Promotive, Newport

I chose Promotive because its website described the business as an “MOT testing station”, advertised “dealer-level Lotus servicing” and encouraged Elise owners to trust it with the “expert care that it deserves”. I left my 2014 Lotus Elise with Promotive believing the MOT would be carried out at its Rogerstone premises. I was not told beforehand that the car would instead be driven on public roads to Cyril Rogers & Sons, that the vehicle and keys would pass into another business’s custody, or that it could remain there overnight. I discovered the transfer only because I checked the vehicle tracker. Promotive later confirmed the arrangement in writing. Promotive also supplied and fitted two replacement rear tyres. The invoice described them only as “225 45 17 Yokohama Advan tyre”. After I requested the exact specification, Promotive confirmed it had fitted Yokohama Advan Sport V105S 225/45 ZR17 94Y XL tyres. The Lotus handbook specifies Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 225/45 R17 91W tyres and states that the Elise’s model-specific tyre construction is identified by an LTS marking, with replacements to be similarly marked. I repeatedly asked Promotive to provide the Lotus or Yokohama technical basis for selecting the different reinforced XL tyre. No such justification was provided. Immediately after collection, the car felt alarmingly unstable at motorway speed and required repeated steering corrections. Promotive later confirmed that the new rear tyres had initially been inflated to 35 psi, although the Lotus handbook specifies 29 psi cold. Promotive acknowledged that this difference could affect the handling of a lightweight Elise. I then found both front tyres at approximately 18 psi, against the handbook figure of 26 psi. After reinflation, both dropped back to around 18 psi overnight. I am not alleging that Promotive caused the front pressure loss before an independent inspection has established the cause. However, the vehicle had just been returned following an MOT with no warning about the recurring pressure problem. I submitted a detailed formal complaint supported by Promotive’s own emails, website screenshots, tracker evidence, handbook extracts and photographs. Promotive declined to answer the individual factual and technical concerns. Its proposed resolution was to refund only the two rear tyres if I paid to have them removed, sourced and fitted replacements at my own expense, returned the tyres within seven days with at least 7 mm of tread, and accepted the limited refund as full and final settlement of every claim arising from the work. When I rejected those conditions and proposed a practical alternative, Promotive replied that it had “nothing further to add”. Promotive later publicly acknowledged a lack of clear advance disclosure regarding the MOT location and vehicle transfer, and said it was conducting an internal technical and communications review. That was notably different from the dismissive response I had received privately. What troubles me most is the gap between the “expert care” advertised and what followed: undisclosed third-party custody, tyre and pressure decisions that were not properly justified, alarming handling immediately after collection, and a refusal to engage meaningfully with the safety concerns afterwards. I would not entrust a specialist vehicle to Promotive again. The matter has been referred to The Motor Ombudsman, and the website representations have been reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.

This is a very reliable and trustworthy facility who more than provide and offer both an excellent, dedicated and reliable service and commitment. The services provided have been excellent and beyond expectations and can with complete confidence offer a full personal recommendation!

The car went in for air conditioning fault and a service 5 weeks later i had the car back with a bill for £1850 for the air conditioning (warranty payed some ) and a £ 700 service bill but the best thing was half way through the job the owner john told me if i dont like it to take the car away (as in the time its taken to do the job ) to take it from there i wasnt happy with the job i wasnt happy from the start with the time the job took because there was putting my car back because i was away most of the time after the car done i had a phone call to say the parking senors on the back are not working so i asked could there have a look at it i was told no because there had booked in more work I WANT BE GOING BACK THERE AGAIN JUST BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO THERE and also broke thr front grill on my car and then try to blame the other garage

The car went in for air conditioning fault and a service 5 weeks later i had the car back with a bill for £1850 for the air conditioning (warranty payed some ) and a £ 700 service bill but the best thing was half way through the job the owner john told me if i dont like it to take the car away (as in the time its taken to do the job ) to take it from there i wasnt happy with the job i wasnt happy from the start with the time the job took because there was putting my car back because i was away most of the time after the car done i had a phone call to say the parking senors on the back are not working so i asked could there have a look at it i was told no because there had booked in more work I WANT BE GOING BACK THERE AGAIN JUST BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO THERE and also broke thr front grill on my car and then try to blame the other garage

Had only purhased the car privately aboit a week ago so it needed a service and few bits and pieces, talked to Chris and everything was sorted. (GREAT BLOKE).

