Recommended Garage - Powerbase, Ashford, Kent

Hi Guys,

Time for another review!

Recently I paid a visit to the Terraclean website - My car has done 125k miles and probably hasnt had a very good clean in this time, so I thought it would be a worthwhile investment. The Terraclean site sent me on to a local garage - PowerBase.

I called them up and asked about the service, tried to get some more info and recommendations. I was then put on the phone to their local Terraclean expert - Chris. He took his time explaining everything, and offered to answer all questions truthfully, and couldnt sing the praises highly enough. Chris then advised he was actually a customer, and he has had the service done on a multitude of his vehicles - from Berlingos, to his prized Astons and Triumphs. I thought Chris was a car dealer at first, but after spending a good amount of time chatting to him later on, he is an addict :P He buys cars with the intention of fixing them up and selling them on - but he just cant let go, and every one of them has had a trip to PowerBase and had a Terraclean done. I got the car booked in, popped outside and removed the EGR valve blank, and got the car in a fit state.

On my way driving back home, I remembered why I put the blank on, the power was lacking, the car was hesitant, the car felt totally different. Anyway, the weekend passed and I turned up on Monday to get Mindel her colonoscopy.

Having arrived on site, I was greeted by Chris, the man with a million cars! He and Len (the owner) are great friends, and Chris volunteers his time down there to help Len out. Unfortunately one of the lad's who was going to be doing the service had a family emergency, and Len was busy, so I didnt get seen straight away as was planned. Instead, Chris took me around the car lot, and showed me his prized possessions, and began telling me about his cars. It was a fascinating chat, and seeing some of his classics was a great way to burn a bit of time waiting for the service. I could understand family emergencies happen, and I must admit, if I was left to sit in the office twiddling my thumbs I would have been more disappointed with the first impression, but Chris cracked it for me. Showing me around, chatting to me about the garage.

Worst case scenario, if I was left twiddling my thumbs, having a bit of a poor first impression, he managed to alleviate this, and I must admit, it turned what could have been a disastrous first impression into a fantastic one!

Chris took me around and showed his cars, and also we had a chat about one of Len's own cars on the lift (he loaned his car to a family member, unfortunately it didnt come back the way it was when he handed the keys over!)

Anyway, a few minutes passed, and Len was free to talk to, he was busy - at the time he was one man working on about four cars. He knew that my car was booked in, but of course having his first officer out with a family emergency, I think it had slipped his mind I was coming in. Rather than disappointing though, he juggled his priorities, and started to get to work.

First off, was a complimentary smoke test. three runs on the smoke machine revealed a first test of 2.16 (limit of 3) and the average turned out at 1.6!

Then he got me to move Mindel over to the terraclean bay, and was more than happy to talk to me about it. He was busy so I did what little bits I could to make his job easier! removing the engine bits, and just trying to be of some use! He plugged it all in and started the process. He was telling me about the courtesy car they have - a Focus! OK, the central locking has a few niggles, but its a car there and is available to use if a customer needs it! (he already had me sold on the fact it was a focus - if it was a corsa, this review might have been very different - you know how much I hate those!

Anyway, the service is pretty much a plug in, setup and off you go. He just listens for the change in revs as the engine gets cleaner and adjusts accordingly, so I sat and chatted with Chris whilst I left Len to get on with his jobs. He seems to have grabbed a nack of multitasking!

Anyway, twenty minutes or so pass, and the first cycle has completed. Len came into the office to let me know phase two had started (the do nothing phase :P) basically it was leaving the stuff to soak and will shortly be ready. He had to go out on a road test, and he was telling me and Chris about what he was going to do, setting up microphones in the engine bay looking for a knocking noise. How many mechanics would do that? I think its awesome - OK not everyone would care, but its that openness that seems refreshing!

Whilst we were at the do nothing stage, Chris started showing me some of the pictures of Car's Len is entrusted with. AMG's, BMW's, Porches, V10 engines here there and everywhere, high end cars! Seriously? this garage is not exactly in the middle of town, and its easy to know they dont even exist, but Len and his small team (with their three lift workshop) get all these motors in to fix. I immediately thought I was in safe hands - if this guy is trusted to work on high end motors like that and gets repeat business... Why wouldn't I be?

Anyway, twenty minutes pass, and all my chats with Chris made it feel like no time at all. Len returned just after the sit and do nothing stage was done, and got it onto stage 3... All of a sudden the awful EGR smell wafted all the way from the far end of the garage, through to the office. I knew it was my car, but I didnt realise it could smell like that! it is in part due to the terraclean fuel, but also is the cack its removed from the system. Len was more than happy to talk to me about the service, why it stinks etc, he is a real "personal touch" kinda guy, and this reflects in his business.

After the service, we got to talking, I was telling him about my dashcams and other mods, and asked that cheeky question.... so..... how about a discount for our forum members? Without hesitation he was more than happy to offer a £10 discount on terraclean. So anything up to a 2.0 Petrol or a 3.0 diesel (I think thats the right way around!) he would do a full terraclean service for £98 (VAT Included) as opposed to the £108 full price.

In my opinion, the terraclean is definitely worth it, the combination of low down torque I have got back (I managed to climb a fair hill in 6th gear, and got most the way to the top, I struggled to do that in fifth before the service!). Not only that, but I honestly had to check twice that I wasnt in fourth gear, as until I got below about 850 revs when it started to stammer, it really didnt feel it!

The MPG is ever increasing, now, most the time my MPG stays still and goes up incrementally through the tank, whereas more often than not on my routes to work, it would just go down. The fuel savings this should offer, combined with the smoother drive, softer gear changes, an engine that no longer shakes and dances on idle, but just purrs and vibrates, it really has brought the pleasure back to Mindel to how I know she can be. I am getting very good performance now, the thing behaves as it did with the EGR valve (or at least most the way there anyway!) so I look forward to fitting the plate again!

But I honestly think that PowerBase are a great garage, you may never know they are there, but they offer a personal touch, friendly, trustworthy, will turn their hand to anything, and offer more services than any other indie I have visited (terraclean, LPG conversion / diagnostics, on top of all the usual stuff!) and to top it off, they have a great taste in courtesy car!

These guys are fighting in an open market at the moment, and they deserve to get more business, if any of you have thought about getting the terraclean service and live in Kent, I would say give these guys a call. Take advantage of the discount (quote this forum, James and his Mondeo) and see what else they can do for you. You wont be disappointed!

Also if you are going to the Darling buds show, visit my thread here: as for the first couple of prebooked motors with him at the show, he will do a big discount terraclean service.

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/72115-anyone-hitting-the-darling-buds-show-this-year/

Visit their site here: http://www.powerbaseautos.com

and they are on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerbaseAutomotive

Give them a call, and get yourselves over there, with discount MOT's, free testing on repairs over £200, and a fantastic customer friendly environment, and much more - I think you should take the plunge, get the terraclean, or go get your car seen to, and if you are not satisfied then I will lick my EGR valve blanking plate!!!