Name: VDS Performance
Item: VDS Performance
Rating: 5.0
Author: Jay East

My 2013 VW MK7 Golf GTi PP was showing the sign of the classic water pump/thermostat housing failure. My local VW dealership was quoting over £1000.00 with other local independent garages not far behind. A Google search of a reputable VW specialists in the Haywards Heath area found me VDS Performance and with the accompanying great reviews, I thought it worth giving them a call. After speaking with James and obtaining a quote that was very competitive, I booked in the car and what an exemplary service I received! James is an expert in his field and I will certainly be revisiting when my car requires any other work.

John VW MK7 Golf GTi PP

What can I say? I would not trust anybody other than James to service my Audi TT.

Shaun Audi TT

James at VDS has been looking after my car since the day I bought it. His work is always of high standard and is always happy to give advice on items that will need to be repaired or replaced to extend the life of my car.

In addition to this, he has always contacted me to advice me of any work and the associated costs to gain my approval before going ahead with the work. I can honestly say that James will continue to look after my current car and any future cars I own in the future. I would also highly recommend James and VDS to anyone regardless the make and model of the car they own!

Kris VW Golf GTI

James was recommended to me 4 years ago and I wouldn’t use anyone else now to look after my cars. He is hugely experienced, thorough, efficient and takes great care to explain everything. There are no short cuts with James and I trust him totally to always do an excellent job at a competitive price.

Mrs Robinson Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSi

Thank you and very happy with your very helpful arranging to pick up car, return and the excellent work done to fix the gear box issue. Very much appreciated the help.

Mr Ball Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDi

In early 2019 James collected my car and carried out brake repairs recommended by Main Dealer. Late 2019 James again collected my car and returned it later that day serviced and MoT. Early 2020 battery started to fail and went to James for easy replacement.

Always has time to chat through potential problems and find competitively priced solutions. Would certainly recommend.

John B Audi A6 Avant

Excellent value for money. Reliable friendly service and attention to detail is impressive. I don’t take my cars anywhere else now.

Phil SEAT Ibiza Cupra

James is very good at his job, , we have used him for years and always found him to be very helpful and accommodating, he charges a fair price for the work he does and we look forward to continuing using his services in the future, hopefully for a very long time !!!!

Angela

I have used James at VDS since he started out on his own, he is very professional and very polite. His experience in fault finding is superb as I have had many jobs done on my VW Transporter over the years and also my Audi A4.
James is so thorough in his diagnosis and on repairs and servicing , we are so happy to have found him and will use him time and time again.
Also having him collect vehicles from home is priceless ..

Andy VW Transporter and Audi A4

Why choose VDS Performance for your car?

IMI Accredited and listed on IMI Professional Register
Friendly, professional and experienced staff
Ability to speak directly with technician working on your vehicle
Genuine manufacturers parts used ensuring first time fit, longevity and safety all backed up with a 2 years manufacturers warranty for total piece of mind
Genuine specification engine oil and fluids used to ensure optimum protection and efficiency
Full vehicle inspection and diagnostic check with every service including removing/refitting road wheels ensures any potential faults are found early on, saving you time and money

IMI Professional Register

IMI registered garages good garage scheme crawley

Recognised Professionals of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

Master Technician

imi awards ATA approved technitian crawley

Technicians must pass a series of practical assessments and an online knowledge test at an IMI approved Assessment Centre.

audi engine tuning specialist crawley gatwick

VDS Performance

5.0

Based on 89 reviews

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Graham Smith

11:46 24 Oct 23

Always excellent and professional service and advice from James.

Russell Comer

16:46 11 Oct 23

Very happy to have a local guy who saved my trip to Scotland recently by replacing my brakes and front suspension having shown me how bad the dampers were I was very impressed with the work and the price. James is a guy you can trust.

Chris Andrews

13:11 09 Oct 23

Excellent service by James. Highly recommended. Chris

Kelly O'Brien

14:06 11 Sep 23

We took our car into VDS for an oil leak. We were met with a professional and honest review and within a week the problem was solved. I would recommend this garage

Andrew Baldwyn

06:39 15 Aug 23

Rob Allen

20:32 14 Aug 23

Anton

17:45 26 Jul 23

Finally found a VW specialist who knows his stuff and I can trust. Booked my 20 year old Alhambra to James for a cam belt change. The car also needed a new exhaust, but James was upfront and honest with me saying that as he only used OEM parts, the cost would be very high, so I was happy to proceed with the quote from another exhaust fitter.Before starting the cam belt change, James carried out a full check of the vehicle and informed me of some other work that would require attention in the next couple of years. This enabled me to make an informed decision as whether to proceed or not.When I went to collect the car I was pleased to see that he's taken car of it with seat and steering wheel protectors, and kept it parked inside despite me not being able to pick it up for a week, and it's age.I have to confess to a misunderstanding about damage to a sill which I blamed him for, and later found on a photo taken prior to bringing the car to him. He was totally professional and understanding about the situation, for which I apologised for.I can highly recommend James and will certainly be using him in the future.

