaned up, and the vehicle will be in a showroom standard and that they will be doing a 72 point check on the vehicle, we left and put a deposit down on it. 2 weeks down the road, we went back down to leeds to collect the vehicle. trusting they had done all the jobs that they have said, my wife and I collected the vehicle. I specifically asked for a locking wheel nut key but was said there wasnt any, and on the way back to newcastle, I noticed that the air con isnt functioning, only hot air out from the vents, and there seemed to be a squeak from the auxiliary belt (which i later was told that it is a slipping belt or loose tensioner) After reaching home, I decided to give it a good clean and to my shock and disgust, the grime and much and coffee stains in the foot well under the carpets were not even cleaned off... upon closer inspection, we found that there are deep swirls and other paint work blemishes. also the vehicle had a missing tool kit which contain the tools required for the vehicle to remove it wheels as well as the locking wheel nut key and thetow eyelet. I have written numerous emails and call JCT numerous times and all they offered was for me to drive down to leeds AGAIN to get the vehicle refunded... I have cleaned up the vehicle and do not relish the prospect of driving down again (and i suspect they will not be paying for my expenses). They are difficult to contact and will not be contactable after sale of their vehicle. They will blame all problems on "its a used car" makes me wonder if they even did their 72 point check they said they would do. advise to future customers, this company has a bad track record. check your vehicle throughly or they will leave you high and dry and shortchanged. Avoid at all costs.
Left by : Elvin C
When : 10th Sep 2009 11:59
Rating :

Review : Is this their flagship dealer? This flag is better mounted on the bow of Titanic. Their discredited management comes as no surprise.
Left by : M Taylor
When : 23rd Apr 2009 7:53
Rating :

Review : Having purchased my Elise from Mototrend in Cyprus, whilst posted overseas, where I received excellent service (it's a hobby of passion for the owner and is a tiny showroom with one salesman) including the owner giving me his Elise as a courtesy car when mine was in for service - JCT had a lot to live up to when I went in to look at dust covers (lived by the beach, sand everywhere). Admittedly a few years ago, when I looked even younger than I do now (easy paper round!) and not very smartly dressed but with my wife, who was, but the sales team were incredibly ignorant and sneered at me from behind their desks as if I was somehow offending them while I looked at some of the cars. When I finally approached them, after some 20 minutes of waiting for one of them to come to me, the response fitted in with the looks, as if to say "What do you want? You can't possibly own a car like this". When I proceeded to show my knowledge and requirements, indicating to them that actually yes I can and do, they became unbelieveably obsequious. Result, one lost order/customer - I refuse to be treated like that just because of somebody's initial impressions and pre-conceived ideas about what stereotypes a Lotus owner should conform to. The order went online. WSince then i have had dealings with both Stratton and Ribble Valley, both of whom have been a complete world away from the experience at JCT.
Left by : Dave T
When : 7th Apr 2009 14:42
Rating :

Review : I'll be voting with my feet and staying clear. I got billed for oil as part of my car's service and later discovered their own parts department had a different lower price, my service price was inflated. It seems their reputation well deserved. If I've read the situation right the problem starts higher up than their mechanics, I heard about the management change a while back and this Clapham was a part of it, no credibility exists when scams like this are being overseen. How can complaints be taken seriously when its their management who run the dishonest show. I will be hitting them where they have been hitting me – in the pocket.
Left by : Jonothan P.
When : 4th Apr 2008 19:43
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Review : I am pleased to say that all my matters have been resolved over recent months, the new team and especially the service manager (Mark) are a breath of fresh air, I would like to thank Mark for all his hard work and look forward to buying my next car from them! What a turn-around from just a few months ago. We are all quick to complain when something goes wrong but these guys really deserve some praise on how they turned it around for me. All the best JCT
Left by : Richard Cross
When : 12th Feb 2008 23:21
Rating :

Review : I read the last posts with interest. The new manager there is a Fernando Oliveira and there are bad reports about this person and the stunts he’s pulled, I understand he’s out on his ear now. My experience with him is billing me for unnecessary extras amounting to nearly £100, considering I’m paying through the nose already I don’t want exploiting in a money making tactic. It didn’t stop there. I compared my invoice with my mate’s car that had been in for different work and near exact same extras were on his bill. He is slow to realise one Lotus enthusiast talks to another. When I complained he was full of excuses and blamed his staff for it. I can read this charlatan like a book. There must be others out there been duped by these scams.
Left by : T. Newsom
When : 19th Nov 2007 9:19
Rating :

Review : The car I purchased from JCT600 was the Maserati coupe 4200. Car went to them with a missfire, was returned with about 800 miles extra on the clock and a smashed front end. They didn't admit liability until six months had past and after I had informed trading standards. No apology was ever given and the repair they carried out was deemed to be very shoddy by an independant engineer They bought the car back from myself for six grand less than what it was worth. Salesteam are very good, but their servicing staff,at the time I had my vehicle, are utterly unreliable and should'nt be trusted. I'm presently looking at another vehicle that they have for sale. If I buy it they will not be servicing it. I must be mad to give them my business.
Left by : D G
When : 26th Sep 2007 16:21
Rating :

