Dealing with VVS
Discussion
I recently went to look at a car at VVS and, as they seem to be the 'main' dealer in the used Lamborghini market, and as I'm a fairly long-established PHer (as opposed to the ones who seem to join up to PH with a specific agenda e.g. to air a grievance) I thought it would worthwhile documenting my (completely unbiased) experiences with them.
To summarise (in case you can't be arsed reading the whole post) I couldn't fault them. They were first class (so far!).
Prior to visiting
As VVS is over 1,000 miles round trip from me, I spent a good amount on time 'researching' them on the internet, including all the threads here on Pistonheads where they get a mention.
It's frustrating that people's bad experiences with a company can't be shared on PH, but I do understand PH's reasons behind this.
So instead, I PM'd every poster who'd said anything negative about VVS - there were 4 people in all - politely asking if they could tell me a bit more about their supposed bad experience:
"Hi,
I am considering buying a car from VVS and I saw your post on Pistonheads on the below thread - can you tell me more?
Thanks,
monthefish"
[I included the indivdual thread link in each message in case they'd forgotten what they wrote, as some of the threads were years old]
Only one poster took the time to reply to me and this in itself spoke volumes: if I've ever had a bad experience with a company I'll gladly spend time telling anyone who'll listen, so the fact that most didn't even reply was a good sign
The one chap who did replied simply said "Not a very nice man!" so I asked if he could tell me more, but he didn't reply.
Further, there's no censorship in Google plus reviews which, for VVS at at the time of writing is 4.8 stars based on 18 reviews which is excellent (compare that to Motor hub who presently have 2.7 stars of 166 reviews
How the **** are they still in business??).
I also like to see, in the case of any negative reviews, whether the bad reviews are (1) credible, and (2) whether there's a trend. VVS's single bad review isn't credible, and there's certinly not a trend of bad service apparent.
So I contacted VVS and the MD Dan was very helpful at providing information about the car I was interested in, giving me the sevice history, VRN and VIN so I could HPI and MOT check it which I did (which were all clear)
So everything so far gave me confidence to actually make the trip to visit.
The visit
I arranged a flight to Gatwick which is still quite far from VVS, but as one of the chaps at VVS lives not too far from Gatwick, Dan arranged for this chap to give me a lift on his way to work. Remember, at this stage, they didn't really know me from Adam, and I could have been a complete tyre kicker time-waster. I was collected at the airport, and was even offered a drive-thru Costa coffee en-route to VVS!
The set up at VVS is very professional, but also quite deliberately incognito given the amount of exotica they stock (over 40 Lambos, with a handfull of Ferraris, Porsches etc). They are a small, close-knit team with a good vibe.
The stock is amazing. I'd love to have taken some pics, but I was too busy looking and drooling.
On arrival, the car itself was all ready for me to have a good look at (i.e. not tucked away in the corner) sitting in the middle of the showroom/warehouse. Car was exactly as described, and was is in excellent condition, save for a few 'usage' blemishes but they assured me they would be taken care of during a pre-delivery detail. As the car is an e-gear, they also got their technician to do a clutch reading there and then.
Also, my insurance stipulated that the latest level tracker would be required if I were to buy such a car so VVS went to the effort of actually checking out the definitive status of the tracker on the vehicle by phoning the companies involved.
Had a short test drive, car drove exactly as it should. Couldn't fault it. (Just before going out, they checked the tyre pressures as they said even slightly off pressures can give a slight pull to the side). On the test drive, they also got me to do a tight turn on full lock to show there were no issues with suspension knocking (which would not necessarily been obvious during a normal test drive).
At no time was there pressure to do a deal. I was half-waiting for the cringey car salesman question "so where do you want to be with the car?" [as I had my usual reply ready "in the hills above Monaco, but that's not important right now"] but the question never came. No pressure whatsoever.
When I'd satisfied myself that the car was pukka, it was actually me that suggested we go to the MD's office to talk numbers...
Part 2 will follow...
To summarise (in case you can't be arsed reading the whole post) I couldn't fault them. They were first class (so far!).
Prior to visiting
As VVS is over 1,000 miles round trip from me, I spent a good amount on time 'researching' them on the internet, including all the threads here on Pistonheads where they get a mention.
It's frustrating that people's bad experiences with a company can't be shared on PH, but I do understand PH's reasons behind this.
So instead, I PM'd every poster who'd said anything negative about VVS - there were 4 people in all - politely asking if they could tell me a bit more about their supposed bad experience:
"Hi,
I am considering buying a car from VVS and I saw your post on Pistonheads on the below thread - can you tell me more?
Thanks,
monthefish"
[I included the indivdual thread link in each message in case they'd forgotten what they wrote, as some of the threads were years old]
Only one poster took the time to reply to me and this in itself spoke volumes: if I've ever had a bad experience with a company I'll gladly spend time telling anyone who'll listen, so the fact that most didn't even reply was a good sign
The one chap who did replied simply said "Not a very nice man!" so I asked if he could tell me more, but he didn't reply.
