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Prevost Car Wintergarden FL Service Center
First of all I’m not sure that this belongs here, so if not, Jon & Tom, please put it where it needs to be. Thanks.
On Sunday 11/09/ 2019 I started down the road from North Georgia to Naples, FL for the Winter. I had been, prior to our departure, dealing with several maintenance issues with our bus. One of those had to do with the cooling fan clutch, specifically the high speed function. I was hoping the problem was going to be as simple as a bad relay. I had already checked on a replacement clutch and even put on board twelve gallons of antifreeze in case I had to change it.
I nursed and finessed it as far South as Ocala, FL and stopped at the Detroit Diesel facility with a friend that we were traveling with who possibly had some 8V92 issues. I had been in contact with Eric DeGeorge with Prevost Car in trouble shooting the problem during the whole scenario.
While in Ocala Eric and I agreed that the clutch was going to have to be replaced. Detroit Diesel would have done the job, but they were pretty much slammed with work and it would be a couple of days before they could get to it. Eric suggested that the Prevost Service facility in Wintergarden might be an option. I was totally unaware of the Wintergarden facility and was under the impression that Jacksonville, FL was the closest option
Eric called the Wintergarden facility and made all of the arrangements. Wednesday morning we headed over to Wintergarden, they started on it as arranged by Eric, and were finished by 3:30 on Thursday afternoon. we stayed over until Friday morning and completed the trip to Naples.
As I frequently say, I told you all of that to tell you this.
The size, scope and quality of the Prevost Car Service Facility in Wintergarden, FL is totally mind boggling! From the Branch Manager, Mike Fitch, down to the floor cleaners. Also, I can’t say enough good about Eric and his knowledge, dedication and willingness to help. I’m satisfied that it would be absolutely impossible to put together a better team and there would also be absolutely no way to build a better more efficient facility. I have never been treated more cordially, or with more respect. It is operating room clean, neat and orderly. I have even never seen cleaner restrooms in the finest of restaurants in the biggest cities or even in medical facilities. The parking and hook up facilities are beautiful. The folks travelling with us, not in a Prevost, were treated the same as we were.
Wintergarden, FL is not far off the beaten path and is Interstate Highway accessable almost to the entry gate, and Wintergarden is a delightful town to play tourist in while you wait. If you’re in the Central Florida area and have needs this is the place to go.
One more thing in closing. There were trade-in tour buses on the lot for sale with more than 1.5 million miles on them with the original Detroit Series 60 engines in them looking good and ready to go back into service. That gives me a lot of comfort in that I’m driving one with a little less than 200,000 miles on it. I’m pretty sure that it’s gonna outlast me.
A very happy,
John Carroll
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15 Replies
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Thanks for the report, John. I sure wish we had something like that in the northwest! We do have all the facilities around Coburg, OR, where many of the conventional motor home manufacturers used to be, but they are not Prevost specific except for Marathon. They no longer do mechanical service. They farm that out to a facility near by. Marathon still does house stuff for any make Prevost conversions and they have a wonderful overnight facility but I sure would like to know of someone who specializes in Prevost service and mechanical stuff up in this neck of the woods.
Jerry
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That is great to hear. I’ve been to two Prevost service centers in five and a half years of Prevost ownership. We had a similar, positive experience at Prevost Jacksonville almost five years ago.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read someone extolling the virtues of Winter Garden. What kinda baffles me is how Prevost was available to find the staff to fill all the positions in a start up given my perception that competent, experienced technical people are hard to find.
Its good to hear that Prevost Winter Garden can perform mechanical work that I would have leaned towards taking to a Detroit Diesel shop for versus a Prevost shop.
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I second the quality of service and Mike Fitch management at the location.
Good stuff!
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And…it’s only 20 minutes from DisneyWorld!
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Had excellent results having my coach serviced at Prevost Winter Garden. Went by before their official opening. Got a great tour, they have brought in a lot of their employees from a lot of their other locations.
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Now that Jacksonville has been mentioned, I feel that I have maybe let them down in not including them in my post.
I too had an exceptionally good experience at the Jacksonville in 2015 right after I bought this bus. They also deserve very high accolades. I’m just very elated that we have the Wintergarden facility almost in our neighborhood.
The bottom line is that in this day and time, it’s so unusual that you find an entity that produces products of this quality that is so very committed to the kind of customer support that we enjoy.
The whole Prevost Car organization should be commended from top to bottom.
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Service at Prevost WG is very good. I have an account with Prevost and they have always been very slow at sending or emailing an invoice. Sometimes a couple of months.
A couple of days ago I got a call from a collection agency in Quebec looking for payment for work done in May (less than $2k) for which I never received a bill or a phone call from Prevost. I had forgotten all about the work done.
This is not the way a ‘first class’ organization treats good, regular customers.
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My 06 LX II Marathon coach is currently at Winter Garden. There is a drive train vibration I’m hoping they can diagnose and fix before our trip up to Asheville later this week. My initial impression as to the customer service mirrors the OP’s comments. I’m hoping to be able to report a positive outcome on this service visit.
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Jerry
weve had experience with our most recent previous coach with Pacific Detroit Diesel/Allison on Roberts Rd Coburg. Our last coach received a new transmission/ rear main etc after catastrophic flywheel issue. During our pre-purchase inspection, they ran the full multi page motor diagnostics.
90975 Roberts Rd is .9 miles from Marathon. 541-225-2020
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Thanks, Jim, I will stop by and meet them next time we go north. Headed south for the winter this weekend. Will spend a month at the Palms RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, then some time in Green Valley, AZ, before heading to Puerto Penasco, Sonora, MX, for two months on the beach there. Then to FMCA Tucson, AZ, before heading back to Kerby, OR.
Jerry
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- Prevost another new service center.
- https://rvbusiness.com/prevost-marks-opening-of-largest-n-a-service-site/
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
Jerry: You might want to start a separate thread under the General Discussion topic about taking your coach into Mexico and visiting Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point?). Insurance, security, clearing customs (in both directions), where you stay, etc.
I visted Puerto Penasco back in the mid/late-2000’s when the bank I was working for was making loans on condos and houses there. Very interesting place.
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Picked my coach up from Winter Garden Prevost shop today. Am thrilled to report that the vibration is gone. The coach drives just like the brand new Marathon I test drove prior to taking deliver of this one a few months ago. I didn’t realize how much better it could drive. The fix was replacing some wheel bearings.
Am going to drive from Orlando to Asheville tomorrow. Diane and I will be spending 10 days up there visiting relatives. I’ve never driven that much in a single day before. In the Monaco we’d break it up into two days. Judging by how nice it felt bringing it back from the shop today, I’m optimistic I can do the drive with no problem.
To tie it in with the subject of this thread, I had a very pleasant experience with the folks at Winter Garden. I am very happy to have this facility here in town.
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Can anyone please share the gate code for Prevost’s new shop? Thanks
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I can’t remember the gate code and I can’t find my note that I made, but if you will call Michelle or David in service I’m sure that she will give it to you.
The number is (407) 554-0196
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