Tom Hartley

[JDH1]

Apologies if this has been covered before. Saw an article about Tom Hartley in the Sunday Times a few weeks ago which featured Tom Hartley Snr but didn't mention Tom Jnr who used to be the poster boy for the company. Just looked at their website and amongst 'our people' Carl Hartley is featured but Tom Jnr isn't mentioned at all. Anyone know the story?

[Butter Face]

Doesn't he now run his 'own' business in classic sports cars? Someone said its possibly part of his dads company still?

http://www.tomhartleyjnr.com

I am guessing here tbh.

[JDH1]

Could be. Judging by the pictures, it's certainly at the same location. Kind of hard to decide which of the two companies I'd like to deal with least.

[Ferruccio]

Why do you say that - have you bought a car off them?

[JDH1]

No, never would. My relationship with young Mr Hartley ended before it ever started when he agreed to buy a 4,000 mile car from me I'd had from new, and then attempted to knock £4k off the agreed price on arrival because it had had (and I quote) "A piss poor paint job." Needless to say, the car was completely original as confirmed by the other dealer who came to see it the next day. I went on to buy and sell at least half a dozen cars with him.

That may have been a one off aberation (and the business seems to have gone from strength to strength since then) but I never even consider anything they have to sell. It seems I now have two companies to avoid.

[bluemoon321]

My experience was the worst ever when I brought a car from them, if they were the only garage on earth I would rather buy a horse to get around !!!!

[gregf40]

I have bought a car from them in the past but prefer to deal with Romans and 555.

[BruceC]

555 are darn good

[mattf93]

gregf40 said:

I have bought a car from them in the past but prefer to deal with Romans and 555.

BruceC said:

555 are darn good.

Unfortunately I only ever seem to hear of negative stories of dealing with the Hartleys, although it can't be argued that they do get some pretty magnificent well sought after stock in. To my knowledge Tom JNR has gone independent but still works from the same site?
However - I cannot get over the fact that both Carl and Tom SNR both have their houses right next to the showroom - the idea of a home is to get away from work be with family etc, not be stuck at work 24/7.

Top555 Are my local Prestige dealer (I wish I could buy from there - just a little way off at the moment).
Tim and Charles, are Knowledgeable and professional chaps, and nothing is too much for them. - Ive had friends who have bought cars from there and have said as much, any problem was sorted straight away without delay, car was picked up, issue sorted and delivered back as quickly as possible.
I Regularly pop in, and although they know I cannot afford (yet) a car, they are quite happy to have a chat. They are always polite, professional and never really get the feeling that I am being judged - even though effectively I cannot offer them any business. Quite a nice location too, and the local roads aren't too bad for a quick blast either!

If any of you are in the market for a luxury or performance car I highly recommend checking their stock out, or dropping them an email or letter of interest, they will be more than happy to help.

Matt.

[Ballistic]

mattf93 said:

Unfortunately I only ever seem to hear of negative stories of dealing with the Hartleys, although it can't be argued that they do get some pretty magnificent well sought after stock in. To my knowledge Tom JNR has gone independent but still works from the same site?
However - I cannot get over the fact that both Carl and Tom SNR both have their houses right next to the showroom - the idea of a home is to get away from work be with family etc, not be stuck at work 24/7.

Top555 Are my local Prestige dealer (I wish I could buy from there - just a little way off at the moment).
Tim and Charles, are Knowledgeable and professional chaps, and nothing is too much for them. - Ive had friends who have bought cars from there and have said as much, any problem was sorted straight away without delay, car was picked up, issue sorted and delivered back as quickly as possible.
I Regularly pop in, and although they know I cannot afford (yet) a car, they are quite happy to have a chat. They are always polite, professional and never really get the feeling that I am being judged - even though effectively I cannot offer them any business. Quite a nice location too, and the local roads aren't too bad for a quick blast either!

If any of you are in the market for a luxury or performance car I highly recommend checking their stock out, or dropping them an email or letter of interest, they will be more than happy to help.

Matt.

My experience would seem to be the opposite of yours.
I have purchased two cars off Carl Hartley and both times it was a very pleasurable experience and he delivered on everything he said he would.
Working from home is great; there's no daily commute for a start and I think that dealing with a worldwide clientele means that you always have to be available.

I have dealt with TOP555 once, several years ago, and the experience and car was fine. I recently contacted them about a car I was interested in but it got sold before I could go and view it. I suggested going to see them for a 'chat' which was firmly declined; they weren't interested and I shall not be doing business with them again. Also they don't do test-drives until you commit to buying the car.

[mattf93]

Ballistic said:

My experience would seem to be the opposite of yours.
I have purchased two cars off Carl Hartley and both times it was a very pleasurable experience and he delivered on everything he said he would.
Working from home is great; there's no daily commute for a start and I think that dealing with a worldwide clientele means that you always have to be available.

I have dealt with TOP555 once, several years ago, and the experience and car was fine. I recently contacted them about a car I was interested in but it got sold before I could go and view it. I suggested going to see them for a 'chat' which was firmly declined; they weren't interested and I shall not be doing business with them again. Also they don't do test-drives until you commit to buying the car.

As you have personal experience with both, I accept that and is fair enough, to my knowledge about the test driving they don't like being messed about having 'joy riders' as it were (not saying you are), they only want serious interests to test drive a car I guess, but you don't have to 100% say you're going to buy a car. I do find it odd about the 'chat' though, my friends parents regularly get an invite to drop in/have a chat about a car etc, so not sure why they did that. Their loss.

At the end of the day its not usually the dealership that draws you to a car, its a car that draws you to a dealership, then it just depends on whether everything is as you like and you buy the car or you don't. Then you either have a good, mediocre or bad experience. Im guessing everyone has good and bad stories throughout their motoring life though!

I guess everyones experiences, views and opinions are different and always good to hear from others

[Charliesum]

Had a Brand new e60 m5 a few years ago, rang them and within 4 hrs they were down to Portsmouth paid the money and off home with the car.
I was very happy with the service selling to them, judging by their websites it is now Tom Hartley and t h jnr.
Wish I had a garage with f40 and 959 in it.

[bertie]

Ballistic said:

I have dealt with TOP555 once, several years ago, and the experience and car was fine. I recently contacted them about a car I was interested in but it got sold before I could go and view it. I suggested going to see them for a 'chat' which was firmly declined; they weren't interested and I shall not be doing business with them again. Also they don't do test-drives until you commit to buying the car.

Odd, I've spoken to them a few times, and I even get them calling me up for a chat, plus I've test driven cars there without having to commit to buy them.