Discussion
A little while back I raised the question of DB9 v Rapide.. (thanks for the feedback all)
After much t
tting around, research and chatting to owners, I'm going to go DB9.
For peace of mind, I'm thinking of going dealer, and the local big one is Stratstone in Amersham. Some peeps here must have had dealing with them? Are they always impossible to deal with? I've had 4 conversations with 2 different people and can not get either a straight answer, or any kind of follow up/call back from them.
I'm not a precious kind of guy, and essentially, I just want to give them some money for car, and so far they are making it quite difficult.
After much t
tting around, research and chatting to owners, I'm going to go DB9.For peace of mind, I'm thinking of going dealer, and the local big one is Stratstone in Amersham. Some peeps here must have had dealing with them? Are they always impossible to deal with? I've had 4 conversations with 2 different people and can not get either a straight answer, or any kind of follow up/call back from them.
I'm not a precious kind of guy, and essentially, I just want to give them some money for car, and so far they are making it quite difficult.
There are plenty of good dealers - if you are getting the run around before you've parted with your money, I'd be struggling for confidence about what might happen afterwards. That said, with an inspection don't rule out a private purchase. With winter setting in there will be some motivated sellers. Happy hunting!
yup... What he said...
Totally know what you mean lots of dealers like that.. And they would spoil the occasion for you!! McGurks will look after you and you will have a great experience ... Always have lots of awesome stock and soooooo much car porn to look at while deciding which one to take home :-)
Totally know what you mean lots of dealers like that.. And they would spoil the occasion for you!! McGurks will look after you and you will have a great experience ... Always have lots of awesome stock and soooooo much car porn to look at while deciding which one to take home :-)
I purchased my 05 plate DB9 from Amersham 2 years ago, and although a VERY rocky start with extremely poor service, bad management etc (which was discussed on here at the time), since a new Dealer principle was brought in to shake the place up (David Topham, who has now moved to Jaguar in Milton Keynes), the place has changed for the better and I highly recommend it.
The new new(ish) sales guy - Ashley is excellent, he will go above and beyond and is a true asset to them, and Drew who now heads up the service / warranty department (he was just a driver when I first dealt with them) again goes above and beyond.
The valeter's are still not up to the standard we AM owners prefer so expect some swirling, but there are several great ones about (Paddy on here + one or two others that can be recommended) who can soon make your AM a beaut....
Hope that helps and please ask any questions as that's what this community is for.
The new new(ish) sales guy - Ashley is excellent, he will go above and beyond and is a true asset to them, and Drew who now heads up the service / warranty department (he was just a driver when I first dealt with them) again goes above and beyond.
The valeter's are still not up to the standard we AM owners prefer so expect some swirling, but there are several great ones about (Paddy on here + one or two others that can be recommended) who can soon make your AM a beaut....
Hope that helps and please ask any questions as that's what this community is for.
edmundo said:
Thanks all.
Had a look at McGurk, they have a couple in my bracket (2007ish @ 45K +/-)
They are only an hour away, so I see a drive up the M40 in my near future.
You will not regret it. Our 2007 DB9V came from them. When it went to "Works" for the seat recall they commented on what an excellent example it was. Works are always looking for the up sell Had a look at McGurk, they have a couple in my bracket (2007ish @ 45K +/-)
They are only an hour away, so I see a drive up the M40 in my near future.
Stratstone, wouldn't touch them 
Go and find a car somewhere else, because if they are giving you the run around now,that will be just the beginning and just the start of really 'great' (NOT!!) customer service you'll get!!
As some have said, go see McGurks, nice people and will look after you. There are other non Stratstone dealers out there, have a look at them.
Go and find a car somewhere else, because if they are giving you the run around now,that will be just the beginning and just the start of really 'great' (NOT!!) customer service you'll get!!
As some have said, go see McGurks, nice people and will look after you. There are other non Stratstone dealers out there, have a look at them.
I wouldn't touch Stratstone again sadly. The sales process was OK to an extent, but any follow ups or after sales just didn't materialise. I was promised factory tours and a whole host of stuff that I've constantly chased for and it's never arrived. I also recently had a very poor experience during servicing - in that they did nothing I asked them to do other than the base service. They washed the car and cocked up my paintwork despite explicit instructions not to wash the car, left me stranded in central London after telling me that my ride back to the garage could no longer be honoured and I'd have to make my own way there!! If you can, find another franchise. Opinion is that Grange or Harwoods seem to be two of the best.
Chris.
Chris.
Edited by woodsypedia on Wednesday 14th October 15:08
woodsypedia said:
I wouldn't touch Stratstone again sadly. The sales process was OK to an extent, but any follow ups or after sales just didn't materialise. I was promised factory tours and a whole host of stuff that I've constantly chased for and it's never arrived. I also recently had a very poor experience during servicing - in that they did nothing I asked them to do other than the base service. They washed the car and cocked up my paintwork despite explicit instructions not to wash the car, left me stranded in central London after telling me that my ride back to the garage could no longer be honoured and I'd have to make my own way there!! If you can, find another franchise. Opinion is that Grange or Harwoods seem to be two of the best.
Chris.
Every time i read about these idiot it gets worse! Chris.
Edited by woodsypedia on Wednesday 14th October 15:08
Terrible service.
Have heard good reports about Grange Brentwood.
I bought a V8V Roadster in 2012 and traded it in for a DB9 Volante earlier this year - both through Stratstones in Amersham
I used them because they had the cars I wanted -given that any after sales/ warranty work could be done anywhere that didnt enter in to my purchase decision- I m not particularly local to them so didn't need to build a long term relationship
The main thing to remember in buying from Stratstones is that they seem to have a fairly rigid "no price negotiation" policy - what they will do is price match any comparable car that you can find for sale elsewhere - a bit of googling on both the purchase & the trade in offered and the price to change on my purchase moved down by over £5k in a matter of hours
Ashley, the sales guy was fine - the 2015 experience was a lot better than the 2012 one, probably reflecting the leadership changes that other posters have outlined
If they ve got the car you want,at the right price, then I d go for it
I used them because they had the cars I wanted -given that any after sales/ warranty work could be done anywhere that didnt enter in to my purchase decision- I m not particularly local to them so didn't need to build a long term relationship
The main thing to remember in buying from Stratstones is that they seem to have a fairly rigid "no price negotiation" policy - what they will do is price match any comparable car that you can find for sale elsewhere - a bit of googling on both the purchase & the trade in offered and the price to change on my purchase moved down by over £5k in a matter of hours
Ashley, the sales guy was fine - the 2015 experience was a lot better than the 2012 one, probably reflecting the leadership changes that other posters have outlined
If they ve got the car you want,at the right price, then I d go for it
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