Help purchasing a v8 vantage
Discussion
sifocus said:
Hi all. I ventured out on Sunday to 3 places. Put my best clobber on and hid my Range Rover sport around the corner at every garage. Didn’t want them to be scared off with a new Range Rover sport to part ex and they think I’d be in negative equity. First stop was the car shop. Have a nice silver one with low miles. I got ignored, they couldn’t tell me what they’d do about a warranty, the 2 missing services and couldn’t start it up for me as the keys are kept off site to stop it going missing. Mmm, leave that one then. Rang a specialist on the Friday local to me and he was going to ring me back to make an appointment. Still waiting. Went to Wilmslow Stratstone and the car was locked away in the compound. My fault for not making an appointment but I wanted to surprise them with my visit. I asked for some potential finance figures (not sure which way to go) and was told he was not FCa accredited. Fare enough, I’ll speak with the business manager. sorry not in on Sundays. Ok a sales manager? Sorry not in on sundays. He asked if I could come back in the week but I work for a living. I asked if I could come back this weekend but he has that weekend off. Mmmm I leave it then! Absolutely shocking experience. Not one has rang me or emailed me since. I didn’t tell any of them that I am in the trade (brand manager for Land Rover), so this was interesting to see. It’s put me back not forward and I was hoping to have moved forward by now. Really shocked :-(. I’m at a meeting in Loughborough on Monday so I’m going to venture to the midlands beforehand and hopefully see a couple before my meeting. :-)
If this is avinalarf under a pseudonym, then I could understand, but what a peculiar post.
'Put best clobber on' - AM customers come from a wide variety of people. The salesmen know that you cannot tell who is a multi-millionaire these days. In fact some of the wealthiest purposely dress down a touch.
'Hid my Range Rover' - Many AM owners also have Range Rovers, but probably only very rarely PX them for their next AM.
'Not in on Sundays' - You give the impression that every AM dealer and their senior staff, should be waiting for you every Sunday.
You have entered a different world.
AM only sell around 1,000 cars each year in the UK.
JLR sell about 90,000 vehicles each year in the UK. Mass produced, volume sales.
You mentioned M&S and Currys. Weekends obviously now represent important selling days, in mass market retail consumer goods.
Divide that 1,000 by the number of UK dealers, then again by 364 days (surely you allow them to close on Christmas Day).
Would you have all your staff sitting around, waiting in the hope of one or two enquiries.
The Company only have production capacity for just over 7,000 hand made cars per year.
When I bought my AM, I spotted the right car on the Pre-owned list, telephoned the dealer for an appointment, was treated very well without any pushy tactics. Was even give a discount, which I asked for, but did not really expect. I just happened to be there, near the end of a month, when a special sales target applied to the dealer. The experience for me was excellent, and as a bonus, after several years, the same model is retailing for not much below the cost to me. Not really relevant though, because my Aston is a keeper.
Keep trying, but perhaps vary your approach. Building a relationship with anyone can often bring benefits, even doing so during a first telephone call. They are wonderful cars to own, so your initial effort will eventually be rewarded. I can be short on patience too, so would also have walked away, but with an appointment, it might have worked out differently.
I have not read your entire post, but if you are thinking about buying a Sportshift, make quite sure you are happy with the automated manual system. Try manoeuvring and stop start traffic.
Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 8th March 16:41
There's a guy I've met at a couple of local TVR meets recently, doesn't have a TVR but he comes along with a friend who does. He had a Vantage for a while a few years back, a sportshift, he didn't keep it very long as he just couldn't get on with the automated shifting... openly admits he should have tried a manual... I've taken the Vantage to the last couple of meets, and he stares wistfully at it....
Just sayin...
Just sayin...
This thread nearly cost me money.
I was going to suggest McGurks to the OP, but thought I'd check if they had any suitable cars first. And they have two lovely looking Roadsters in black...... fortunately, they are both sportshift. If they were manual, I think I would have been tempted to go and see what they'd give me part ex for mine!
I was going to suggest McGurks to the OP, but thought I'd check if they had any suitable cars first. And they have two lovely looking Roadsters in black...... fortunately, they are both sportshift. If they were manual, I think I would have been tempted to go and see what they'd give me part ex for mine!
davek_964 said:
I was going to suggest McGurks to the OP....
McGurks might still be good for the OP though, this might be of interest, depends what the budget is, it's an early car so lower VED and it's just had a clutch. 
http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/623/Used-Aston-Martin-...