Kenyon Abel

20:03 06 Jun 23

Great experience from start, quote through to the work being completed in a timely and efficient manner and car ready for collection. WillDefinitely use going forward.

Leigh Sanderson

14:54 24 Apr 23

Was recommended VDS by my Dad and used them for my last two services, been very happy with everything and will keep going back. It's good to have to have a garage you know you can trust and keep going back to.

Dave Sanderson

15:02 23 Mar 23

I discovered VDS about three years when I wanted a better service experience than what I was getting from an Audi dealer. I like to keep my car properly maintained and James has not let me down and his charges are sensible for the attention and time he gives. I also recommended VDS to my son, James has been servicing his Audi for the past two years, my son is more than satisfied with VDS. We will continue to use VDS in future for all servicing and repairs.

Isaac Wheatley

10:26 22 Mar 23

James has performed a full MOT and Service for me as well as an engine tune via JF Automotive on my Mk3 Skoda Octavia VRS.Both times the car was with James it was less then a few hours before the work was done and ready to collect. James runs a very professional services being active on emails and good to talk to when in the garage. His knowledge and experience with cars is evident and his service with his local contacts and tuner partner JF Automotive was second to none.I would not hesitate in recommending his services to a friend or family member.

Alex Harvey

14:08 21 Mar 23

Having recently moved to the area I was looking for a good VW mechanic for general service and maintenance work. I chose VDS because of the online reviews and was not disappointed. James performed due diligence in looking up my cars service record before advising me on the best course of action. The service was of a high standard with full transparency on pricing and work carried out. Will be using again in the future.

Matt Steel

22:12 10 Feb 23

I have had a lot of issues with various cars over the years and had to deal with a few different garages and I can honestly say VDS has been the best garage to deal with. Customer service from James has been great. Talked me through the issue with my Audi and explained the different options. Gave his professional opinion to go for repair rather than replace (which was obviously the cheaper option). Gave regular updates on the progress of the repairs. Will definitely be returning for the yearly MOT and service. Thanks again James ??

ricke69 .

15:36 26 May 20

I've been using Jame's services for many years and always found his approach to dealing with my car problems exemplary. When he provides his diagnosis everything is explained in lay terms and approval sought before carrying out repairs. I also appreciate his proactive analysis of worn components that catch his attention which in turn are flagged to me. Just gives me that peace of mind knowing I can deal with problems before they really DO become a problem. Highly recommend.

Simon Drury

12:02 11 May 20

My wife and I have been taking our cars to James for some years and always found him to be professional, diligent and knowledgeable. It's so important to feel confident that work done will be carried out to a high standard. James always delivers! Thank you.

Richard O'Donnell

10:55 10 May 20

I've always used VDS to service my cars- although they specialise in VW/Audi they also do other makes. I have had no problems with getting my Jaguar and Volvo serviced by them. Always get expert advice on the best parts to fit too. Collection service is also very convenient. Recommended to others over the years who have also been very happy with the service provided as well.

Philip Huntsman

09:02 04 May 20

I used VDS for the first time for my Golf service. James was extremely obliging, collected and returned my car exactly as agreed. I have no reason to question the quality of his work especially as he returned promptly to fix a minor niggle. I will certainly be using VDS again and have already recommended him to an Audi user friend.

stephen sampayo

16:30 01 May 20

After being treated badly by an over priced main dealer, I was looking for a trustworthy and reasonably priced alternative. I have now been using VDS for about six years and will never be going anywhere else. The service is friendly, always excellent and well priced. My whole family now use VDS and are all very happy.

Stephen Denness

09:52 01 May 20

I purchased a Audi A5 Cabriolet and found that the hands free function on my Steering wheel was not active due to factory MMI settings. I spent many waisted conversations with other mechanics regarding getting this option activated and I even contacted Audi Main dealership for advice but was told it's not possible . I was fortunate to find James advertised on the web and contacted him immediately he got on the case searched and found the answers.. I gave James the car and within a few hours I had my car back with the Hands free option working 100%. Also on my second visit James installed Cruise control and changed the stalk and trims for a very professional and fast service. James is a very conscientious and professional and his pricing is very reasonable.. I will be taking my car back again soon for more upgrades in the near future.

