Your favourite showroom / car dealer?
Discussion
This isn't really about customer service, purchase stories and the best deals, as I'm sure there are many dedicated threads elsewhere.
This is about the feel of a place; a showroom that left an impression, or continues to wow you.. somewhere you will detour to drive past or stop at.
Imposing buildings, impressive collections, humble and hum-drum to gargantuan and gaudy.
This thread is sparked by earlier 'news' of a TVR deal in the works (ahem) - reminding me of early years in the back seat of my parents E39, when we'd pass the then prominent Mole Valley showroom in Malden Rushett. Long gone now, but on the couple of occasions we stopped by for a mooch, I was always spoken to kindly by the staff and allowed up close / inside Nobles, Tuscans, etc. Felt homely, and quintessentially British.
I've also always loved the look of the current Joe Macari place. Everything is laid out and lit up like an exhibition space, which, given the contents and clientele, is probably the right tone.
And who can forget the F1 that used to sit in the window at what I think is now Bob Forstner?
Lastly.. and please don't judge, but there's something weirdly alluring about that supposedly odd outfit operating out of a multi storey in the Yorkshire badlands. I wouldn't do a buy with them, but I'd absolutely pull in for a gander at their frankly immense stocklist.
I'm mostly asking so I can make a to-visit-list by the way
This is about the feel of a place; a showroom that left an impression, or continues to wow you.. somewhere you will detour to drive past or stop at.
Imposing buildings, impressive collections, humble and hum-drum to gargantuan and gaudy.
This thread is sparked by earlier 'news' of a TVR deal in the works (ahem) - reminding me of early years in the back seat of my parents E39, when we'd pass the then prominent Mole Valley showroom in Malden Rushett. Long gone now, but on the couple of occasions we stopped by for a mooch, I was always spoken to kindly by the staff and allowed up close / inside Nobles, Tuscans, etc. Felt homely, and quintessentially British.
I've also always loved the look of the current Joe Macari place. Everything is laid out and lit up like an exhibition space, which, given the contents and clientele, is probably the right tone.
And who can forget the F1 that used to sit in the window at what I think is now Bob Forstner?
Lastly.. and please don't judge, but there's something weirdly alluring about that supposedly odd outfit operating out of a multi storey in the Yorkshire badlands. I wouldn't do a buy with them, but I'd absolutely pull in for a gander at their frankly immense stocklist.
I'm mostly asking so I can make a to-visit-list by the way
I remember drooling at the cars outside Mole Valley in Malden Rushett, although I never went in.
Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
Mr Tidy said:
I remember drooling at the cars outside Mole Valley in Malden Rushett, although I never went in.
Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
As a spotty oik in my povvo Punto I used to pop by Romans with my budget DSLR and pretend I knew what I was doing, snapped all sorts of now mythical stuff and they were always very welcoming. Not been since their extension but it looks huge now!Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
I can remember when Autoficcina was solely a warehouse in the nearby trading estate, was always fun to cycle past and see a number of Diablos lining the otherwise commercial vehicle heavy area. And Maranello is where I saw my first F40, probably 2001 or so now
Not seen Scuderia Prestige before though, and would provide a reason to go by SuperVettura which is another new one to me.
To follow on from the Op, I always used to enjoy TVR dealers. Fernhurst, The TVR Centre, Henley, Mole Valley, WLA and Chequered Flag in Chiswick (not a proper TVR dealer I think).
There was also a place near Brent Cross that sold Lotus. Mostly Elans that I used to nose around.
I wouldn't call any of them fabulous emporiums, but there'd always something interesting.
There was also a place near Brent Cross that sold Lotus. Mostly Elans that I used to nose around.
I wouldn't call any of them fabulous emporiums, but there'd always something interesting.
Resolutionary said:
And who can forget the F1 that used to sit in the window at what I think is now Bob Forstner?
Not quite.
Car in the showroom was chassis 065. Sold in 2008 for a mere £2.5M GBP! Departed to the USA and afaik never seen again publicly!
McLaren Showroom turned into "Harrods Estates"
https://maps.app.goo.gl/321HQcE1D7RsmhSU6
But is currently empty.
Bob Forstner is closer to Marble Arch
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jKujqNLPJfnxpGL56
Its not open yet, but I imagine THJ's new site
will be worth a visit in due course.
