ASTON MARTIN UK DEALERS

[Jon39]

First we hear about Exeter closing, and now it has been mentioned Tyne and Wear close on 15th January.

With T&W, reference was made to the dislike of site sharing with Jaguar. Sevenoaks also share their site with Jaguar, so I wonder what might happen there.

[The Surveyor]

I heard Statstones in Houghton (Tyne & Wear) were moving to a new site at Silverlink, not closing.

Don't forget that the Aston Workshop in Beamish are a affiliated service agent as well. We're well catered for up here IMHO

[james-witton]

The new dealer at Silverlink will be Stoneacre. Apparently their first foray into the premium market. A lot of the old Stratstone staff are going over including the Dealer Principal.
Sounds like they are going to be building a top notch site to show they can sell at this level.

[JonV8V]

I've not been to an Aston Martin dealership where the outside bit has been anything other than awful and as first impressions count, the outside is crucial. Cheltenham was rammed, Stourbridge you park on a footpath but at least it has a bit of parking compared to Wilmslow where I got a parking ticket. The used cars are all parked too close together and I've watched more than once as Wilmslow shuffle cars around only mm apart to get one out. Accidents will happen. These cars should be given space to be admired, to standback and take in the view, and not feel like a backstreet used car lot. Stourbridge used you can always spot because the pictures are taken in what looks like an alley way.

If this is Aston Martin driving up improvements in the network then it's welcome and long overdue.

[AMDBSNick]

JonV8V said:

I've not been to an Aston Martin dealership where the outside bit has been anything other than awful and as first impressions count, the outside is crucial. Cheltenham was rammed, Stourbridge you park on a footpath but at least it has a bit of parking compared to Wilmslow where I got a parking ticket. The used cars are all parked too close together and I've watched more than once as Wilmslow shuffle cars around only mm apart to get one out. Accidents will happen. These cars should be given space to be admired, to standback and take in the view, and not feel like a backstreet used car lot. Stourbridge used you can always spot because the pictures are taken in what looks like an alley way.

If this is Aston Martin driving up improvements in the network then it's welcome and long overdue.

+1

[woodsypedia]

AMDBSNick said:

+1

+2.

[steveatesh]

The Surveyor said:

I heard Statstones in Houghton (Tyne & Wear) were moving to a new site at Silverlink, not closing.

Don't forget that the Aston Workshop in Beamish are a affiliated service agent as well. We're well catered for up here IMHO

Stratstones Houghton move has been on the cards for some time and is a move to a better premises and access to a better demographic location. The old site on the A690 was constrained by a major road and green belt and access for customers was at best exciting give the number of 38 ton HGV bearing down on you as you crossed a known accident black spot junction. At worse it was down right dangerous to access at certain times of the day.

Parking was very restricted. In addition the local demographic at Sunderland is not so affluent as that of Newcastle and Northumberland so ease of access must be a feature in the move. In other words it is being made for good business sense in my opinion, rather than anything to do with AM not selling cars. In addition Bentley and Porsche are both on the Silverlink along with many other brands too. It is a good place for a man to visit

AM Beamish is an accredited service area and carries out all work on AM cars with the same status as a main dealer. I was up there this week and their workshop was full of restorations ( some really nice stuff) and it is a very busy ( and customer focused) place.

I believe AM is well represented in the region, especially given they are rare as rocky horses st here!

[Jon39]

steveatesh said:

Stratstones Houghton move has been on the cards for some time ....

I don't have any local knowledge about this, but the indication on the 'Buying a V8 Vantage' topic, was that Stratstones are closing and a different firm are involved at the new premises.

[steveatesh]

Jon39 said:

steveatesh said:

Stratstones Houghton move has been on the cards for some time ....

I don't have any local knowledge about this, but the indication on the 'Buying a V8 Vantage' topic, was that Stratstones are closing and a different firm are involved at the new premises.

I do I knew about the move months ago. if a change in selling brand is also part of that it can only be a good thing to increase competition in my opinion. There was a general car dealers opposite Stratstone Houghton, and that closed too several months ago. The location is simply no longer suitable being a relic from a by gone era.

[james-witton]

I understand that Stratstone are to reopen the one over the road as a Landrover dealership.

[steveatesh]

james-witton said:

I understand that Stratstone are to reopen the one over the road as a Landrover dealership.

Now that might work as it is rural location with farms on all sides

Are they transferring their Newcastle Land Rover branch or is this a new one? They did do Landrover in a very small way from the Aston /Jaguar showroom opposite. ThEre would be room for a small off road test drive area too, as it is quite a big site.

I hope they make it work as the building is boarded up and a real eyesore at the moment.