Chris Razzell

16:08 28 Feb 20

James is very knowledgable and does a great job.Professional and very friendly and personal service and goes the extra mile to make sure you are happy.Highly recommended.

Kevin f

20:14 26 Feb 20

I never really leave reviews but thought I should as it could help people like me find a good mechanic that you can trust (let's face it some of us dont like letting our pride and joy go to any old place) Ive Never used VDS performance until this week, a friend of mine recommended him so thought id give it a shot and im glad that I did. James is a really nice knowledgable bloke that takes his time to explain things and advise you. I got him to do a full service, adjust my park brake and fix a Abs fault on my 2011 Audi Q7. I was kept updated all the way through the process and he quickly diagnosed the fault the same day and had my car back fault free within 24 hours. The car drives spot on now intact it's better than it was before, my service book is all stamped up and the car was given back to me as clean as when it arrived. His prices are also very reasonable much less than the main dealers yet his expertise, his work and his attitude are far better. Really pleased that I went to him its obvious that he cares and is not just in it for the money and he totally deserves a good review. Thanks for all your help I won't use anyone else from now on ?

James Hall

16:31 08 Dec 19

A superb garage, James really knows his stuff. I needed the timing chain updated on my 2010 Scirocco and phoned all round the local VW specialists and even the local VW dealer (who never got back to me...); VDS had the best price and, unlike some garages, were very familiar with what I was asking to be done which was reassuring. I also had a new intake manifold fitted due to a fault, and VDS went straight to my third party warranty for me and negotiated the full payment of £600+ on my behalf. Although there was a bit of a delay getting the work done, VDS were very communicative and apologetic about this. The car is driving beautifully again and I saved enough to get four new tires fitted - beauty!Be aware that the entrance is on a country lane, so it's worth having someone available to give you a lift home. James kindly gave me a lift to the station since I wasn't prepared for being a bit in the middle of nowhere!

Mac Moose

20:19 09 Nov 19

Very polite and professional service.

Henry Munro

18:45 16 Sep 19

I read about VDS before I got my Skoda Octavia and was pleased to see I had a well-respected local specialist nearby. A few weeks ago an Engine Management Light came on so I booked it in. James was very clear about what the problem was, and how much it would cost to do the work. He got the car back to me when he said he would, with the problems all sorted. Really impressed with his work, and will be back for the next service.

Gary Vaughan

06:09 13 Aug 19

Great service, competitive pricing and communication, highly recommend.

Tobin Symmons

13:39 20 Jul 19

Although I haven’t had any work done by James he has been really helpful and knowledgable when I enquired about some work on my car.When/if I decide to get it done I will definitely be coming here! Thanks James

Alexandra Worth

09:03 09 Jun 19

James has been helping to sort out my electrics and he’s been brilliant. Totally professional, trustworthy, and a pleasure to deal with. Even got in touch with me when on paternity leave. He obviously cares a great deal about his customers.

Alan Clark

12:04 25 Mar 19

James at VDS Performance is a very thorough & knowledgeable guy, clean workshop which speaks volumes & nothing is too much trouble, spent a lot of time explaing different procedures to me, highly recommend the carbon cleaning service, prices reasonable too.RS4 running like a dream.

Jay East

06:50 01 Aug 18

James is professional and extremely skilled. I cannot recommend highly enough

Angus

09:26 07 Mar 18

Friendly VW expert. Well equipped with VW diagnostics. Labour rates more than half that of main dealer. Happy to explain the work in as much detail as you would like.Sign post on main road, so easy enough to find. A little bit out in the country but close enough to Redhill, Merstham, Reigate and this area. Entrance is a concrete road with speed humps and several large pot holes. Take care to avoid these wheel munchers.He can undertake servicing as well as most other repairs. Has tyre machine, air con regas, 2 wheel alignment. MOT is off-site.I will be taking the VW back for service and MOT.One of those small independants that engenders trust.

Angelo

21:35 03 Dec 17

James is great. You cannot go wrong with VDS Performance.

Jon Durward

19:57 24 Oct 17

Great work by James diagnosing and replacing the alternator and belt on our Volvo XC90. High quality work at a very competitive price. As I've said before, I can't recommend VDS highly enough.