Review : I bought my used Elise from JCT600. Lotus Ribble Valley (to repair inop Air Con) and an independent paintshop (to respray bubbling and flaking paintwork carried out during prep) were needed to bring my car to the standard I would have expected, when 7 telephone calls and 2 visits to JCT yielded nothing. I live less than 15 miles away, but would never, ever go back...
Left by : MJP
When : 11th Jul 2007 19:33
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Review : I’ve used JCT600 Brooklands, Leeds for about 5 years and the service has always been good to very good. I occasionally like to have a chat with the chap who’s been working on my car and have developed a friendly acquaintance with other staff; a good customer relations experience. But apparently the management has undergone a change and my last visit has left me appalled. I received a report on my car that two tyres were below legal limit. I had good reason to question this (long story) so I had the tyres checked independently who confirmed what I thought; good for a few thousand miles. Not content with this and to make absolutely sure I had them checked again somewhere else and again the tyres passed. Because of the previous years good service I was willing to put this down to a genuine mistake by the mechanic until I talked to someone who is connected to the new management there; the new manager had been seen intervening pushing a tyre gauge further against the rubber tread on someone’s car resulting in a lower tyre gauge reading – a chance of a sale. Interesting fellow and even more interesting practices. This wasn’t the only incident reported of equally unsettling antics by this individual. Like everyone else I have to put my trust in the garage I use and behaviour like this has just destroyed that trust. In the end he didn’t get the sale of the tyres and JCT600 has just now lost a good repeat customer; appalling and bewildering business conduct. As a paying customer I will only be ripped-off once!! I don’t think I would be doing everyone justice to allow this individual to deal with this complaint “quietly” as I’m sure he’d prefer. I am forwarding my evidence to BBC Watchdog.
Left by : Mr S Evans
When : 27th Jun 2007 10:46
Rating :

Review : Pretty good on the sales side of things until it came to collecting my new car. Shoddy paperwork on their part meant they couldn't had the car over to me on the agreed handover day. Then came 1000mile service. They said it would take 2 hours so I elected to wait. I was given no apologies and it took 4 hours. My advice - buy a lotus, they're brilliant, but stay clear of JCT
Left by : Ross
When : 1st Jun 2007 10:52
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Review : just brought 2 year old 111r great fun.Sales went smoothly,no hassle,good bit of discount imo,recommended my brother in law to buy one ,so hopefully well have some fun in the summer.
Left by : mr schofield
When : 21st Feb 2007 13:08
Rating :

Review : Had the dreaded C service done yesterday,Ive been fearing and putting it off for ages ,escpecialy after reading all the horror stories about main dealer services and their prices etc. etc. on the lotus forums,but all i can say is what a wonderfull experiance it was, no hassle,car came back very clean and on time but mainly it was alot cheaper than i thought it would be.Ive been in formed that they have had some major service staff changes hence surprise in my experiance. My faith has returned, well done Jct 600...
Left by : roger elsworth
When : 5th Sep 2006 17:48
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Review : Collected my new 111r last week.what a great experiance from start to end ,heard some bad rumours about jct ,all i can say is that ive been really looked after by Andy Bryan top bloke highly recommended ...Oh and the car is brill............
Left by : simon bashford
When : 1st Aug 2006 14:55
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Review : brilliant got my brand new exige last week,very well organised ,and sales handling was second to non...
Left by : robbie
When : 15th Mar 2006 11:23
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Review : Check car for chips and scratches. Mine got chipped when in for repair. Fortunately I spotted it but they did try to say it was already there. Fixed it F.O.C and it was a good match but I won't rush back. Why are there so very few recommendations for dealerships in this forum don't Lotus care?
Left by : Paul Again
When : 1st Feb 2006 16:49
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Review : Oh dear! Check out latest servicing prices! £104 per hour! Forgot to ask them if they had put their prices up 70 odd percent since previous service. In fairness they discounted substantially when pressed. Car always returned clean.
Left by : Paul
When : 1st Feb 2006 16:31
Rating :

Review : get a life
Left by : mike
When : 13th Jun 2005 9:05
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Review : Just called for a quote for an S2 B service. What a rip off! ?240 more than Lakeside and ?160 more than F1. What for?
Left by : Marc
When : 20th May 2005 10:47
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Review : Took my car there for an A service; they *kindly* collected it from my house, and delivered it back to the front door. I live about 13 miles away from the dealership so ~25 miles round trip. Car came back with 150 additional miles on the clock!!! Don't like them joyriding it. Sales fine, service, no, no!
Left by : Paul
When : 10th Mar 2005 13:40
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Review : Replaced the gear shift cables on my '91 Lotus Elan. It took them two weeks, which they blamed on Lotus (they can only source parts direct from Lotus). Not the best at returning calls. I can't comment on their mechanical proficiency, but at ?60/hour it better be good. As far as service goes, I think most of their time and energy must be devoted to the customers buying their new Lotuses, Ferraris and Maseratis.
Left by : Josh
When : 4th Dec 2004 16:01
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Review : Can't be trusted. They tend to do work without informing you first. I collected a car after MOT and was presented with a bill for work that was unecessary and not done correctly. I would advise that a trusted garage you know and have recommendations should be used rather than JCT600. Don't be fooled by the flash look of the place. You are paying for it.
Left by : Simon Taylor
When : 18th May 2004 15:04
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Review : just bought a type 49 elise, the staff seemed very helpfull if a little slow to return calls, car well prepared.
Left by : lyndon johnson
When : 14th Nov 2003 15:44
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Review : I wouldn't advise taking your car there for servicing. I have had items stolen from the car whilst in their possession, cracks and scratches that was not on the car before which they deny, brakes not bled properly, wheels not balanced unless you ask them to and a very poor body shop with poor quality
Left by : Chris Timson
When : 20th Jan 2003 17:00
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Review : Sales staff very pushy to sell, even if the cars they have aren't what you really want. Seem to think they know what you want more than them.

No experience on the service front, but bodyshop very slow and inefficient. Took seven weeks for clam replacement just before Christmas, only four days of which was waiting for parts delivery. Seem not to have sufficient staff to cope with the work they take on.

Left by : Daz
When : 5th Jan 2003 20:16
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