Paul Matty and Option 1

[jimj]

If you read a previous post back in October free-parking-f19/another-trip-t26313.html about a trip to Spain you may recall that the clutch started feeling "funny" about 1000 miles from home and failed, as in wouldn`t disengage, just a few miles from the ferry. Weird, what was it? I`ll tell you.

As I`d also had a minor bump, front dead centre, and the car had never, ever had any damage before, I was eager that Option 1, highly recommended here and elsewhere, do the work. I had the car recovered to Paul Matty so they could do the clutch, service and check the car over and arrange the bodywork repair. Never used `em before but, again, highly recommended here. This was October 5th.

I spoke to Roy, nice chap, I feel I know him well now, and emailed confirmation and was assured they`d keep me well informed. The car should be done in 2 or 3 weeks, that`s good I thought. After a month or so I rang again to see what was happening. Yes the engine and gearbox were out, the bodywork was done. "So another week then Roy?" "make it 2 weeks, I`ll ring you" said Roy. Another 3 weeks and I rang again; "another 2 weeks should see it done" and I reminded Roy that I wanted the car thoroughly checked over, and "what was the clutch problem?" He`d never seen it before and though the clutch plate was hardly worn, one of the springs had broken and fallen out, eventually jamming the release.

After a week a young lady rang to say it needed a suspension bush and a new trunnion and did I know that the headlights, the horn, the indicators, and the temperature gauge didn`t work and did I want them repairing?

I was really disappointed at this point and asked to speak to Roy explaining that as Option 1 had disconnected the electrical items and they`d damaged the rebuilt-a-year-ago temperature gauge I wasn`t expecting to pay extra, we`ll see.

This is getting boring but after more phone calls the car was then promised before Christmas just needing a test drive. Then it was promised yesterday but it still needed a test drive but Roy said he`d ring me yesterday afternoon, you`ve guessed it, I`m still waiting. I reckon they`re too busy fiddling with somebody`s Escort.
Jim

[elansprint71]

I wonder if they are becoming a victim of their own success? When I took my car to them in '09 it was just as folks had started to hear about them and even then they did seem to have rather a lot of cars on site- so many that they had to push some outside each day to work on others. There can only be so many expert firbre-glass repairers and painters near their semi-rural location; I wonder if they are taking on too much work?

The finished job on mine was excellent (and still is) so I hope it works out James.

[Elanintheforest]

My Escort, Jim....sorry!

Mark

[ianf]

Hi Mark,

I hope your Escort is finished soon, my elan is due there at month end!!

Ian

[mgourwcg]

If Option 1 are busy try this one Ross Packard in New Milton, always got some stunning cars on the go.
His team did a superb job on my Sprint

Michael

PS let me know how you get on

[jimj]

Mark, I know it`s your Escort, I read your posts.
Peter, don`t call me James, Shirley.

Well, I`ve met Roy, nice chap, at last and collected the car today and am pleased, very pleased. Getting it back home, I have a tear in my eye still. Not through emotion, just the eye watering price. On the other hand, looking through the list of extra bits and pieces I asked for I`m quite satisfied, especially as it`s less than the missus thought it would be.
Result.
Jim

[Mazzini]

A fine looking car...cars.

[elanplustwo]

Hi Guys.
Like all forums - we are all entitled to voice our opinions.
So here goes.....
There are fewer and fewer people in this business who do a decent job
And you get what you pay for.
I have used option 1 myself and Paul Mattys and in fact Gst performance
All share one thing in common - Excellence
I will not bore you here about the work that i have had done
with them except to say that i have been using them for many years.
I can tell you however that the work has been more substantial than that Jim
WAS unhappy about.
So knowing the work that comes out of that workshop , I have been waiting
for all those customers to support Mattys - it seems apathy rules !
Well you can never hurry a Murray - and i am not talking Tennis !

The reason why I use all of the above - is that they are professional and
PROBABLY NEVER FULLY CHARGE for their time in sorting out cars - not just mine but probably yours as well- deep down you probably know it !

And they are also ALL Lotus enthusiasts - so knowing Mattys as well as I do
I should imagine They are disappointed in the initial reponse of Jim above. - if i was a potential new customer I would be put off ! But hey that means they will have more time to focus on the cars of customers who understand that a job takes time to do right!
I don't want a hurried job on my car - I can have that at my local garage - no thanks

[Robbie693]

I too have used PM for years and have always found them to be very helpful, obliging and professional. They have often offered advice on how to fix stuff myself rather than bringing it in. It's true sometimes I have to ring them because they didn't call me but I have found that with every garage I've used!