They are shut on Sundays though.
raceboy said:
McGurks might still be good for the OP though, this might be of interest, depends what the budget is, it's an early car so lower VED and it's just had a clutch.
http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/623/Used-Aston-Martin-...
They are shut on Sundays though.
And it's in the fastest colour http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/623/Used-Aston-Martin-...
They are shut on Sundays though.
raceboy said:
McGurks might still be good for the OP though, this might be of interest, depends what the budget is, it's an early car so lower VED and it's just had a clutch.
http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/623/Used-Aston-Martin-...
They are shut on Sundays though.
Thats looks like an excellent deal, good spec and price, and the re-assurance of a recent clutch too.http://www.mcgurk.com/stock/623/Used-Aston-Martin-...
They are shut on Sundays though.
I almost went with Mcgurks for mine, they just didnt quite have what I wanted at that time.
sifocus said:
Hi all. I ventured out on Sunday to 3 places. Put my best clobber on and hid my Range Rover sport around the corner at every garage. Didn’t want them to be scared off with a new Range Rover sport to part ex and they think I’d be in negative equity. First stop was the car shop. Have a nice silver one with low miles. I got ignored, they couldn’t tell me what they’d do about a warranty, the 2 missing services and couldn’t start it up for me as the keys are kept off site to stop it going missing. Mmm, leave that one then. Rang a specialist on the Friday local to me and he was going to ring me back to make an appointment. Still waiting. Went to Wilmslow Stratstone and the car was locked away in the compound. My fault for not making an appointment but I wanted to surprise them with my visit. I asked for some potential finance figures (not sure which way to go) and was told he was not FCa accredited. Fare enough, I’ll speak with the business manager. sorry not in on Sundays. Ok a sales manager? Sorry not in on sundays. He asked if I could come back in the week but I work for a living. I asked if I could come back this weekend but he has that weekend off. Mmmm I leave it then! Absolutely shocking experience. Not one has rang me or emailed me since. I didn’t tell any of them that I am in the trade (brand manager for Land Rover), so this was interesting to see. It’s put me back not forward and I was hoping to have moved forward by now. Really shocked :-(. I’m at a meeting in Loughborough on Monday so I’m going to venture to the midlands beforehand and hopefully see a couple before my meeting. :-)
This sounds more like a mystery shop exercise than buying a car. OP I’ve been in the retail automotive industry for over 20 years and have extensive experience in volume, premium and luxury brands. For the past 4 years I have been DP at an AM Dealership. We do not open on Sundays for a number of reasons, primarily because the enquiry level is so low it simply isn’t worth it. Most of our work is carried out via e-mail & phone. Test drives/viewings are usually by appointment following an initial enquiry and conducted during the week or on a Saturday. If we were to open on Sundays we would have to give our people the time back via days off in lieu during the week when we need them. There is always management cover when we are open. The same arrangements are in place for all our High Luxury Sector businesses, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren and Porsche. You cannot compare your LandRover business with ours they are completely different operations with much smaller teams of people operating them. Our JLR business in Milton Keynes employs 110 people. My business has 19. By closing on Sundays we offer our staff a guaranteed day off with their families, which also helps us attract & retain great people.I find your comment about parking your RR Sport out of view very odd. RR is probably the most popular choice of daily driver for our customers. It’s hardly unusual for customers to arrive in something large and expensive. Equally I cannot imagine why, if you are serious about purchasing an AM, you wouldn’t make an appointment to view, especially on a Sunday? It’s almost as though you are testing these businesses rather than trying to buy something. Bizarre.
I do hope you find what you are looking for, but suggest you change your approach and make an appointment next time.
I find the reference to the contrast of how JLR dealers do things very amusing
When I changed my DD, I was considering a Range Rover / Land Rover. I went into my local dealership, which is on the way to Knutsford (yes, Cheshire !)
The place was rammed
It took forever to actually speak to a member of staff
When I mentioned I'd like to organise a test drive (which I accepted couldn't be there and then), they basically laughed at me. I had turned up in my Aston incidentally. They said I'd have to call them during the week (they wouldn't call me back) and might be able to arrange one but it would need a considerable amount of notice. They seemed surprised I even wanted a test drive
I never went back and bought an Audi instead
When I changed my DD, I was considering a Range Rover / Land Rover. I went into my local dealership, which is on the way to Knutsford (yes, Cheshire !)
