Discussion
TBH Dave, I'd drive the extra hour and visit Grimaldi Engineering.
They know 328's inside out and don't charge the earth, good guys.
They know 328's inside out and don't charge the earth, good guys.
Edited by Martian O on Friday 22 July 10:20
I bought my 328 from the Ferrari Centre 6 years ago and have been back ever since for servicing and maintenance on the car, always been very happy with their work and attitude. I have heard good reports on Grimaldi, but they are in quite a remote location, so I haven't tried them out personally yet.
Roger and alistair at the Ferrari centre are smart knowledgeable and talk in sensible easy to understand ways. They are busy but accommodating while keeping you updated. I understand nothing mechanical ESP a complex piece of Italian engineering so having confidence and trust with someone I was handing over meaningful cash was important. They are very r/ship driven and I would be amazed if other clients didn't have same experience.
After all the songs of praise, I feel that relaying my experiences might shed a different light. I will describe the events truthfully as they happened, and you can draw your own conclusions.
Bought a 365BB with them a couple of years ago for 80k. I did not haggle, paid asking price. I give them 5 weeks to prepare the car and tell them I'm coming over a week in advance. When I arrive the car is not ready, and not cleaned. Had to wait 5 hours for the car to be prepared. Lights do not come up when I drive off - battery flat. "Just drive a while and it will charge".
When I drive off, I notice that the fuel guage is low but the hotel is only 5 miles away. I run out of petrol on the hotel driveway. Battery still dead so can't start even if we put petrol in. Fosker's mechanic arrives with new battery, grumpily as it's Friday evening and he wants to be with his kids. I specifically ask if they checked the alternator. He said "yes". I drive around next day visiting some sights waiting for our ferry to Holland. Car breaks down very close to Fosker's - fuel pump stops as battery dead again. Clearly the alternator is not working and never has been working. To get me going they put in a Testarossa alternator. Again, they let me know how unusual it is that they help me because this is a Saturday and they are enjoying the weekend. This new alternator packs up on the way to the ferry after about 60 miles. Consequently I break down again about 5m from my house near Amsterdam.
There are more stories but I'll leave it there. I do want to add that I never got an apology from them.
Now, as a contrast, the time that I bought my 550 (somewhere else, a year earlier):
When I arrive, there is a tarp over my car. There is plate with my name on the car. We have a revealing ceremony. We have cake. The car is impeccably clean. The tank is full of gas. The car doesn't break down until 25,000kms later. The shop's owner phones me up next day (a Sunday) and asks me if everything is OK with the car, do I need anything, how am I enjoying it, etc..
You can decide for yourselves which of these two was the more professional outfit.
Onno
Bought a 365BB with them a couple of years ago for 80k. I did not haggle, paid asking price. I give them 5 weeks to prepare the car and tell them I'm coming over a week in advance. When I arrive the car is not ready, and not cleaned. Had to wait 5 hours for the car to be prepared. Lights do not come up when I drive off - battery flat. "Just drive a while and it will charge".
When I drive off, I notice that the fuel guage is low but the hotel is only 5 miles away. I run out of petrol on the hotel driveway. Battery still dead so can't start even if we put petrol in. Fosker's mechanic arrives with new battery, grumpily as it's Friday evening and he wants to be with his kids. I specifically ask if they checked the alternator. He said "yes". I drive around next day visiting some sights waiting for our ferry to Holland. Car breaks down very close to Fosker's - fuel pump stops as battery dead again. Clearly the alternator is not working and never has been working. To get me going they put in a Testarossa alternator. Again, they let me know how unusual it is that they help me because this is a Saturday and they are enjoying the weekend. This new alternator packs up on the way to the ferry after about 60 miles. Consequently I break down again about 5m from my house near Amsterdam.
There are more stories but I'll leave it there. I do want to add that I never got an apology from them.
Now, as a contrast, the time that I bought my 550 (somewhere else, a year earlier):
When I arrive, there is a tarp over my car. There is plate with my name on the car. We have a revealing ceremony. We have cake. The car is impeccably clean. The tank is full of gas. The car doesn't break down until 25,000kms later. The shop's owner phones me up next day (a Sunday) and asks me if everything is OK with the car, do I need anything, how am I enjoying it, etc..
You can decide for yourselves which of these two was the more professional outfit.
Onno
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