Thanks
How about Mazda in St Albans, or Harpenden? Not that far from you. Are they also of ill-repute?
David
Japex in Kings Langley are meant to be well regarded and reviewed well online. I plan on taking my ND to them when due its first service under my ownership.
not had any experience with them, I’ll give them a call. Thank you.
Will check out Japex also, thank you!
So Mazda St Albans no longer in existence, I was unable to locate it using Google Maps or Mazda website.
Of all the dealers I spoke with Mazda Harpenden were my least favourable dealer, I think it’s a shared Mazda/Kia shop. I was asked for my reg and the make and model of the car (understandable possibly) but I expected him to look it up then to tell me more, the next question told me all…“is it a petrol or diesel?”. For an MX-5?!
Also for a booking there, they didn’t have availability for a further 5 weeks - into July.
Japex is where I’ll take it.
As a rough guide for others - 6th Service:
Japex main service is £316, parts, labour anf VAT.
Millcars: £409
Harpenden £229.00 but wrongly diagnosed minor service (^th service with them was £600)
MKG3000 in Twickenham £615 incl spark plug (not needed as i’ve not done 75K miles) - without sparks plugs is £461.
Mazda Romford £530 (again incl spark plugs) but when I asked if I needed new spark plugs, he suggested a minor one at £235.00
Hopefully this helps someone else on the forum.
Some of those charges are eye-watering!
I’m glad my own cars are (a long way) out of warranty, and I’m still able to clamber around underneath them, to carry out the basic service checks… and then to use specialist where things are beyond my competence level.
Having said that, there are so many online videos for MX-5 repair/service to guide almost anybody with most issues… MAZDA-MENDER website is especially helpful and informative 
That’s a bit of a bummer! I suppose that Harpenden is now very upmarket. I once took my 1949 Riley to a garage between St. Albans and Harpenden for an MOT. As I hoped, they missed the worn steering rack, but failed it on the handbrake, which was always useless, and offered to fix it. They charged me 5 quid for adjusting the cable and gave me the MOT. As I expected, the handbrake was just as useless as ever – I always kept two bricks in the boot!
David
They are a good family owned and run garage… my ND is regularly serviced there.
going to book in following the good weather we’re having! 