Further, there's no censorship in Google plus reviews which, for VVS at at the time of writing is 4.8 stars based on 18 reviews which is excellent (compare that to Motor hub who presently have 2.7 stars of 166 reviews
How the **** are they still in business??).I also like to see, in the case of any negative reviews, whether the bad reviews are (1) credible, and (2) whether there's a trend. VVS's single bad review isn't credible, and there's certinly not a trend of bad service apparent.
So I contacted VVS and the MD Dan was very helpful at providing information about the car I was interested in, giving me the sevice history, VRN and VIN so I could HPI and MOT check it which I did (which were all clear)
So everything so far gave me confidence to actually make the trip to visit.
The visit
I arranged a flight to Gatwick which is still quite far from VVS, but as one of the chaps at VVS lives not too far from Gatwick, Dan arranged for this chap to give me a lift on his way to work. Remember, at this stage, they didn't really know me from Adam, and I could have been a complete tyre kicker time-waster. I was collected at the airport, and was even offered a drive-thru Costa coffee en-route to VVS!
The set up at VVS is very professional, but also quite deliberately incognito given the amount of exotica they stock (over 40 Lambos, with a handfull of Ferraris, Porsches etc). They are a small, close-knit team with a good vibe.
The stock is amazing. I'd love to have taken some pics, but I was too busy looking and drooling.
On arrival, the car itself was all ready for me to have a good look at (i.e. not tucked away in the corner) sitting in the middle of the showroom/warehouse. Car was exactly as described, and was is in excellent condition, save for a few 'usage' blemishes but they assured me they would be taken care of during a pre-delivery detail. As the car is an e-gear, they also got their technician to do a clutch reading there and then.
Also, my insurance stipulated that the latest level tracker would be required if I were to buy such a car so VVS went to the effort of actually checking out the definitive status of the tracker on the vehicle by phoning the companies involved.
Had a short test drive, car drove exactly as it should. Couldn't fault it. (Just before going out, they checked the tyre pressures as they said even slightly off pressures can give a slight pull to the side). On the test drive, they also got me to do a tight turn on full lock to show there were no issues with suspension knocking (which would not necessarily been obvious during a normal test drive).
At no time was there pressure to do a deal. I was half-waiting for the cringey car salesman question "so where do you want to be with the car?" [as I had my usual reply ready "in the hills above Monaco, but that's not important right now"] but the question never came. No pressure whatsoever.
When I'd satisfied myself that the car was pukka, it was actually me that suggested we go to the MD's office to talk numbers...
Part 2 will follow...
Nice I hope you bought something!
They have always been very straight with me too, although I have not bought from them they were trying to find me a 570 Superleggera a couple of years ago when there were not very many on the market.
I have seen them at Italian car events at Brands Hatch also and the stock always loos very good.
They have always been very straight with me too, although I have not bought from them they were trying to find me a 570 Superleggera a couple of years ago when there were not very many on the market.
I have seen them at Italian car events at Brands Hatch also and the stock always loos very good.
My experience of them mirrors yours. Well prepared cars as described, nice operation, non-pushy salesmen, very helpful, nothing too much trouble.
I didn’t buy from them but only because in the end I decided to go for something they didn’t have in stock.
I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out if they had a car I was looking for.
I didn’t buy from them but only because in the end I decided to go for something they didn’t have in stock.
I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out if they had a car I was looking for.
I have to echo the other guys’ comments above; unfortunately, I didn’t buy from VVS, but only because I found a stunner with a main dealer (can’t ignore the Lambo Warranty !!)
James has been really, really helpful right from the off. We spent plenty of time talking on the phone and I felt no pressure when I went to visit.
His advice was really insightful and VVS are well-regarded by many of the main dealers. They are very knowledgeable about many of the cars for sale too and know many of the previous owners.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy from them in the future and they will help at servicing time, too.
James has been really, really helpful right from the off. We spent plenty of time talking on the phone and I felt no pressure when I went to visit.
His advice was really insightful and VVS are well-regarded by many of the main dealers. They are very knowledgeable about many of the cars for sale too and know many of the previous owners.
I wouldn’t hesitate to buy from them in the future and they will help at servicing time, too.
Chris355 said:
My experience of them mirrors yours. Well prepared cars as described, nice operation, non-pushy salesmen, very helpful, nothing too much trouble.
I didn’t buy from them but only because in the end I decided to go for something they didn’t have in stock.
I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out if they had a car I was looking for.
This. Visited them a handful of times, yet to buy as ended up buying elsewhere each time however would be happy to give them my money if they ever have the right carI didn’t buy from them but only because in the end I decided to go for something they didn’t have in stock.
I wouldn’t hesitate to try them out if they had a car I was looking for.
biondi said:
It's a 2013 LP560-4 Spyder in Borealis orange, around ~7000 miles. I love it, just wish the weather would improve 
Beautiful. identical to the one I got from HR Owen's a few years ago. 50th Anni Ed? That colour really pop's in the sun. The bugs love it as you'll find out in the summer 
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