I dont know where "Amari Cars" are, but they seem to have a lot of interesting stuff if you're inclined
Edited by BunkMoreland on Wednesday 26th November 20:57
I remember a few years (2006 I think) ago visiting a VAG showroom in Berlin, all of the brands were represented over many floors. First time I saw a Veyron in the flesh, that was a pretty memorable moment for me, apologies for the quality, it was a long time ago 
Edited by ninepoint2 on Wednesday 26th November 21:21
Mr Tidy said:
I remember drooling at the cars outside Mole Valley in Malden Rushett, although I never went in.
Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
Scuderia Prestige have some lovely stock, don’t mind being stuck in A30 traffic lights to look at their stock. A friend bought a G Wagon from them and apparently they’re really good to deal with. Romans on the A217 near Banstead always have a huge amount of desirable stuff. Autoficcina at the Ewell by-pass end of Ruxley Lane in Ewell have some great Italian cars too.
A bit further away Scuderia Prestige on the A30 in Camberley always looks interesting, and of course there is always Maranello on the A30 at Egham.
A showroom tour sounds like a good day out!
I used to drive past the Bristol Cars showroom in Kensington from time to time and it always evoked images of tufted chairs, grandfather clocks, pipes and smoking jackets, cricket bats and creaky floorboards. The cars themselves were pretty dowdy in my estimation. Sort of like a rich man's mobility car. My father owned an Arnolt Bristol in the 1950s which looked a little less like an orthopaedic sandal.
I don't think there's much demand for the cars from Generation Tiktok, and the dealership is now gone, replaced by Indian Motorcycle.
I don't think there's much demand for the cars from Generation Tiktok, and the dealership is now gone, replaced by Indian Motorcycle.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Red Rose Motors was the BMW Dealer in Chester. I remember going there as a child (in the late 70 s and early 80 s l) with my Father and drooling over the lovely cars.
There was also a Fiat dealer nearby which now sells bicycles. Those Supermirafiori s and 132 s were just superb.
Aah, Chester in the 70s. Quicks for Ford, James Edwards for Jag and Triumph, More and Gamon for Leyland, Mangoletsi for Alfa, there was a Volvo dealer round the corner from Quicks (Day's?)..There was also a Fiat dealer nearby which now sells bicycles. Those Supermirafiori s and 132 s were just superb.
Ford showrooms were huge back then. They even had space for the rally winning Mexico that did a tour of the showrooms. Space for a few Fiestas, Capris, Cortinas, Granadas. Nowadays they seem to have Transits and Rangers - boring!
Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 27th November 10:57
Robertb said:
Maranello Sales at Egham used to be great in the mid 90 s some interesting specialist stock and Ferraris then were more affordable, the Art Deco Tower Garage was iconic in its own way.
They were always friendly and happy for folk to wander about.
Not been there for a while.
Another vote for MaranelloThey were always friendly and happy for folk to wander about.
Not been there for a while.
I recall as a car-mad (particularly Ferrari) 10 year old going there to pick up Dad's new, to him, Ferrari and while he was doing the paperwork one of the other guys gave me a full tour of the cars in the showroom and in the workshops.
From memory they had a number of letters to them from Enzo himself on display (though I could be wrong.....it was 40 years ago!)
ab11 said:
Weird one.
I always look for the VW dealer in Haywards Heath purely because of their nice Art Deco showroom that you see from the train.
No idea what they are like as a dealer or their history as I stay at the other end of the country, just always liked their building.
Caffyns has been going for many many many years (over 100) all across East and west Sussex. They had a Jaguar franchise at the top of Holland rd in Hove. Dad was also a frequent customer there. Many of the XJSs he had were frequent visitors back to the dealership!I always look for the VW dealer in Haywards Heath purely because of their nice Art Deco showroom that you see from the train.
No idea what they are like as a dealer or their history as I stay at the other end of the country, just always liked their building.
Currently at 18 sites with mainly VAG stuff thesedays
https://lamborghiniporrentruy.com/en/
We called in last year, what a place.
They have onsite security, who were really friendly, all dressed in Tommy Hilfiger gear, with their purpose built office
Just have a look at some of the images on the net.
We called in last year, what a place.
They have onsite security, who were really friendly, all dressed in Tommy Hilfiger gear, with their purpose built office
Just have a look at some of the images on the net.
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