Have used Promotive before to have an Engine replaced some years ago with a previous vehicle of mine. This time i took my Land Rover Freelander2 in to have the Gearbox replaced. Chris contacted me to let me know of some other issues they had found which also needed to be done. So ended up having the clutch and DMF replaced which made sense while the Gearbox was off and saved further cost later on. Would have been a quicker job but unfortunately there was a holdup obtaining an engine mount from Land Rover as Promotive had discovered the existing one needed to be replaced, but that wasn't Promotives fault. Would thoroughly recommend using this Garage and will definitely use them again in the future should i need to

3 years ago I abandoned the Main Dealer from whom I bought the car new because it ceased to offer a pick up and collect service and also moved the garage out of central Cardiff. I then moved to Promotive and am very glad to have done so. Not a high mileage car but like its owner getting long in the tooth so it needs a bit of vigilant care and Promotive is providing exactly this at a significantly less cost than the dealer.

Very good garage would recommend it without hesitation

I was quoted nearly 500 pounds to do an oil service and filter on my x5 gearbox had a call later in the day to tell me if I want all the oil changing in the gearbox it would be an additional 150 plus vat.. Next day called me again to tell me my door handle has snapped and they want me to pay for it at 90 pounds plus vat after they broke it.. Threatening behaviour wouldn't release my car until I paid them in cash and would not write paid under protest on the receipt.. Very bad service throughout and ups the price of the job when halfway thru it.. No care for customers cars and shocking attitude.. Avoid like the plague

On day 1 of holiday 4 hours away from home rear window dropped completely. Phoned and saved our trip by agreeing to look at car immediately despite being busy. Friendly service and solved problem at reasonable cost. Went out of way without needing to as no history with us. Had called 2 other garages in area who couldn't / wouldn't help. Give them a go.

My care is 10 years old. However, when it came out of the garage it felt brand new, a completely different feeling in the drive. I will definitely be going back. also added bonus very reasonable price

Was put off a bit by the other review but went with them anyway and my car was fixed quickly and no problems since, thanks promotive :)

Bought a mini from this garage and had nothing but problems with it from the start. The car broke down frequently with electrical faults, but hey, I have 6 months warranty on it.... No problemo! Phone Promotive to get it sorted. Not as easy as you would think. They kept giving me the run around until the 6 months warranty was up, they did eventually have the car in to look at it and gave it back with the problems resolved, so I thought... I bought it on the understanding that it had a new clutch and timing belt fitted. 96,000 miles on the clock when purchased, at 101,000 the car left me stranded. Got it towed to a BMW specialist only to discover the clutch had gone. £1000 to repair, and that was cheap. The car has continuously let me down time and time again with various faults mainly electrical but also mechanical. The car still hasn't done 103,000 miles and the faults are endless. Stay well clear of these cowboys. I could go on and on with the faults on this car, but, I can't be bothered. Just stay away from Promotive, Discs, near Newport. NI want to give a zero rating on all accounts but the computer says....NO! So I have to give one undeserved star. Overall rating...0 Expertise. ....0 Helpfulness,.....0 Quality of service... 0 Speed.......................0

Really sorry to have to post this, but really disappointed with the overall service from promotive in Rogerstone Newport. Paid a substantial amount of money 9 months ago for some work, and car been back x 4 times since under warranty. Promotive have been Unable to diagnose problem On previous visits and on the 4th occasion, this week advised on further work needed at further cost to me!! I would question the quality/expertise here. We felt the problem as highlighted now should have been picked up on previous checks (last visit just 3 weeks ago). We did have an independent diagnosis completed this week which confirmed the same fault code and message as promotive stated on previous visits. Promotive tried to tell me that we had had work done on the vehicle since (the only garage the car has seen recently is promotive!! ) and now has proceeded in relieving me of further cash for yet another diagnosis check!! We just want the car sorted and saw promotive as a capable garage (used before over the years) to fix. We are no longer prepared to waste any more time and money in using promotive for any work and are now having to take the car elsewhere for the fix. A total loss of confidence and trust here, and although dealing with the owner have been mostly amicable, having challenged him on this occasion, amicable is not a word I would use in his response or service levels today, I won't be using promotive in Rogerstone again, nor would I recommend.

I used Promotive to service my 2003 Seat Leon TDI. Despite this not being one of their 'core' brands (they're BMW/MINI specialists) they did a great job on the car, and the cost was reasonable for the amount of work being done. Will continue to use them while based in Newport.

I had my BMW 525D serviced (oil service and microfilter changed) on the 24th Jan 2013. I saved £100 compared to the special offer price I'd received in the post from the local BMW franchise, the staff were friendly and courteous and my car was cleaned. I'll be using them again and I'd recommend them to others.

Simply excellent!