The place was rammed
It took forever to actually speak to a member of staff
When I mentioned I'd like to organise a test drive (which I accepted couldn't be there and then), they basically laughed at me. I had turned up in my Aston incidentally. They said I'd have to call them during the week (they wouldn't call me back) and might be able to arrange one but it would need a considerable amount of notice. They seemed surprised I even wanted a test drive
I never went back and bought an Audi instead
Simon Lane said:
This sounds more like a mystery shop exercise than buying a car. OP I’ve been in the retail automotive industry for over 20 years and have extensive experience in volume, premium and luxury brands. For the past 4 years I have been DP at an AM Dealership. We do not open on Sundays for a number of reasons, primarily because the enquiry level is so low it simply isn’t worth it. Most of our work is carried out via e-mail & phone. Test drives/viewings are usually by appointment following an initial enquiry and conducted during the week or on a Saturday. If we were to open on Sundays we would have to give our people the time back via days off in lieu during the week when we need them. There is always management cover when we are open. The same arrangements are in place for all our High Luxury Sector businesses, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, McLaren and Porsche. You cannot compare your LandRover business with ours they are completely different operations with much smaller teams of people operating them. Our JLR business in Milton Keynes employs 110 people. My business has 19. By closing on Sundays we offer our staff a guaranteed day off with their families, which also helps us attract & retain great people.
I find your comment about parking your RR Sport out of view very odd. RR is probably the most popular choice of daily driver for our customers. It’s hardly unusual for customers to arrive in something large and expensive. Equally I cannot imagine why, if you are serious about purchasing an AM, you wouldn’t make an appointment to view, especially on a Sunday? It’s almost as though you are testing these businesses rather than trying to buy something. Bizarre.
I do hope you find what you are looking for, but suggest you change your approach and make an appointment next time.
I appreciate and understand fully your reasons for closing on a Sunday , but if I’m the owner of the dealership I’d insist on it being open 7 days , the increase in cost must be minimal as the fixed costs of rent / rates are there regardless.I find your comment about parking your RR Sport out of view very odd. RR is probably the most popular choice of daily driver for our customers. It’s hardly unusual for customers to arrive in something large and expensive. Equally I cannot imagine why, if you are serious about purchasing an AM, you wouldn’t make an appointment to view, especially on a Sunday? It’s almost as though you are testing these businesses rather than trying to buy something. Bizarre.
I do hope you find what you are looking for, but suggest you change your approach and make an appointment next time.
For what it’s worth my first visit to an AM dealership was a Sunday , just have a look around with no real intentions of buying , 2 weeks later I had purchased a new N430 from the same dealer.
Grant3 said:
Don’t be put off, generally the sales experience is pretty good, special even, but A.M. dealers are small operations with limited stock. Just purchased an Evoque for the other half and the local LR dealer is massive by comparison. They still didn’t have the model/colour/spec we wanted. Do you know Kim Palmer in the press office - top guy and ex A.M.?
Anyway the reason for the post is to ask - What is your budget Simon?
Hi. Anywhere between £28k to £35k for the right car. You have something in mind? Thanks Si.Anyway the reason for the post is to ask - What is your budget Simon?
Buster73 said:
I appreciate and understand fully your reasons for closing on a Sunday , but if I’m the owner of the dealership I’d insist on it being open 7 days , the increase in cost must be minimal as the fixed costs of rent / rates are there regardless.
For what it’s worth my first visit to an AM dealership was a Sunday , just have a look around with no real intentions of buying , 2 weeks later I had purchased a new N430 from the same dealer.
Yep understand that and I’m sure we miss the odd sale, but I honestly believe it’s very rare.For what it’s worth my first visit to an AM dealership was a Sunday , just have a look around with no real intentions of buying , 2 weeks later I had purchased a new N430 from the same dealer.
We have carried out studies on the volume of enquiries we could expect to see on Sundays. While there is an argument for it in summer, the case collapses in winter. The small amount of business we might lose is IMHO more than made up for in recruitment and retention of our people.
We have concentrated on finding other ways of attracting new customers to our business that are fun and interesting.
It may be living in the SW but I would not expect an Aston dealership to be open on a Sunday. The volumes just aren’t large enough to warrant it IMO
When we bought our first Aston we called unannounced at the local dealership on a Saturday afternoon and met Lloyd. He immediately found a car to take us out in and 10 years later we are just about to take delivery of our 6th Aston from him. He has cost us an awful lot of money!
When we bought our first Aston we called unannounced at the local dealership on a Saturday afternoon and met Lloyd. He immediately found a car to take us out in and 10 years later we are just about to take delivery of our 6th Aston from him. He has cost us an awful lot of money!
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