Kris Geargeoura

17:12 31 Aug 17

Having recently bought a 2009 Golf GTi, I was torn between going to a dealer and shelling out or going to a specialist. After a lot of searching around on google and asking around. I happened across James and VDS Performance.Needless to say after reading all the reviews and seeing James' work on his website, I called and booked my Golf in for a full service and MOT. After speaking with James, his knowledge of VW's was enough for me to know I had made the right decision.James did and full inspection and diagnostic on the car (as I've only just bought it) and even gave me a call mid way through to let me know what he found and to tell about any work that needed to be done that was out of the scope of the service. His work is impeccable and he's very reasonable. I am one very happy customer and will be coming back along with referring him to many of my VW owner friends as well!!!!

Marc Solomon

11:05 22 Aug 17

I rarely post reviews, probably because I am a little bit lazy, but sometimes I feel the need to pay it back. This review has something for everyone, of all ages. Jump to the bottom, if you are a young un' for the adults read on.James at VDS has been looking after our family cars for a while now. He is always professional, polite and informative. And for those who only read this far into my review; the important question is:Do I trust this person? Yes. James has proved many times he is highly skilled, meticulous and provides valuable advice, that in the long run will save you money, and more importantly prevent avoidable troubles with your vehicle.Does he talk to me in detail about fault diagnosis and the inner workings of the combustion engine to a level that only a rocket scientist would understand? Yes. Is doing it to pull the wool over my eyes? Absolutely not. James is passionate and extremely knowledgeable about vehicles of all kinds not just VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) cars. When he is explaining things, it comes from a positive place. James knows what he is doing, and NEVER takes short cuts.Will he advise you to buy more expensive parts than the cheapest items?Yes, but there is good reason. His advice has ensured my family is on the road with the highest level of safety, my vehicle has the least likelyhood of breaking down, and all at a fair price.If you have got this far into this review well done! But we all have things to do, so lets round this off.James' record keeping is fantastic, so can always tell you what parts were replaced, and when, and if some pre-emptive maintenance is necessary. To give you some context to this review our Volvo has just ticked over 313,000 miles, and it cruises without issue, and turns over strong every morning without fail. Not just a testament to Volvo's, but to James, who gives me the confidence to drive around in this old tank without fear of breakdown. In fact, I drive from London, where I now live, to get the car looked after properly at James'.In conclusion...VDS has the equipment, the knowledge and the skills to maintain all cars, to an extremely high standard for a fair price. Cut corners, and you will probably end up in trouble at some point, my advice to you is speak James at VDS and get your vehicle serviced and maintained properly.NOTE:I was not paid for this review, nor did I receive any different treatment that all any of his customers would receive.NOTE FOR THE GIRL & BOY RACERS:I'm in my mid-thirties now (!) but I have had newer, higher performance vehicles that have been modified, and remapped, and all sorts by James. He has looked after them, and advised on sensible modifications and as a result I have never had any breakdown, and could always drive "progressively" with confidence. If you are young and you think you are in the Fast and the Furious every time you go on the road, go see James, he will explain the best modifications for your money, and hopefully give you some sensible life advice about driving too fast on the roads. When you get older, you realize its not really worth it (driving fast), trust me you are not going anywhere that is that important. Not that you will listen, you think you know everything. You don't. I promise you. I ask you, don't drive like a dick, make sure you buy the best equipment, have it fitted by a professional like James, and maybe you will stand your best chance of surviving.Good luck and go see VDS Performance.

Jack Kennesion

15:10 24 Feb 17

Have taken my car (Seat Leon Cupra r) here for various reasons from an Mot to a full gearbox and clutch replacement. Work, Price and customer service is always spot on. James is always helpful and has loads of knowledge in regards to standard and performance work. Would and have recommended to others.

Higher Levels

14:52 24 Feb 17

VDS is exactly the type of garage i've been looking for. James is a pleasure to do business with. Great customer service which is a lost value in the car industry these days from my experience. Before i bought my S3 to their workshop i spent some time speaking to James on the phone discussing audi tuning and my options etc etc and he made time for me and gave his professional advice on the options i was toying with. i was booked in very quickly and the work was done with follow up phone calls and feedback on the progress which i greatly appreciate as a customer. Highly recommend.

Tim Fortune

12:03 05 Aug 16

VDS are the only place to take a VAG car. The knowledge and experience is second to none. James is full of suggestions and comments about my car, I could stay and chat for hours.

ghost4004

23:04 12 May 16

Excellent shop to go to, the Guy James is very helpful and its definitely the most professional garage i've been to. will be making it my regular garage from now on.

Rav R

20:36 21 Feb 16

James is very thorough and knows VAGS inside out. Quality work and excellent after service.

Phil Solomon

06:47 10 Jul 15

I have taken all my VAG cars to VDS since my first SEAT Ibiza. James has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Great quality service and excellent value for money.

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