Welcome to the spring edition of Auto-Torque
Spring always brings garages good opportunities for work. Many cars are tired after battling through the winter, and plenty will require servicing or some vital repairs.
And with the warmer, longer days, motorists will be thinking about using their cars for more social purposes, which should mean less worrying times for independent workshops up and down the land as drivers treat their car to some TLC.In this issue we look at how you can profit from the winter. From wiper blades to coolant and from batteries to lighting, the winter puts more strain on a car: we show you how you can keep your customers' cars reliable and safe.
In this issue we get underneath a car (steering and suspension and braking), delve under the bonnet (looking at diesel engines and air mass meters), examine the outside (wipers) and also tackle the thorny problem of customer service.
We know independent garages are great when it comes to looking after cars, but are they as good at looking after customers? Where main dealers so often score is the whole customer 'experience', which means looking after the motorist properly each and every time they pop in.
To help you improve your customer service we take an in-depth look at what you should (and shouldn't) be doing – and it's worth remembering that good customer service will see those customers coming back, and recommending you to their friends.
Meanwhile, with the London Olympics being almost upon us, there's a fresh face on our 'Finishing Line' page. At Auto-Torque we'll be fully supporting all the British athletes in what should be an exciting sporting season.
Rich Barnett and the Auto-Torque team
