Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

I have used the same Morrisons petrol station now for 20 odd years and never go anywhere else unless I am on holiday. Mind you its only 2 minutes from my house. Does anyone else use the same petrol station ?
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The Clan Chieftain

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

I always use Tesco, which is about a mile from home, and try to find one when I'm away. If not, it's usually Shell, both for my A8 and Riley. The Fiesta doesn't go more than 20 miles from home so it's always Tesco diesel, it's not so fussy.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I bought a Range Rover as a daily driver a few months back. Have never used so many petrol stations,already on first name terms with most of the cashiers.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7107 Location: Derby

Ellis · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 6:43 pm Post subject:

Here's an interesting point.

In 1992 there were 17967 petrol and diesel retail outlets in mainland Britain (filling stations to you and me) and I wonder what the figure is now. 10000 or less is my guess.
Most of the independents have now closed, witness the number of car retailers on the sites of former filling stations.
In my village of some 700 people there were no less than SIX filling stations in the early 1960s and in the nearest village, Dolwyddelan there were two, one with hand cranked pumps selling National Benzole petrol.

Now there is only the one Shell owned site to cover the area.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 8:37 pm Post subject:

I get my MOTs done at the end of the street - they're not the cheapest around, but classic friendly and give me a straight test with no BS. A couple of years ago I was chatting with the older of the two testers who was trying to remember how many petrol stations there used to be between here and Pontypool - about 10 miles away - only he kept losing count. I'm not sure now that he ever did get it right, but "lots" sums it up nicely. Today there isn't one on the main road, and only two (one at each end) even if you know where to find them.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7107 Location: Derby

Perhaps in the end there will be only electric or some other alternative motive power and petrol will be a thing of the past? Crying or Very sad

Dipster · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 10:50 pm Post subject:

My brother designs filling stations. I used to work in a garage that was attached to one, many years ago, and knew the forecourt operation well. The difference between the days I worked and now in terms of regulation, and consequent costs, is truly amazing.

From the initial studies, to planning, then construction, every step of the way is a potential bureaucratic nightmare. I can understand why most operators make money on food items to keep the places financially viable!

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

Landy Des · Joined: 15 Mar 2013 Posts: 52 Location: IoW

I always get my fuel from a two pump garage locally. (1 diesel and 1 unleaded)

When you come to pay you go to the little office which has a stable door arrangement. Tell them how much you have filled with as they can't see the pump and they let you in to the office where there is a two bar electric fire on the go and a spaniel usually sat in front of it.

I've been in there when an elderly lady sat in the car while the attendant went and got her a box of eggs and told her to pay later as she had no change....

Long may it continue and I really don't mind paying a bit over the odds for the fuel.

Keith D · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 7:49 am Post subject:

I have been using my local Shell petrol station for the 16 years I have lived in Upper Swan. When we first came here you could buy just about every spare part for your car (especially if it was a Holden!) You could go into the restaurant and sit and enjoy a very good meal. There was a well equipped workshop to take care of any car hassles.
Then along came big business in the form of Coles, a huge supermarket chain. They took ownership of our local Shell garage and promptly closed the restaurant on day one.
Spare parts disappeared and we are now offered potato chips, soft fizzy drinks, magazines and CDs. If your car has any problems, then bad luck!
Because of the number of service stations that have closed, a queue for fuel is now the normal frustration experience!
Keith

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

I must confess filling up with fuel is not something I get exited about; when I ordered my current modern it was specificed the larger fuel tank option in order that I minimise times spent filling up!

I tend to favour stations with pay at the pump facilities, then I can be in and out even quicker Smile

it never ceases to amaze me the number of people who fill up at a pump where one can pay at the pump, then they wander in to the kiosk, pay by card without purchasing anything else Shocked

why ? It must double the time they spend taking up a pump? Any ideas?

Dave

Dipster · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:30 am Post subject:

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

Ronniej · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:53 am Post subject:

It is sad to see how few independent filling stations are still operating.
The passing of the local business as described by Des is particularly regrettable.
The supermarkets have a lot to answer for.
As a student in the mid-sixties I supplemented my income by working in a local filling station in Glasgow’s south side.
This was before the advent of self-service sites and I had to dispense the fuel and offer to check oil and water as oil sales were important. We were also encouraged to promote one shot of Redex per gallon at 1d each. An airline was available free of charge and some customers would request that I would also check their tyres. This often resulted in a tip so we were happy to do it.
We quickly learned the eccentricities of various cars. The Farina Oxfords / Cambridges were notoriously slow fillers and would spurt back readily unless the nozzle was inserted almost upside down which got it past a tight bend in the filler tube.
Corsairs had their filler caps hidden behind the rear number plate and the Rover 2000 (?) had the filler cap behind a rear reflector.
I recall a customer coming in with a French car, probably a Dauphine, that filled within the engine compartment. His starter was faulty and he asked me to fill it with the engine running!!! As a youth I was not adverse to risk but I drew the line at that!
At this time competition between oil companies was fierce and there were often vigorous advertising campaigns.
This was a Shell site and we had the “Make Money” campaign where customers were given an envelope containing half of a monopoly style banknote. If they subsequently got the other half they would win the value. This was enormously popular and we were very busy indeed while that campaign ran. Around the same time Esso had their “Put a Tiger in Your Tank” promotion which seems to have stuck in the public memory better.
This was shortly before petrol had the star rating and the grades were Shellmex, (basic) Shell, (mid) and Super the top grade. During one summer, Shell ran a shameful TV campaign to promote the alleged benefits of using Super although what it would do for a Minor or similar basic car is debatable.
In the course of this employment I was asked to clear out a storeroom and scores of oil cans and bottles and some old tin plate signs were consigned to the tip. These were regarded as junk back then but would now be eagerly sought after by collectors.
Ah nostalgia! It’s just not what it used to be!