Dealer advice - Sascron

[Mr E]

qska said:

When I asked for a test drive, the guy asked me - if I want to buy the car Today.

I did not (I didn't arrange the finance yet, I always opt for personal loans), I said I'm just looking, and need confirmation if my job contract will be extended or not.

So - the guy bluntly said that they're a car supermarket, and only deal with commited customers. And sent me on my merry way.
.

I had exactly this when looking for an E-Class.
He wouldn't let me drive it unless I would commit to buying it.
I wouldn't commit to buying it until I'd driven it.

I walked.

They shift plenty of stock, so their method obviously works. It doesn't work for me.

[texasjohn]

Went there today. Witnessed some very sharp tactics; a car advertised for 34990 online and actually priced in the showroom at 37990. Now that isn't in itself an issue but no mention of the online price was made to me; I was offered it at the 'sticker price' of 37990 and the salesman actually wrote the higher number down on the enquiry form as the 'online price' having checked the pricing himself. I suppose you can't blame them for wanting to try and make an extra 3000 but I had the opportunity to test their honesty and fairness...they failed. I hesitated at this point and went to sit in my car for a few minutes to consider my next steps and also go online on the phone to double check my memory was correct (i.e. that it was advertised online at the lower price of 34990).

About ten minutes later I went back; in that short space of time someone else put a deposit on the car and it was sold.

A lucky escape perhaps? I've since read a few of the google and reviewcentre reviews, agree with a poster above insofar as it is not whether a car has issues but now the issues are dealt with!

I think I'll pay a little more and go to a main dealer or just buy privately.

[SilverSixer]

Mr E said:

qska said:

When I asked for a test drive, the guy asked me - if I want to buy the car Today.

I did not (I didn't arrange the finance yet, I always opt for personal loans), I said I'm just looking, and need confirmation if my job contract will be extended or not.

So - the guy bluntly said that they're a car supermarket, and only deal with commited customers. And sent me on my merry way.
.

I had exactly this when looking for an E-Class.
He wouldn't let me drive it unless I would commit to buying it.
I wouldn't commit to buying it until I'd driven it.

I walked.

They shift plenty of stock, so their method obviously works. It doesn't work for me.

Had the same experience when I was looking for a bog standard cooking version Mazda 6 2.0 petrol a couple of years ago. Wouldn't let me test drive unless I committed to buy it. Sod that. Walked and got one from elsewhere. Will never consider them again.

Edited by SilverSixer on Friday 8th July 14:51

[ALawson]

Glad I read this post, seems to support other feedback on the web.

Any more updates from anyone else?

Any points for specialists who would stock an E Class in North Hants.

[OldSkoolRS]

We went over to look at an SLK for my OH after checking with their on line 'chat' that it was still avaible and at that branch (their AT advert had a Watford phone number so I assumed they have more than one site). We got there and it was nowhere to be seen, the sales guy couldn't find it, but at least didn't waste our time trying to sell us a different spec example we had already discounted. did notice that they had signs saying that there was an additional 'admin fee' (I think £195 or there abouts) for every purchase which wasn't included in the AT advert, so I felt that was misleading.

He said he'd call us if it turned up, but my OH just said that we'll go and buy one we looked at the day before, which we did.

Really odd; if it was a ruse to get us there to pressure sell us something else, then they failed and since they didn't have our phone number they couldn't call us if the car ever turned up. It was still being advertised 3 weeks later, though no idea if it ever actually existed. I guess the 'chat' function was probably being run by a 14 year old who couldn't care less...

I'm also pretty sure that we bought her previous Mini from them when they had a branch near Baskingstoke about 7 years ago. I hadn't twigged about the name until afterwards. I remember the same argument about not having a test drive unless we agreed to buy, but my OH really wanted this particular car due to the spec. We had a list of things we wanted done before collection, but in the excitment of getting a 'new' car we overlooked most of them and realised later that they hadn't done the various jobs, which they later denied. Left a very sour taste as I felt as a car enthusiast I should have known better.

Incase I forget, someone please remind me in about 7 years when we replace the SLK...

[ElectricSoup]

ALawson said:

Glad I read this post, seems to support other feedback on the web.

Any more updates from anyone else?

Any points for specialists who would stock an E Class in North Hants.

Try Calcot Cars in Reading. They don't sell huge amounts of vehicles but are a great specialist and really know the cars inside out. I'm about to have the torque converter refurbed and rear airsprings replaced on my 2005 E class estate there. Recommended.

[ALawson]

ElectricSoup said:

ALawson said:

Glad I read this post, seems to support other feedback on the web.

Any more updates from anyone else?

Any points for specialists who would stock an E Class in North Hants.

Try Calcot Cars in Reading. They don't sell huge amounts of vehicles but are a great specialist and really know the cars inside out. I'm about to have the torque converter refurbed and rear airsprings replaced on my 2005 E class estate there. Recommended.

Cheers ES, yes I have seen them advertise the odd car and you can tell they a lot by the way they advertise their stock, seems to sell reasonably quickly. I would rather buy from a specialist who will resolve issues should they arise. What spec is your E?

[ElectricSoup]

ALawson said:

ElectricSoup said:

ALawson said:

Glad I read this post, seems to support other feedback on the web.

Any more updates from anyone else?

Any points for specialists who would stock an E Class in North Hants.

Try Calcot Cars in Reading. They don't sell huge amounts of vehicles but are a great specialist and really know the cars inside out. I'm about to have the torque converter refurbed and rear airsprings replaced on my 2005 E class estate there. Recommended.

Cheers ES, yes I have seen them advertise the odd car and you can tell they a lot by the way they advertise their stock, seems to sell reasonably quickly. I would rather buy from a specialist who will resolve issues should they arise. What spec is your E?

E320 CDI Avantgarde estate. 2005 (pre facelift), light metallic blue with grey/blue leather interior. The repairs it needs are going to set me back £1500 but I am confident Calcot will do a good job and the car will serve me for years to come. Hopefully it's money well spent, it still only has 125,000 on the clock. I was considering buying one of their stock but have decided to fix mine instead. I am dreading the SBC pump going on me now... ;-)