Only once was I slightly disappointed with standards when I found there had been an excessive amount of sealant applied to the cam-cover and I had to remove silicone from the cam caps and clean up but that is being very picky.

Twice I have broken down on their forecourt and they have got me on my way without charging me a penny!

I am lucky to have them nearby, Lotus ownership would have been much harder without them.

Anyway, looks like Jim is happy with them too now he's got the car back.

Robbie

[rcraven]

I bought my first Elan from Paul Matty in 1983 and since then I've gone back from time to time to buy another and to have a variety of work done that neither I nor my local garage wanted to do or could do. Their service has always been excellent and friendly and I've never wanted to go anywhere else for specialist work, and they're always my first choice for spare parts.

[ken ob]

I bought my S2 from Paul Matty nearly 3 years ago.
As the car was delivered (by covered transport) in November and the car was going straight into an airchamber Paul agreed that the warranty would start when I rang to tell him the car was in use the following spring. How brilliant is that!

The car came with a 3 months handshake type warranty.

When i took the car out of the airchamber the following spring there was a small amount of water/antifreeze on the floor. After speaking to Paul he suspected the rear core plug was weeping, meaning engine out. The car was collected the work done and the car returned within 2 weeks. (At my request and cost they fitted a new clutch and did a couple of other jobs that seemed sensible while the engine was out.) They even painted the block. All done at what I consider minimal cost. I cannot praise Paul Matty enough and I would not deal with anywhere else.

Ken.

[jimj]

As the great thingybob Burdon once said; " please don`t let me be misunderstood". I am, and, more particularly, the missus is, delighted with the work Paul Matty has done. I thought that, but for communication and inaccurate timescale minor issues, I`d made that clear.
I have another issue mentioned in elan-f14/oil-leak-excessive-t27116.html and have been in touch with Roy. Here`s the very note, this is what I wrote. I`m awaiting a relpy.

Elan LPM 7E
Hello Roy,
Firstly, can I say I`m delighted with the work you`ve done. I can see various
small examples of excellent workmanship.
I drove the car the 100 miles home with a slight
"zizzing" which disappeared at about 90 miles, maybe the new speedo drive, and
it has been parked up since, almost 3 weeks. I now notice a considerable patch
of what I think is engine oil, see the attached pic. It`s dropped no more than
the odd spot before. The engine and sump all appear clean. Do you think it`s
serious?

Jim Jackson.

But not withstanding that please be assured, and in no doubt, I would recommend Paul Matty wholehearedly.
Jim

[ken ob]

Jim, I for one did read all your posts so I do realise you are happy with Paul Mattys.

I was just using the opportunity to sing the praises of someone who in my opinion deserves it.

ps. I have no connection to Paul Matty except as a customer.

Ken.

[jimj]

Eric, that`s it.
A postscript:
This very afternoon Paul Matty has been on the phone. He should change his name to Paul the most helpful man in the world.
He was most concerned that I should have returned the car to investigate the oil leak rather than ask advice here. I was at pains to point out that I was hoping to resolve the matter, if possible, without troubling them. Given the weather and distance I`m going to clean off all the oil, drive the car 50+miles then try and locate the source and report back though Paul was keen that I shouldn`t be inconveniened.

What excellent service.
Jim

[65ginetta]

I have been dealing with Paul Matty for well over 20 years and 18 years ago emigrated to the USA. I sold several of my UK sportscars when we left and Paul was instrumental in finding buyers. Since arriving here my passion for UK sportscars has returned and for the last 12 years I have always had at least one restoration ongoing. My Lotus spares requirements are always supported with advice and "inside tips" on how to make the task easier and I'm on my fifth, a S3 Elan Coupe which was little more than a body and some cardboard boxes when I collected it from Cincinnati. The packaging and freight price from UK can be a problem but again they always take trouble to find the lowest cost and the lady who packs the stuff must really take a lot of trouble with packing everything individually with no chance of breakage.
My restorations usually require a fair amount of parts and if you can take the time to plan and schedule everything on one order it works our cheaper than buying things "piecemeal" over here, and in my experience Matty has the most comprehensive parts list of any of the known sources.
In addition to Lotus I'm also a 60's Ginetta enthusiast and again Matty has supplied me numerous parts for my G4's and also introduced me to sources for specific items in the UK.
I have no business connection to the Matty's but believe they epitomize a true UK classic sportscar enthusiast who has created a very successful business out of doing everything in their power to provide service and support to vehicles they love as much as we do.
65 Ginetta.