[Recommended] Chevronic Centre, Hitchin

[the-termin8r]

I finally found one, a mechanic that knows how to work on big Citroens. I've used these guys a couple of times now so am comfortable recommending them.

The Chevronic Centre in Hitchin (Site) are independent Citroen / Peugeot specialists that have apparently been around for a few decades. The location has a professional-looking showroom at the front (they also sell cars and parts) with a workshop in the back. There's all kinds of Citroens around the site, BXs, Xantias, C5s, 2CVs and others.

The staff there are super friendly and knowledgeable. Most of my interaction has been with James the sales manager. First time I came in I was looking to get my alternator belt, rear pads and rear discs done on my X7. He phoned his supplier up on the spot to give me a quote and then phoned up another to see if he could get me a lower price (he did). He understood all technical info I gave him and gave me technical answers to my questions without being condescending.

He was up front about pricing and even pointed to things that can be done but don't need to be currently (instead of just lying and telling me to get them done). The pricing has been very reasonable as well, for the belt and rear brakes I paid something like £360 (off the top of my head) whereas the main dealer wanted £340 for the brakes alone and £110 for the belt. My second visit was a minor service, oil leak investigation, stuttering investigation, and a suspension knock (which they picked up and I didn't) investigation.

The technicians have done a great job both times. They found one definite source of the oil leak (diff seals) and one very likely one (somewhere around the turbo). They found the general source of the stuttering (fuel pressure anomaly) and were up-front about what they'd need to do and how much it would be to pin-point it. They also found the potential source of the knocking (a couple of front bushings starting to wear and a rear drop link) and replaced what parts they had on hand. Their turnaround time the first time was 5h and their second was a day (they gave me a courtesy car the second time). Got my car back in exactly the condition I gave it to them. No chunks missing out of my gear stick, no new dirt in the interior, no smells of oil, nothing. They also found various currently-minor things that can develop into big problems if not looked at. Very quick and thorough work.

I've currently booked it for a third session. This time to get the diff seals done (and continue the investigation around the turbo), the last of the bushings, a rear LDS pipe that has aged but not failed yet, a gearbox fluid change (first ever for the car) and a brake fluid change as they noticed that it looked dirty. Funnily enough, I had the brake fluid changed two years ago at a main dealer. My guess is they somehow contaminated it. Their estimated turnaround for this session was about 3 days.

I've been dead chuffed with the service I've gotten from the Chevronic Centre given the amount of nightmares I've been through with main dealers and first-party-authorised places.

I don't know who does it, but could we please add this to the map of recommended garages?

[myglaren]

Added.

Surprised it wasn't there already as they have had plenty of mentions.